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The Vincent E. Reed Award was first presented by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee in 2003. The award is given in the name of Dr. Vincent Reed, the distinguished educator whose encouragement and support were directly responsible for the Committee’s decision to establish its public education support programs.
Following his graduation from West Virginia State College and military service during the Korean War, Vincent Reed began his career as an educator in the D.C. Public Schools in 1956. Within several years, he was promoted from a teaching position to a series of important administrative posts in the school system, culminating in his appointment as D.C. School Superintendent in 1975. His appointment to this post came at a time when the local schools were experiencing enormous stress and public criticism. Dr. Reed’s charismatic leadership and the rigorous educational programs he championed helped immeasurably to restore public confidence in the city’s schools.
In 1978, Dr. Reed met with the staff of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee and encouraged them to seek law firm volunteers to serve as legal counsel for parent leaders at a dozen public schools in Southeast Washington. This initial effort became the basis for the Committee’s representation of Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools and the D.C. Public School/Law Firm Partnership Program, which now operates in 45 schools across the city.

Following his tenure as D.C. School Superintendent, Dr. Reed went on to serve as an Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education and as Vice President for Communications at the Washington Post Company.

Arent Fox PLLC

The Arent Fox relationship with Randle Highlands Elementary School in Southeast Washington began in 1999. This very special pairing has brought together a committed group of volunteers with a school community that is tremendously appreciative of their support and friendship. Not only does the firm provide needed academic support through a reading program and financial assistance to the school for programs, but it has also worked with Randle Highlands parents offering workshops on legal issues including home buying, public benefits, domestic violence and employment issues. The design competition for its annual holiday card, which features artwork by the school’s students, is another activity of this partnership. The Committee’s successful GeoPlunge Geography Tournament was led by an Arent Fox attorney who created the game. The willingness to enrich the lives of children beyond the walls of their school is a hallmark of this firm.

Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP

Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky’s school partnership with Duke Ellington School of the Arts has been in existence for more than ten years. Expanding from weekly visits to teach Street Law classes to a full blown partnership has been an exciting development for the firm and the school. This partnership creates opportunities for lawyers to have a wide range of conversations with high school students. The students are interested in intellectual property and contracts, and the Dickstein attorneys help these young artists prepare for the real world of the arts they are likely to enter. In addition, the firm annually provides the opportunity for four students and one faculty member to attend an intensive two-week arts course at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village, Colorado, to enhance their skills as artists.