Dr. Joseph F. Pollack Academic Center of Excellence Dedication Ceremony

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Joseph F. Pollack devoted his life to making a difference in the lives of children across this world.  Besides working for the United Nations and UNICEF, Pollack devoted most of his career to education, where he worked his way up the ladder from being a classroom teacher at Martin Luther King High School in Detroit to the post of superintendent of Flint Community Schools.  Pollack will perhaps be most notably known for being a pioneer in the Charter School movement for the State of Michigan.  His final professional position was the founder of the Charter Schools Office at Eastern Michigan University.

The "Dr. Joseph F. Pollack Academic Center of Excellence (PACE)" formerly known as Edison Oakland Public School Academy, is an Eastern Michigan University chartered school and will be renamed and  posthumously dedicated in Dr. Pollack's honor.

The school, already noted as receiving Golden Apple recognition is located in the City of Southfield and will provide tuition free quality education to children from kindergarten to eighth grade. According to PACE School Superintendent, Ira Rutherford, "Dr. Pollack felt that access to charter schools empowered parents who could not afford private or Parochial schools. He also was a great educator who was committed to the American promise of an equal educational opportunity for all children."

The Dr. Joseph F. Pollack Academic Center of Excellence Dedication and Renaming Ceremony will be held on Friday, January 29, 2010 from 1pm-3pm at 23777 Southfield Rd., Southfield, MI.  The program will include remarks by Eastern Michigan Leadership, various Federal, State and local dignitaries, educators, community stakeholders and parents.  The program will showcase the numerous award winning art and musical talents of PACE students.  The dedication will be followed by a reception.  The public is invited.

SOURCE Dr. Joseph F. Pollack Academic Center of Excellence