TOM ROBEL

Grants, Development and Special Projects Manager

For more than 25 years, Tom has embodied the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit’s mission of enriching learning and enriching lives. He walks and works in honesty and integrity and is well known for his high-quality standards, strong work ethic and commitment to excellence. He is a trusted advisor to leadership at the Center, who have experienced Tom as a reliable source of information and organizational practice. Everyone who works with him understands two things: First, he cares about the Center and its reputation and secondly, if he says he is going to do something, he does it!

Tom has been an integral component of the Center for Schools and Communities’ success in many ways. First, his innovative thinking led to the Center being one of the first organizations in the state and nation to embrace online learning through the utilization of the Elluminate platform. As a result of Tom’s early adoption of new technology and his long-range planning, the Center now boasts nearly 900 online learning sessions (as of 2018-2019), reaching more than 8,000 individuals. This year, the Center has conducted nearly 18,000 online sessions, reaching more than 17,000 participants.

Second, Tom also led the grant writing efforts of the Center for Schools and Communities, securing funding from state and national funders. In this role, Tom’s strategic and practical perspectives are very apparent. He keeps a clear eye on major program components that are critical to all grant proposals, ensuring that each has a logical connection to program goals and feasible to implement in the field has for over a decade kept a constant eye on a wide range of funding sources, from numerous agencies at the Federal level to potential private funders in his professional network. Finally, Tom’s efforts as a grant manager have build capacity at the CSC, specifically his organization of grant resources like logic models, needs and capacity statements, budgetary templates and standardized business plans.

Third, Tom has taken lead many successful and prominent statewide initiatives, such as the Gov. Schweiker Early Care in Education Taskforce, Family System Service Reform (FSSR), Gifted Education and now English Language Development. These initiatives were made possible by Tom’s ability to think systemically, use multiple conceptual frameworks and program models, and maximize collaboration and leveraged resources. Furthermore, Tom continually informed himself about new research as it became available, proving himself to be a lifelong learner and maximizing his ongoing professional growth.

In addition to his contributions to the Center, Tom works to build and advocate for his community. Currently, Tom sits on the board of CASA, the Central Pennsylvania Arts Association. He is an avid health enthusiast and has consistently participated in races with causes such as the Harrisburg Mile and the YMCA Race against Racism. Around the office he is well known for his professional appearance and love of entertaining and design.

In short, Tom has dedicated his career to CSIU. In doing so, he has grown professionally, given to his community, and most importantly, advanced CSIU’s mission to accomplish positive outcomes for children, youth and families.

– Dr. Shileste Morris