Middlesex Partnerships for Youth Executive Director Honored
WESTBOROUGH – Margie Daniels, Executive Director of Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, was honored recently by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association with the “Making a Difference Award” for her commitment to the health and safety of youth in Middlesex County.
Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. is a non-profit organization which provides prevention and intervention resources and training to school districts and communities, in partnership with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Marian Ryan chairs the MPY Board of Directors.
“Thanks to the work of Middlesex Partnerships for Youth and the dedication of Margie, we have improved communication between the DA’s office and Middlesex County schools, presented innovative trainings directly to school personnel, and brought national speakers to Middlesex County,” District Attorney Ryan said. “While I have seen Margie’s impact on youth firsthand, it is wonderful to see her recognized by the MIAA.”
Daniels, a Topsfield resident, has spent her entire career focused on the health, safety and wellbeing of young people. She has been a special education teacher, school administrator, clinical social worker and college professor. She served as an assistant superintendent in the Newton Public Schools and joined MPY as Executive Director in 2007.
“Margie has been an engaging, thoughtful and exceptional leader for Middlesex County youth,” said Dr. Judith Klimkiewicz, superintendent of the Nashoba Valley Technical School District and president of MPY Board of Directors. “She has created programming that improves the quality of education, the culture and climate of our schools, and educates students on issues that affect their health and safety. Margie is a deserving recipient of this award and I am thrilled that the MIAA recognized her important contributions to students in Middlesex County.”
Daniels was honored at the MIAA’s 18th annual Wellness Summit held October 24, 2014 in Westborough. The Making a Difference Award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution and impact on the lives of students through the development of quality prevention programming that promotes healthy, responsible decision making
At MPY, Daniels consistently puts the needs of youth front and center by creating programs that address mental health, good decision making, teen dating violence, bullying prevention, and school safety.
Every public school district in Middlesex County is a member of MPY, in addition to many private and charter schools and community agencies. Under the leadership of Daniels, MPY’s in-service training program, which provides individually-tailored topical trainings to school staff, students and parents, has grown significantly. In the 2013-2014 school year, 15,348 students, 1,407 parents, and 2,077 staff members benefited from MPY in-service trainings.
Daniels holds a Master’s of Social Work from Boston University, a Master’s in Child Study from Tufts University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Connecticut. She is married with three adult children and two grandchildren.
Through MPY’s efforts, educators, parents, and students engage in collaborative trainings with law enforcement, social services, and community-based organizations as well as share the latest information and resources. Such interactions provide the foundation for creating solution-oriented, community-based, multi-disciplinary approaches to addressing issues including youth violence, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, hate crimes, and harassment across Middlesex County.
Middlesex County is the largest county in Massachusetts and one of the largest counties in the country with 54 towns and cities and 26 colleges in urban, suburban, and rural areas, comprising over one quarter of the population of Massachusetts. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office has offices throughout the county, including in Ayer, Cambridge, Concord, Framingham, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Newton, Somerville, Waltham and Woburn.