A Quaker Valley School District administrator was recently recognized by a state organization for making an impact on students.

Aaron Rea, coordinator of instructional programs, was given the PA EDGE’s Data-to-Impact Educator Award at a conference earlier this year.

EDGE stands for Elevating, Developing, & Growing Educators.

The organization is dedicated to empowering educational leaders and advancing excellence in curriculum, instruction and educator development across the state, according to its website.

The award celebrates educators who show excellence in using curriculum planning, mapping and professional learning, all to strengthen instruction. The awardees draw on student data to refine teaching and close learning gaps.

They build collaborative structures such as professional learning communities, department teams and cross-grade partnerships.

Susan Gentile, district director of instruction and learning, said Rea deserves the honor because of his leadership in using instructional data to strengthen teaching and support student success.

“Aaron has been instrumental in helping our schools use data in thoughtful and practical ways,” Gentile said.

“By working closely with building administrators and teachers, he has helped create a culture where teams use student data to guide instructional decisions and focus on the strategies that have the most impact on student learning.”

Rea has served as district coordinator of instructional programs since September 2022.

Rea’s recognition also comes with a $500 Curriculum Impact Mini-Grant to support school programs.

“I’m grateful to work alongside incredible teachers and administrators whose shared commitment to using data to improve student learning makes this work not only possible, but purposeful,” Rea said via a district release.

He was Osborne Elementary’s principal for more than six years prior to the promotion.

The Slippery Rock University grad worked as an assistant principal in the Fox Chapel Area School District, taught middle school math for the Highlands School District and taught sixth grade in Fairfax, Va., prior to joining Quaker Valley.

He received his doctor of education from Point Park University.