Under this Peoria woman's leadership, District 150's Harrison School received an Award of Merit as a Learning Organization, and the Harrison Reading Initiative resulted in Harrison School students achieving some of the highest reading, writing and math scores among all Peoria Title I schools. This, along with Perkins' many other achievements, impressed President George W. Bush—then a presidential hopeful—who, upon a visit to the school in 2000, said to Perkins, “You are a woman of great enthusiasm—a woman of passion and focus. Even if they had a voucher system in Peoria, it wouldn’t affect Harrison School because the parents of Harrison School see the benefits of the principal, the teachers, the curriculum and they see no need to leave. Harrison has it right.” We think Perkins has it right, too.
After learning the Portuguese language, traveling to Brazil, being honored by the U.S. Congress and narrowly avoiding 9-11 during the adoption process, this mother of 18 children no longer has what most people would call an “ordinary” life.
There are so many different opportunities in which one can make a difference…so many unique events to make the giving fun and develop relationships with one another.
These seven women celebrated by the YWCA's annual Leader Luncheon have made outstanding contributions to the Peoria area community through their leadership in arts and education, business and industry, communications, community service, human rights, and professional trades.
Without balance between your business and personal life, there’s just no way you can survive in today’s fast-paced world and not buckle under the pressure.
