June 27, 2007

SCSDB News

South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind

• A Palmetto Gold School • For Immediate Release

Media contacts:

Sharon Goolsby, Public Information Office: (864) 577-7505

Spartanburg, SC - Jennifer Mallini Lauer was recently honored with the Practitioner Award of Excellence by the International Public Managers Association. This award recognizes excellence in innovation and high standards in Public Human Resources. The award has honored Human Resources Directors since 1978.

Lauer most recently served for seven years as the Director of Human Resources and Operations at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB). She was nominated for the award by the President of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, Sheila S. Breitweiser.
Accomplishments during Lauer’s tenure at SCSDB included the development of numerous initiatives including: an employee policy manual, a safety management plan and expanded emergency response procedures; a workforce and staff development plan; procedures for accountability reporting; and an employee recognition program. She enhanced the agency volunteer program and improved its Equal Employment Opportunity goals.

“I am greatly honored to be included in the esteemed group of colleagues who have received this award,” said Lauer in response to receiving the award.

Currently, Lauer is the Human Resources/Payroll Functional Team Leader for the South Carolina Enterprise Information System (SCEIS) Project under the Division of the State Chief Information Office (CIO). She has held positions with the Budget and Control Board’s Office of Human Resources, Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities.

Lauer received her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina in Political Science and received her Paralegal/Legal Assistant certification from Midlands Technical College. She is past president of the Landrum Kiwanis Club and a former member of the Uptown Sertoma Club in Spartanburg, SC. Lauer is the daughter of Susan Mallini and the late Joseph J. Mallini of Chapin.

The South Carolina International Public Management Association for Human Resources (SCIPMA-HR) was founded by a group of human resources professionals who felt such an organization would be an ideal vehicle to bring members of the personnel community together. The organization has played a significant role in promoting the human resources profession throughout the state. Its active membership has allowed all members to gain relevant information and knowledge and to grow professionally.

The SC Department of Education named SCSDB a Palmetto Gold School for its academic accomplishments and a Red Carpet School for its outstanding customer service. SCSDB is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf and the SC Department of Education. SCSDB offers programs for preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, sensory multidisabled, vocational and postsecondary education students, as well as a variety of outreach services through regional centers located throughout the state. The main campus is located in Spartanburg. The school’s web site address is www.scsdb.org and its toll-free telephone number is 1-888-447-2732.