Community and educational services advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities Christine Cambareri Kay is the 2006 recipient of McDaniel College’s Joseph R. Bailer Award. The prestigious award, named for one of the College’s most highly respected career educators, is presented each year to a McDaniel College master’s degree recipient who has made a significant contribution to the field of education.

Kay earned her master’s degree in human services management at McDaniel College in 1994 at night while serving a two-year internship as a community living manager for developmentally disabled adults. She currently serves as vice president of programs for Target Community and Educational Services, Inc., where she is responsible for the supervision of over 150 employees and the care of over 250 children and adults with developmental disabilities who are served by Target, Inc. Target is a nonprofit agency affiliated with McDaniel College that provides services to adults with developmental disabilities through its community living, vocational, and recreational programs.

“Each and every day, Christine makes a difference in the lives of people with
disabilities in Maryland.  Dr. Bailer would be proud of her,” says Tom Zirpoli, President and CEO of Target, Inc.

Since joining Target, Inc., Kay served as Maryland’s chapter chair of the American Association of Mental Retardation and in 2002, graduated from the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program.

The family of Joseph R. Bailer established the award to honor Bailer’s career as chairman of the McDaniel Education department and director of the graduate program from 1949-71. Dr. Bailer, who died in 1974, was a primary contributor to the growth of the graduate program. Both as a mentor and as an outstanding example of an educator, he influenced the lives of hundreds of McDaniel College students, many of whom have gone on to leadership roles in educational programs in Maryland and beyond.

The Bailer Award rotates among the college’s various certificate programs in administration, counselor education, education of the deaf, curriculum and instruction, elementary and secondary education, school library media, reading, and special education.

For more information, contact Michele Leiberman, associate director of media relations, at (410) 857-2294.