CASA of Berks County Hires Lisa AM Unrath as Executive Director

CASA of Berks County has announced the hiring of new Executive Director, Lisa AM Unrath, MEdL.

“I am excited and humbled to be asked to work with and lead the incredible volunteers that make CASA Berks what it is today. CASA provides a competent, responsible, and compassionate court-appointed community volunteer to advocate for each child who faces abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment. Our goal, to restore their well-being and ensure the eminent right to a safe, nurturing, and permanent home. I look forward to working with them and the dedicated Board in growing the footprint and impact of CASA Berks moving forward,” said Unrath.

Lisa AM Unrath, MEdL was born and raised here in Berks County. For the past 26 years she has spent her educational career working in public and nonprofit settings. The career encompassed the Reading and Philadelphia School Districts, both high needs urban districts. She worked at the National Constitution Center when it first opened as the Education Coordinator. Her career also had her as a Community Zone Specialist working with OCDEL and PA Keys via BCIU 14 here in Berks County.

She studied three and half years at Temple University before transferring and graduated from Alvernia University (1991). She attended Lehigh University to attain her Masters in Urban Education Leadership (2013). She chose Lehigh and this program for its focus on the unique needs that urban areas have and the leadership skills needed to adequately meet the needs of the community. Professionally she holds Elementary (k-6), Middle Years Language Arts, Middle Years Civics, and Administration (k-12) certificates. She has received numerous awards during her career. She has been involved in several non-profits as a volunteer, most notably the Bucks County Commissioners’ Council for Women and The Junior League of Reading.

She lives in Northern Berks County with her husband, Tom, and puppy, Charlay on the ‘Ridge’, and has two grown step-children: Brittany and Bethanne. She enjoys her family, faith, and friends, reading, entertaining, and being engaged in her church, Salem Belleman’s. She has several mantras, the two most important: LEAVE THE WORLD BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT and DO BETTER WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Berks County invites you to attend their upcoming Informational Session to learn how a CASA Volunteer makes a difference in the lives of abused and neglected children who have been identified by Berks County Children and Youth Services and the Court. A CASA Volunteer is a trained community member, appointed by a judge, to represent the best interest of a child in court. They meet and advocate for the child through knowledge via background facts of the case, and in talking with the child, family, school, and/or the CYS. They use this information to make recommendations to the judges. Information Sessions provide an introduction and overview to the role of a CASA Volunteer Advocate. You will also learn about the steps needed to take to become a CASA Volunteer.

CASA of Berks County Information Session

November 29, 2018

5:30 – 6:30pm

845 North Park Road

Suite 307 (rear of building)

Wyomissing, PA 19610