Patricia M. Roberts is uniquely qualified to serve as the head of the Academy In Manayunk.  Pat is both a passionate educator and successful businesswoman.  Her lifelong commitment to education began as a graduate of West Chester University where she received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in education.  Her career began in the laboratory school at West Chester University where she taught children in research-based early childhood programs in both regular and special education settings.  Through federally funded dissemination grants, Pat was able to further expand her educational outreach to include conducting teacher in-service workshops and seminars nationwide.

This experience ultimately led to the incorporation of her first of three successful businesses, Primak Educational Foundation.  Along with a business partner, Pat was able to continue the work of research-based curriculum development begun at West Chester University.  A commitment to the power of technology as a unique learning tool led her to spearhead the development of cutting-edge educational software as part of her second business, Early Learning Associates.  The software developed by this company was ultimately sold to Houghton Mifflin.

Pat then continued her commitment to ongoing education by launching PTS Learning Systems, Inc., providing corporate computer training and learning support software to both small and large businesses in the region.  Pat and her partner, Mike Levinson, grew this multi-million dollar business to include 250 employees in the US and abroad.  She sold her company to Global Knowledge Network, Inc. in 1999.

In the year 2000, Pat became an adjunct faculty member in the College of Education at West Chester University supervising student teachers in the field.  She also launched the Institute for Educational Excellence and Entrepreneurship (3E Institute) with the belief that corporate and community partners needed to collaborate with schools to enrich the programs for students and engage students in the opportunities of the 21st century workforce.  Identifying and rewarding entrepreneurial educators as part of the Educator 500 program became a cornerstone of the 3E Institute.  She plans to continue at West Chester University and to explore ways that this institution can assist the important mission of educational outreach and professional education for teachers in the region.  Pat lives with her husband and two children in Chester Springs, PA.