Focus on TUSD - November 2006

TUSD Wrap Up
Kindergarten Teacher Mary Rodriguez of C.E. Rose Elementary School has been selected as a 2007 Rodel Exemplary Teacher. Three others, Anita Raptis and Christine Nielsen of Blenman, and Irma Burrell of Howell, are finalists for the Rodel Charitable Foundations of Arizona honor.

"Our incredible librarian read the article first thing this morning and brought a celebration cake to school. The entire staff celebrated with Mary before school started this morning," said C.E. Rose Principal Stephen Trejo via e-mail on Nov. 20.

The foundation started its teacher initiative to recognize exemplary teachers who work in low-income schools. Finalists selected by the foundation have students who show high achievement rates for three straight years compared with students of teachers in similar Human Resources Pumpkin Contest Entry schools.

Rodel Exemplary Teachers are required to train future teachers over the next three years. Each winning teacher will receive $5,000 in savings bonds. They will receive another $5,000 in bonds after they complete mentoring student teachers in the next three years.

Tutors are needed to help TUSD elementary students improve their reading and language skills, and develop self-esteem and positive attitudes toward learning.

OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program, which matches trained volunteers with students in grades kindergarten-through-third-grade, is seeking volunteers. Tutors will be paired with students who will benefit from one-on-one attention during the school day. Volunteers work with children as mentors and friends, as well.

Free training and materials are provided along with on-going support throughout the year. Training is held at the OASIS office on the third floor of Macy's in El Con Mall, 3435 E. Broadway.

To register, contact TUSD's Barbie Wagoner, 232-8040, or Stacey Moore, 322-5627. No teaching experience is necessary.

Borton Primary Magnet School was one of 10 schools recognized at the Microsoft Worldwide Innovative Teaching Forum in Philadelphia, Nov. 11-12. Borton educators Ginger Snider, Sheri Marlin, and Renee Olson represented represented the school at the forum, where Borton was the only winner from the United States. Borton principal Teri Melendez said the school was recognized for its integration of technology and systems thinking tools to support the teaching of content. There were 61 projects from 35 countries.

The Miller Elementary School Mustang Chorale, composed of fourth- and fifth-graders, performed a special Veterans Day tribute for veterans Nov. 9 at the school, 6951 S. Camino de la Tierra.

"Update Earth," a theatrical performance of music and dancing with colorful scenery, elaborate costumes and props and interesting characters, was staged by Holladay Intermediate Magnet School fifth-graders Nov. 7. Holladay is an intermediate elementary school for grades three, four and five that focuses on academics as they relate to fine and performing arts.

Marco Ramirez, principal of Pueblo Gardens Elementary School, received the $25,000 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award Nov. 2, in a surprise presentation during a school assembly. Dr. Jane Foley, representing the foundation, announced the award.

The Milken educator award is the largest educator recognition program in the country. Ramirez, who has been an educator for more than 20 years, joined Pueblo Gardens as the principal six years ago.

Under Ramirez' leadership, Pueblo Gardens was recognized as a TUSD school that is beating the odds this year. It was also recognized as a Benchmark School in Arizona last year, and was the only Title I school in TUSD rated "Highly Performing" in the 2004-2005 school year.

The state of Arizona Marching Band Festival was held in Phoenix Nov. 4 and the following high school bands competed and captured the following ratings:

Sabino - Superior Rating with Distinction, Jeff Marchant, Director
Santa Rita - Superior Rating, Michael May, Director
Sahuaro - Excellent Rating, Scott Anderson, Director
Catalina - Excellent Rating, Kyle Kinnamon, Director
Palo Verde - Excellent Rating, Vanessa Eastman, Director
Tucson - Excellent Rating, Robert Sanchez, Director

Catalina High Magnet School's Air Force Junior ROTC unit garnered the Sweepstakes Trophy by being selected "Best in Parade" at the American Legion's Tucson Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11. In addition, the Catalina Color Guard was selected "Best Junior Color Guard." Master Sgt. Mark R. Wagner leads the groups.

In October, the girls' cross-country team from Catalina won the state cross-country title in Phoenix; Catalina's boys' team placed second in the state championship.

Members of the girls' team are Amanda Beckham, Jessica Davis, Maritza Flores, Maria Isabel Lemas, Magda Mankel, Melanie McGrath, Annalisa Medina and Cherise Price. The team is coached by Kathleen Espinoza and Nick Varner; James McGrath is a parent volunteer.

Also in October, Catalina English and job-development teacher Mary Hinson was named to the 2006 All-USA TODAY Teacher Team. Hinson has brought $1.45 million in grants and partnerships to Catalina, including $100,000 to build a mock AutoZone store on campus. She was the only teacher in Arizona named to the 2006 All-Star Teacher Team.

Hinson was one of 19 individuals and one instructional team of two honored in USA TODAY's ninth annual teacher recognition program. They all received trophies and share $2,500 awards with their schools. All-USA Teacher Team members are selected each year from kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers nominated nationwide. Education professionals in a two-step judging process consider how well nominees define and meet their students' needs and most importantly, the impact they have on students and student learning.

Hinson has worked since 1982 to teach English and job skills to special-needs students at Catalina. Her efforts include forging business partnerships to teach job skills, co-authoring a $750,000 grant to build smaller learning communities and getting educational technology such as voice recognition and reading software for the school.

Four departments submitted entries for the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest sponsored by the Human Resources Department. The Human Resources entry won first place. "This was not fixed," said Educational Support Service's Heather Todachine via e-mail.

Second place went to the entry from Accountability & Research; Grants Accountability & Title I garnered third place. Technology & Telecommunications Services submitted the fourth entry. "HR wants to thank everyone who participated," said Todachine.

Students from ArtWorks Academy judged the contest.

Four Sahuaro High School students were elected to regional offices at the Arizona Fall Leadership Conference of SkillsUSA in Phoenix in October: freshman Courtni Wisniewski, vice president; junior Angelica Wilder, secretary; sophomore Robert Martin, treasurer; and freshman Rebecca Lizarraras, historian. The four join two more Sahuaro students, junior Christina Gee, who is the regional president; and senior Annie Ruboyianes, who is the state president. SkillsUSA is professional organization for students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE). Participants learn leadership skills as well as engage in competitions in their technical areas. The students are advised by Michael Halfmann, who sits on the Arizona SkillsUSA board of directors for Region 6.

Twenty-one TUSD students were selected to receive $200 scholarships after attending the annual Tucson College Night in October. Approximately 3,500 students from throughout Tucson attended the event.TUSD seniors who attended and filled out a scholarship entry form were eligible; two students from the high schools/programs were selected. The award will be sent directly to colleges after the students register in the fall. The winning students are:

• Catalina
  • Jessica Davis and Jason Johnson
• Cholla
  • Martin Casarez and Marisela Haro
• Howenstine
  • Brianna Fierro (one student entered the drawing)
• Palo Verde
  • Holly Himebaugh and Dustin Johnson
• Pueblo
  • Yesenia Barcelo and Gabriel Tapia
• Rincon
  • India Greer and Brian Jenkins
• Sabino
  • Mon-Ning Fung and Chandler Wardlaw
• Sahuaro
  • Jon Caldwell and Grace Estell
• Santa Rita
  • Gwynth Smith (one student entered the drawing)
• TAPP
  • Araceli Martinez (one student entered the drawing)
• Tucson
  • Andrew Gallardo and Marissa Selby
• University
  • Scott Brazelton and Skye Fernandez

Third-graders in seven elementary schools received free dictionaries from the Rincon Rotary Club. Rincon Rotarians delivered approximately 500 dictionaries to the following schools: Duffy, Hollinger, Lawrence, Richey, Robison, C.E. Rose and Van Buskirk.

Dodge Middle School raised $1,400 from a Diabetes Walk held at the school Oct.20. Teacher Donna K. Engelbert said the school emphasizes community altruism.

The Opening Minds Through the Arts (OMA) program is part of a nationwide study on the arts in the classroom. Project Zero, an educational research group in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, is conducting the study. The Harvard group chose the OMA program for inclusion in the study and made a site visit to Tucson in October.

The "Qualities of Quality" study received 121 applications from across the country, according to Steve Seidel, director of Project Zero and one of the study's investigators. Twelve institutions were invited to participate in the study, which will be completed by December 2007, resulting in a 100-page report, said Patricia Palmer, Project Zero manager. The purpose of the study is to better understand what it takes to create and sustain high-quality arts learning and teaching both in and out of school.