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Austin Participates In Education
Your Guide to Engagement
Volume 2, May 2005
From the Desk of Kathrin Brewer
Sara Bechtold
2005 Teacher of the Year
This month has been an exciting one for Austin Partners in Education as we celebrated our annual ‘Salute’ to Austin teachers at the Palmer Event Center on May 4th, and AISD’s teacher of the year, Sarah Bechtold of Houston Elementary, was announced. She was named the District’s Elementary Teacher of the Year in early April. The High School Teacher of the Year is Cesar (Charlie) Gutierrez of Reagan High School and the Middle School Teacher of the Year is Caron Sharp of O. Henry Middle School. Ms. Bechtold will now represent the Austin School District in the search for the 2005 Texas Teacher of the Year sponsored by the Texas Education Agency.
Also, on May 10th a Spring Soirée at Santa Rita Restaurant was held to honor APIE’s school coordinators who make such an important contribution to the smooth running of programs. We shared best practices and heard from Linda Anderson from Metz Elementary School.
In the words of Sarah Bechtold, “What other job can you come to where you hear ‘I love you’, ‘you’re the best’, where kids jump up and down when they learn something or get excited when you do something special for them and you always get a jug at the end of the day. There is no other profession where your colleagues do that for you, and that’s why I keep coming back.” Congratulations Sarah and thank you to all teachers for your dedication.
We are truly blessed to have such an active community of organizations and individuals who care about and contribute to Austin’s students in many small and large ways. Thank you one and all. Please read on for more about Salute 2005, news about our latest programs … and of course, opportunities for involvement …
Salute 2005 Award Winners
The list of nominees for Partner of the Year for Salute 2005 was very impressive. The award, accepted on behalf of Applied Materials and its employees by Mr. Chris Belden, Group Vice President and General Manager of Global Operations, recognizes a Partner who has made exceptional and innovative contributions to the District.
Applied Materials has a long history as a pillar of support for the Austin School District. As needs have increased they have escalated their support exponentially in terms of both dollars and volunteer employee hours. Last year Applied Materials invested nearly $325,000 in the students of Austin, both through direct funding and indirect funding of nonprofits who work in the district. Most importantly, Applied Materials decided to focus its support on a group of schools that have often lacked strong partnerships and have a number of unmet needs. These schools include Pecan Springs Elementary, Pearce Middle School, and LBJ High School. Their grants support after-school care, reading, the fine arts, and mentoring, etc. Not only does the company provide financial support, it also encourages its employees to get personally involved by volunteering on all of these campuses. Their employees serve as tutors, mentors, and role models.
Applied Materials gives approximately $1 million in philanthropic donations to the Central Texas community with an emphasis on youth education. In Austin, the company aims to empower underserved youth through highly focused investments with significant long-term impact in central Texas. The company partners with two districts, Austin and Manor. Applied Materials, Inc. headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and a major employer in Austin, is the largest supplier of equipment and services to the global semiconductor industry.
Other Salute 2005 Award Winners recognized were:
Hall of Fame – Ben Ornelas and Rick Burciaga
Chair’s Award – Bob Rutishauser
Chair’s Award – John Blazier
District Volunteer of the Year - Vincent Torres
Campus Volunteer of the Year – Robby Anderson
Mentor of the Year – Ross Baldwin
Mentor Program of the Year – Austin Energy
Good Things Come in Small Packages – Grateful Growers Inc.
College Preparation Program of the Year – St. Edward’s University/Huston Tillotson University
Business Representative of the Year – Sandy Dochen
Rookie of the Year – Bernie Blazier
Special Project of the Year– Ricardo DeLara /Juan A. Rangel / F.T. Woods
Exemplary Staff Performance Elementary Level – Janie Orosco
Exemplary Staff Performance Secondary Level - Stephanie Touchstone
Exemplary Staff Performance Central Office – Lawrence Hill
Campus Spirit Award– Ortega Elementary School / McCallum High School
Partner of the Year for Texas School for the Deaf – Sorenson
Featured Program
Our featured program this month is The Homework Haven at Reagan High School. This is a before and after school program that provides assistance to all Reagan High School students needing help with their class work. The Homework Haven actually refers to the library where all students are welcome and can find a quiet conducive spot for their studies. They can also find assistance through UT work-study tutors and volunteer tutors from the Austin community.
The Homework Haven is a concept created by Sari Waxler and the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP) Coordinator at Reagan High, Roslyn Caldwell. With assistance from the AISD 21 st Century After-School Program Coordinator and Austin Partners in Education’s volunteer recruitment and training efforts, tutors provide support in all subject areas, but primarily in Algebra I/II and Chemistry.
One volunteer, Dr Chris Uzomba, the Chair of Austin Community College’s Chemistry Department has transformed his group of students. Initially the students had to be persuaded to attend their study group. By the end of the semester they wouldn’t miss a meeting. Next year, focused study groups of 5-8 students in after school programs will be staffed by pairs of community volunteers. Partner groups like IBM are using this opportunity to send a team of volunteers one afternoon a week. Tutor pairs cover for one another’s schedule conflicts. After school groups are a coordinated effort by Big Brothers Big Sisters, Communities in Schools Century 21, GEAR UP, Boys and Girls Clubs and Dell TechKnow.
Not only is this a great way to provide support for students, it is also an example of various educational service providers working together to enhance educational efforts.
Further information can be obtained by contacting APIE at 637-0975 or email at tutors@austinpartners.org.
School Beautification
Summitt Elementary School and the Travis Community Education Foundation (TCEF) joined forces to begin the ‘Renaissance of Summitt’. Summitt’s Principal Ann Lilie and PTA President Sandy Martin rallied a large contingent of parents, teachers and students to join the TCEF volunteers in planting, painting and replacing areas of the large campus. Bradford pears and crepe myrtles now grow in the main courtyard and walk of the school, the rear of the building is lined with beds of salvia and lantana, peeling metalwork around the campus is repainted and the children’s gardens and front flowerbeds of the school have been renewed.
In addition to the striking changes outside, TCEF partnered with Summitt PTA with a matching grant that stretched their fundraising dollars and made a new computer lab possible. TCEF has also provided Summitt with an up-to-date, custom web site with webmaster support. The best part of the partnership is the community spirit that is built when businesses join with educators and parents and bring out the best in everyone. Watching the children planting and the parents working beside them, you get a glimpse of what the future can be when we all work together.
Govalle Elementary
For Mr. Lonnie Limon, a former student at Govalle Elementary School, a move to New York City was not enough to keep him from giving back to his old elementary school. Although based in New York, Lonnie regularly mentors five boys at Govalle, and this month he will be giving the graduation address. Lonnie has also encouraged a friend of his to also mentor a number of boys at Govalle. Through Lonnie’s involvement with Gus Garcia, a special visit to City Hall was arranged for the boys where they had the opportunity to meet dignitaries. Lonnie has made a huge impact in the lives of these boys.
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