NEWS Walnut Valley Unified School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 880 S. Lemon Avenue
September 1, 2011 Walnut, CA 91789
Contact:
Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources
(909) 595-1261 ext. 31204
Two Walnut Valley teachers receive the 2010-11 “Outstanding Contributions to Literacy” Award
WALNUT, CA--Cindy Giang, a first grade teacher at Quail Summit Elementary and Kay Hoard, a fourth grade teacher at Vejar Elementary, have won the American Literacy Corporation (ALC) “Outstanding Contributions to Literacy Award.”
They are among ten educators in the state that will be honored on November 13 at the Victoria Club in Riverside.
“The commitment Kay shows her children is absolutely awe-inspiring,” said Vejar Principal Steve Carr. “We are very proud of her!”
Kay is an educator who embraces life-long learning and recently earned a second Masters Degree in Reading because she believed she could do a better job of teaching reading in her classroom, he said. Her classroom is media and literacy rich, creating an incredibly exciting environment for students, he added. Thinking Maps, GLAD, and Nancy Fetzer strategies are a core part of her curriculum.
“Kay readily adapts and modifies lesson plans to fit her student needs, and continual self-assessment is a constant in her classroom,” Carr said.
“Outstanding literacy teachers like Mrs. Giang are a treasure,” said Quail Summit Principal Dr. Alysia Hobbs. “She worked diligently to implement a Walk to Read program with the first grade team, skillfully and patiently crafting a dynamic literacy program for all first graders at our school.”
“Stopping in her classroom on any morning is a treat! Students are immersed with literacy, captivated with her storytelling, or their own adventures reading independently with her ever-watchful eye. Students engage in word play and giggle their way through phonemic awareness. Mrs. Giang’s young authors tell exciting tales of adventure in daily journals. Her students are fortunate indeed,” Dr. Hobbs said.
“This is the first time since 1992 that two winners from the same school district have won this award,” said ALC President Penny Hirschman.
Each educator completed a comprehensive application for the competition, which were screened and ranked by a committee. An ALC board member visited every Finalist to confirm they are going “above and beyond” in the classroom, Hirschman said.
“We want to see that the teacher is doing extra things like mentoring new teachers, training, and implementing grants or special programs,” she said.
The American Literacy Corporation annually grants $2,000.00 awards to select teachers and reading support personnel in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. The schools of the winners will also receive a $500.00 grant to use for a reading related school event.
The American Literacy Corporation accomplishes its goals by recognizing and rewarding teachers who significantly increase the literacy levels of their students. It also analyzes and disseminates data from effective teaching procedures and shares this information at literacy seminars and workshops.
Dr. Jo Stanchfield, Professor Emerita, Occidental College founded the non-profit organization in 1992 with her late husband, Stuart, and their friends.
To date, 117 teachers or reading support personnel have received this award.
Shown:
Quail Summit first grade teacher Cindy Giang helps students with a reading assignment.
Vejar Elementary 4th grade teacher Kay Hoard directs a lesson on California geography.