Council Honors and Awards
International Reading Association Honor Council Arizona Reading Association Copper State Award Phoenix West Reading Council and the Arizona Reading Association
are affiliates of The 2006 Annual Banquet and Awards Program At the International Reading Association's annual conference in Chicago , the Phoenix West Reading Council received the following honors: IRA Honor Council - 22 years Membership Honor Roll Local Council Community Service Award - The 10th Annual Run for Literacy Every year, the Phoenix West Reading Council pays tribute to individuals in education, business and the media for their exemplary dedication to literacy in Arizona. This year, the recipients are: Sara Mendoza, Teacher - Cartwright District Ron Hoon, Fox 10 News Anchor Glendale Civic Pride Ambassadors Fox 10 News Anchor Mr. Ron Hoon By Mary K. Spangenberg, PWRC Member and Second Grade Teacher at Spitalny School It was my first year teaching when I met Mr. Ron Hoon. He was working as the Master of Ceremony at the Visiting Nurses Book Sale. I was attending this event with my friend, and noticed Mr. Hoon's great sense of humor and deep appreciation of literacy. I thought to myself that my students would just love to have the chance to hear him speak. Not expecting much, I walked up to the booth he was at and introduced myself. Before I could even finish my request, Mr. Hoon vivaciously agreed to come anytime, adding that he would just love to visit. (I still don't know how he knew what I was going to ask since I never finished the sentence!) Not really believing him, I went back to my classroom the next day. Well, imagine my surprise when a message was already waiting for me on my classroom telephone just begging me to call him back right away. He remarked on how he couldn't wait to meet my students and coworkers! Unbelievable as it seems, he has visited my classroom every year since (7 years) to read books to kids, meet my coworkers and promote literacy for special events taking place at our school. We even got him to sit in a car as a reading parade Grand Marshall! As a son of two educators, Mr. Hoon's attitude and love of literacy is reflected in all that he does! He understands the importance of what educators do everyday. When he visits a school, Mr. Hoon is spreading the gospel on the value of being a great writer and reader. What can be more motivating and powerful then seeing and hearing a local celebrity sending this message to young people! While most media persons are obligated under contract to make guest appearances, they do so grudgingly or not at all. This is not the case with Ron Hoon, who actually loves this part of the job. Whether he is talking with children, educators or public officials, his message is always the same, LEARN TO READ AND WRITE AND THE REWARDS WILL BE ENDLESS! Click here to view the presentation of The Celebrate Literacy Award to Ron Hoon live on Fox 10! Sara Mendoza, Educator - Cartwright School District By Jerri Horning, President of the Phoenix West Reading Council Sara Mendoza worked for the Cartwright School District for twenty-six years. She was a bilingual teacher and also worked in the Title 1 program with reading specialists and aides. Despite retiring two years ago, Sara returned as a substitute teacher because her first love is literacy. Sara did not want to miss out on all those literacy activities and wonderful new books! Since she first began in the Cartwright District, Sara has been a member of Phoenix West Reading Council (PWRC). Presently, she is the Membership Chairperson, and has served in this position for the last three years. The PWRC Literacy Grant program has been near and dear to her heart. Sara enjoys reading all those fantastic grant ideas that teachers come up with, and has collected and coordinated grant applications for the PWRC selection committee. Her involvement with PWRC's Teachers as Readers (TAR) group has been a wonderful experience as well. They read and discuss many books on a monthly basis. Through numerous council projects and activities, Sara has volunteered many hours of community service. These projects include Reading is Fundamental, Literacy Saturday, Run For Literacy (committee chair) and book drives for the West Valley Crisis Center. In addition, she has also been a member of Phi Delta Kappa, and served as their program chair. 2007 Literacy Grant Award Winners
2006 Literacy Grant Award Winners
2005 Literacy Grant Award Winners On October 8th, 25 grants were given to seven School Districts and one private school including Peoria, Washington, Cartwright, Murphy, Osborn, Deer Valley, Paradise Valley and Mission Christian School. Below is a list of the recipients.
|
