Jose Noperi, Jr., a math teacher at TUSD’s Valencia Middle School, is the March winner of the Teacher Excellence Award. Noperi has taught at Valencia for 12 years and currently coaches the girls soccer team.
Noperi was nominated for the Tucson Values Teachers award by his colleague, Briana Gomez.
“Watching his interactions with students who have come back to our school (or who work at businesses in our area) has confirmed to me that he is a staple of our school community,” the letter read. “His ability to bond with the children using humor and tough love helps their social interactions and helps him emphasize the importance of accountability, good work ethic and critical thinking skills.”
Teacher Excellence Award winners receive $250 cash courtesy of Helios Education Foundation, a $100 gift card to Jonathan’s Educational Resources, flowers, and a TVT tumbler.
Go to www.tucsonvaluesteachers.org for more information about the award.
Foundation honors teacher, NAMI
Carlos Ramirez, a TUSD music teacher for exceptional students, and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Arizona have been selected as recipients of the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona’s 2024 Diane Lynn Anderson Memorial Award.
The Community Foundation of Southern Arizona (CFSA) recently announced that Carlos Ramirez, a music teacher for exceptional students in the Tucson Unified School District has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2024 Diane Lynn Anderson Memorial Award.
Ramirez said of receiving the award: “I am honored to receive this award. I started doing this job because I wanted to make a difference in the educational journey of people with disabilities. I am grateful that now I have a supportive community behind and in front of me. Music has the power of change. This is my inspiration to continue breaking barriers and creating better spaces for exceptional citizens.”
The Community Foundation of Southern Arizona (CFSA) recently announced that National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Arizona has been selected as a recipient of the 2024 Diane Lynn Anderson Memorial Award.
In a statement, NAMI Southern Arizona said: “NAMI Southern Arizona is deeply honored to receive the Diane Lynn Anderson Memorial Award, which recognizes our unwavering commitment to mental health advocacy and support. This accolade reaffirms our dedication to fostering resilience, hope, and healing in our community. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue championing mental wellness for all,” said Briana Felix, NAMI Southern Arizona’s Executive Director.
Marana preschool recognized
Estes Elementary preschool in Marana has earned its first five-star rating from Quality First, the district announced.
The voluntary quality rating system helps families find quality child care. The quality of each program is assessed on key components of quality early care, including adult-child interactions, learning environments and staff qualifications.
Students picked for career training
Through a workforce development grant provided by the City of Tucson, Pima Community College has partnered with the Center for the Future of Arizona and the Pima County School Superintendent’s Office’s Pima Cycle Breaker. Ten youths between the ages of 16 and 24 will be included in a project to help them find a career path.
Pima County Cycle Breaker students learned about automotive technology at the Pima Community College downtown campus Friday, March 29.
During this 10-week training program, the students will be enrolled in a career-contextualized class that includes integrated career training and basic skills instruction. They will meet at the downtown campus of Pima Community College three times per week for a variety of classes, career services and help enrolling in PCC courses.
Week of the Young Child approaching
The National Week of the Young Child will be celebrated in the Tucson area April 6-12.
The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize early childhood programs and services that help meet those needs. There will be community events around the state — including one from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Vail on April 6, at 13105 E. Colossal Cave Road.
The age range of birth to 5 is considered one of the most impactful phases of a child’s life, said Sydney Lunsford, Interim Executive Director of Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children.
“These children are the next generation of leaders, next generation of teachers, next everything. It affects everyone.” Lunsford said. “There are a lot of great people who understand the importance and a lot of great people who need to know more.”
Learn about TUSD’s desegregation history
Join Tucson Unified School District Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo and the NAACP-Tucson to learn more about the history of the long-time desegregation case at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 4, at Howenstine Education Center, 555 S. Tucson Blvd.
