William Burrus was named the Jim Murphy Volunteer of the Year by Reading Seed, a county-wide program that promotes literacy.
Burrus was recognized for his “great dedication to his students, strong advocacy for schools and tremendous support of the Reading Seed program and its staff,” according to a news release.
He was among honorees recognized Thursday at Reading Seed’s 20th year celebration at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
Reading Seed is a program of Literacy Connects, a local nonprofit founded in July 2011 through the merger of five literacy organizations. Literacy Connects serves children and adults through literacy coaching, reading and tutoring.
Also honored at the celebration, attended by more than 300 people, was Mary Jo Schwartz, a first-year reading coach and longtime children’s advocate, who received the Bruce Beach Literacy Advocate Award.
Schwartz is a strong supporter of Reading Seed and shares the importance of children’s literacy, organizers said.
Elizabeth Fuller, a staff member at Tucson Unified School District’s Marshall Elementary School, received the School Site Coordinator of the Year Award. It was based on nine nominations from Reading Seed volunteers at the school.
Fuller helps volunteers and works to ensure they have the best coaching experience at the school.
Six volunteers were honored with the Elizabeth Fimbres Spirit of Service Award for going “above and beyond” the coaching requirements to support students, teachers and other coaches. The winners were Janet Bayne of Continental Elementary, Jane Brown of Nash Elementary, Linda Desens and Julia Hahn, both of Ford Elementary, Kathy McDaniel of Ochoa Elementary and Karen Wilson of Vesey Elementary.
The three volunteers recognized with the Lita Bratt School Impact Award were Ed Alexander of Myers-Ganoung Elementary School and Chuck and Connie Sanner of Erickson Elementary.
