Know any 'legendary' Tucson teachers? Here's how you can pay tribute to them

Legendary Teacher Day, a day to honor teachers who have made a difference in students’ lives, is Thursday, Sept. 27.

The day of tribute to teachers was established in 2014 by Nic Clement, a longtime school administrator. New this year, Clement has partnered with Pima County schools superintendent Dustin Williams to broaden the program’s reach and increase the teacher recognitions.

Community members are invited to recognize a teacher that has made a difference in their lives by posting a tribute online at: legendaryteacher.com/Tribute.

Random tributes will be selected and the teachers recognized will receive a gift card in the name of the person submitting the tribute.

Raytheon to honor 3 Pima County teachers

Raytheon Missile Systems honored three local teachers with the company’s third annual Leaders in Education Awards earlier this month.

The Leaders in Education program recognizes and rewards Pima County teachers in Grades K-12 who are achieving outstanding classroom performance, demonstrating leadership in their schools and communities, and supporting their peers in a committed teacher workforce.

The 2018 honorees are:

• Nicole (Niki) Tilicki, third-and fourth-grade teacher at the Innovation Academy in the Amphitheater Public Schools district;
• Patricia Vogel, an eighth-grade engineering teacher at Mansfeld STEM Magnet Middle School in the Tucson Unified School District; and
• Andrew Lettes, who pioneered Pueblo High School’s biotechnology program in TUSD.

Raytheon awarded the three winners separate $2,500 gifts, plus another $2,500 in matching gifts to each of the teachers and their respective schools.

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The teachers will meet with local business and political leaders over the next year to share success stories and find common ground in advocating for advancements in education.

Desert Sky School receives grant to plant

Desert Sky Community School, a K-5 charter school guided by the principles of public Waldorf education, was awarded a community seed grant from Native Seeds Search to use in the organic school garden.

Each student in Grades 2 through 5 will be given a small plot of their own to plant seeds. First-graders will plant peas to a trellis to form a tepee structure that will eventually provide a green, shady place to rest within the garden. The produce students grow in their plots will be theirs to take home.

Wildflower seeds were also included in the request to turn a bare area next to the garden into a field of wildflowers that will help attract bees and other beneficial insects to the garden.

School promotes

Start With Hello Week

Presidio School, in partnership with Sandy Hook Promise, a national, nonprofit organization led by several family members of those killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, is taking part in the nationwide “Start With Hello Week,” Sept. 24-28.

Start with Hello teaches students in Grades 2 through 12 the skills they need to reach out to and include those who may be dealing with chronic social isolation and create a culture of inclusion and connectedness within their school or youth organization.

For more information on the program, visit sandyhookpromise.org/bringStartWithHello.