In a packed house, highlighted by Superintendent Paul Cruz serenading mothers, Austin SA国际传媒 recognized 307 students, two community members and one organization for excellence at the 2016 Latino Academic Achievement Awards.
鈥淭oday, we honor Latino students who are shining stars at ASA国际传媒. Congratulations to each of you on the accomplishments you have made,鈥 Superintendent Paul Cruz said. 鈥淵our achievements reflect your persistence, hard work and dedication 鈥 qualities that will serve you well in your future endeavors.鈥
Of the 307 students recognized, 201 personally received congratulations from Dr. Cruz and ASA国际传媒 Board members. In addition, one organization and two individuals were recognized with community awards for supporting ASA国际传媒 students and families.
A Community for Education received the Latino Excellence in Advocacy Award for providing outstanding support in advancing Latino academic achievement and promoting educational outcomes in ASA国际传媒.
ACE has partnered with ASA国际传媒 for 21 years, placing highly trained, full-time AmeriCorps tutors in ASA国际传媒 Title I elementary schools to provide foundational, bilingual literacy tutoring for students. Students receive daily, one-to-one, 30-minute lessons tailored to their literacy level and reading needs.
Robert Kibbe received the Latino Parent Volunteer Award for volunteering a significant amount of service in a school-specific or district-wide capacity. Kibbie is a native Austinite and lives in Dove Springs. He attended ASA国际传媒 schools and is passionate about supporting ASA国际传媒 and promoting parental involvement. He is currently the PTSA President-Elect of Mendez Middle School.
In addition to volunteering at his children鈥檚 schools, Kibbe is also active in other capacities in the community. He is the Vice-President of Dove Springs Proud, a member of the Dove Springs Recreation Center Advisory Board and serves on the City of Austin鈥檚 Flood Mitigation Task Force.
Megan Sheffield received the Latino Community Service Award for providing public and civil service to benefit Latino students and families in ASA国际传媒. Sheffield is an immigration lawyer and Equal Justice Works Emerson Fellow at the Equal Justice Center in Austin. Her work focuses on providing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) legal assistance to underserved communities.
In addition to direct legal representation, Megan holds free legal clinics in central, north and northwest Texas to assist DACA applicants. She is also working on immigration reform issues, including advocacy for immigration programs that would provide temporary relief to millions of immigrant families (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and expanded-DACA).
ASA国际传媒 congratulates the students, families, teachers, community members and organizations that played a role in the achievements recognized at the 2016 Latino Academic Achievement Awards. The district also thanks those not recognized for their continued support to promote ASA国际传媒鈥檚 mission to reinvent public education.