“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Henry Brooks Adams
On Saturday, January 17, San Diego County teachers and community members, along with representatives from Azusa Pacific University and Jefferson Pilot Communications, gathered at Legoland California to honor men and women investing in today’s youth – teachers.
The Annual “Teachers Are Heroes” Awards Presentation recognized twelve educators who received the award during 2003. K-8 students and parents filled the stands to cheer on the recipients and thank them for their dedication.
“Heroes are all around us, including law enforcement persons, firefighters, and armed forces personnel around the world,” said Alice V. Watkins, Ph.D., special assistant for university programs at APU. “Rarely does a community include teachers among the list of today’s heroes. Yet, in every town, legions of men and women spend everyday protecting the minds, souls, and spirits of America’s children. They commit their lives to the development of America’s most precious resource. They strive daily, with little recognition, to help each child become the best that they can. The Teachers are Heroes Program honors just a few of the extraordinary individuals that are truly heroic.”
Several speakers from APU and Jefferson Pilot Communications thanked the honorees for their commitment to education, including Jane Asher from KSON; Melissa Sharpe from KIFM; Garett Michaels from FM949; Jon R. Wallace, DBA, APU president; and Deana L. Porterfield, vice president for enrollment management at APU. Peter Burton of Jefferson Pilot Communications, recognized APU for helping to sponsor the Teachers Are Heroes Program in his closing remarks.
"With the help of our partners, Jefferson Pilot radio stations have developed the Teachers Are Heroes Program as a way to support teachers who are cultivating our youth," said Colleen Davidson from Jefferson Pilot Marketing. "They have such a difficult, yet vitally important job. Teachers are truly the unsung heroes of today and this program salutes them."
Those honored at the ceremony include Linda Litrenta, Silver Strand Elementary; Kandhy Franklin-Collins, Hill Creek Elementary; Donna Erickson, La Presa Middle School; Brenda Sasso, Saint Patricks School; Joe Estey, Sunnyside Elementary; Ruthie Murray, Rolando Park Elementary; Morgan Elizabeth Glenn, Discovery Elementary; Leah Saunders, Northmont Elementary; Sheri Noble, Francis Parker School; Ardell Simonson, Vista Grande Elementary; Grace Lauchmen, Walker Elementary School; and Shannon Muehleisen, Pomerado Elementary School.
The Teachers Are Heroes Program honors one K-8 teacher per month of the more than 27,000 San Diego County-based educators. Teachers are selected based on essays submitted to Jefferson Pilot radio stations and then reviewed by a panel of judges. Honorees receive gift certificates for school supplies, a classroom party, restaurant gift certificate, and a recognition plaque. Nominations are now being accepted for 2004 and may be submitted in the form of 500 words-or-less essays to www.kson.com, www.kifm.com, www.fm949sandiego.com, or at Teachers Are Heroes, 1615 Murray Canyon Road, Suite 710, San Diego, CA 92108. For more information, contact Lori A. Kildal Ph.D., executive director for APU’s San Diego Regional Center at (619) 718-9655 or visit www.apu.edu/sandiego/.
