Teacher Excellence Spotlight
Diane Weeks, Kindergarten teacher at Richardson Elementary School in Tucson, was honored as the January 2010 recipient of Tucson Values Teachers' Teacher Excellence Award. In recognition of her excellence, Diane was nominated by three individuals: Kandy Clinkingbeard, John Pearson, Jr. and Stephanie Pearson. All three noted her her passion, courage and deeply rooted dedication to the children. Diane received a bouquet of flowers, balloons and gift certificates from OfficeMax. This month, Dixon Golf joined in the program and presented a certificate to Mrs. Weeks and a second OfficeMax gift certificate. For more information on the Teacher Excellence Award, click here. Director's MessageTucson Values Teachers is off to a great start in 2010. We launched the $10,000 for 10,000 discount card. The card, which remains in effect throughout 2010, features major discounts from more than 30 area businesses. You can print it out from this web site. And also print out from our site a second card from OfficeMax that provides deep discounts for K-12 teachers. Please help us spread the word - we want all 10,000 teachers to get great use from both of these cards. If you used every single discount offered, the total savings would exceed $10,000! We were also thrilled to be featured on the front page of the Arizona Star on Tuesday, January 26, announcing our most recent Teacher Excellence Award recipient, Diane Weeks (see above). Her story of courage and deep commitment to her kindergarten students at Richardson Elementary School is an inspiration.. TVT is eager for ideas on how to honor our K-12 teachers and also bring them as much economic benefit as possible until the time we can actually raise their salaries. Join us in this effort. Log on to the "comment section" of this site and let me hear your ideas. It takes everyone of us to create a truly education-first community.
Jacquelyn Jackson |
$10,000 for 10,000 Teachers!
Tucson Values Teachers has teamed up with over 30 local Tucson businesses to provide our local teachers with discounts and offers worth more than $10,000. If you're a teacher in the Tucson area, click here to sign up for this great program, or check out all the valuable offers from our sponsors!    What's New"$10,000 for 10,000" Discount Card
More than 30 Southern Arizona-based companies have offered to reduce their costs for our card, which grants more than $10,000 in discounts to more than 10,000 K-12 teachers in Pima, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties. Starting today, teachers can visit the "$10,000 for 10,000" page and print off their discount card. By presenting it with a valid teacher ID or a recent pay stub at a participating business, they can begin receiving deals on goods and services such as cars, financial services, home furnishings and spa treatments. Locally owned businesses such as Desert Toyota of Tucson, Commerce Bank of Arizona, El Charro Café and Gadabout SalonSpas have decided to participate. Companies with a nationwide focus such as Wells Fargo, Walgreens and Loews Hotels are also offering select deals, while Tucson-area OfficeMax locations will cut and laminate the discount card at no charge to teachers. In addition, teachers will receive a special OfficeMax discount card, which will provide printing discounts up to 70% off and great discounts on selected items perfect for the classroom. The discounts will last throughout 2010. Additional deals will be unveiled later in the year. For a full list of participating businesses and discount details, click here. HELP US HONOR TEACHER EXCELLENCEYour favorite K-12 teacher in Southern Arizona can win a $50 gift certificate from OfficeMax and Tucson Values Teachers as part of our Teacher Excellence Awards! Each month, one teacher will be selected by Tucson Values Teachers' board of directors and featured on the website, on top of receiving their prize. Community members can nominate as many teachers as they would like and the monthly winner will be announced on the third Tuesday of each month. So, send in those nominations! Internship Program Gears Up for 2010Tucson Values Teachers, in close partnership with the University of Arizona's Department of Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies, hopes to expand its highly successful internship program from the 20 internships in 2009 to more than 38 in 2010. Thanks to the companies who stepped up in 2009 to make this program a success: Raytheon Missile Systems, SEBRA, University of Arizona/Biosphere 2, Sundt Construction, Beach Fleischman & Co., General Plasma, BioVigilant Systems, Fort Huachuca and Texas Instruments. As we gear up for the summer of 2010, we want to hear from you. E-mail Jacquelyn Jackson, executive director of Tucson Values Teachers, and let her know what you would like to see in internships this year. If you participated in the program in 2009, share how it has made you a better teacher and how your students are reaping the benefits. Any teachers that are interested in the program can download an information flyer. For additional information, visit the Southern Arizona Science & Math Internship Center's site or e-mail Julia Olsen, program director for the center. Interested companies and organzations can complete a business needs analysis, which helps us in recommending teachers to the most appropriate businesses. |
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