Deer Valley Unified Superintendent Wins Award of Excellence

CHANDLER -- Deer Valley Unified Superintendent Virginia B. McElyea, Ed.D., received the prestigious Award of Excellence for her Contributions to Public Education last Friday (April 20) at the annual Arizona School Public Relations Association Annual Superintendents' Awards Luncheon, held in Chandler.

View photo gallery of ASPRAtions Awards Luncheon.

The annual “ASPRAtions Awards” are given to statewide school district programs and individuals for their outstanding efforts in promoting local schools and districts among their communities. The awards are divided into the categories of Overall Excellence In Public Relations; Excellence for a Specific Program; Individuals, Government Officials, News Media representatives, Governing Board Members and Businesses, Foundations or Civic/Community Organizations for their Contributions to Public Education.

McElyea’s district picked up six other awards, including an Award of Excellence in the Category of Overall Excellence in Public Relations; two Awards of Excellence in the Category of Excellence for a Specific Program for: “Building Bridges to the Future”, a business-school partnership and “Red Carpet Service”, a training and recognition program. The Association also honored Governing Board Clerk, Bill Maas, (a former Business Manager of the district) and Governing Board Member, Christy Agosta, for their Individual Contributions to Public Education, along with the district’s business partnership with AAA of Arizona.

The Alhambra Elementary District also took home a total of seven awards, including Overall Excellence in Public Relations, and for two of its programs, “Core Values: A Blueprint for Success,” a district-wide improvement program received an award of excellence; and the “Parent-Community Ambassador Program” received an award of merit. Alhambra nominated Gerald Wissink, CEO of the BHHS Legacy Foundation, and Rep. David Lujan, D-Dist. 15 and the J.P Morgan Chase Foundation for their contributions to public education.

East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) received an award for Overall Excellence in Public Relations; an award of excellence for its “A-Plus Recognition Program;” and the district nominated Dan Yahraus, of Modern Industries, Inc. for his support of the EVIT precision manufacturing program. Rep. Mark Anderson, R-Dist. 18 and Jim Crutcher of Berge Ford, also both nominated by EVIT, received awards for their individual contributions to public education.

Peoria Unified School District’s “PATH – Peoria Access to Technology at Home” program received an award of merit, and the district nominated co-chairs of the Peoria Election Committee, Mary Crespino and Lorna Thacker, for organizing efforts to win a $120.5 million bond election and M&O override campaign worth more than $16 million in district operating funds. The district’s volunteer program that matches at-risk third graders with adult mentors, through assistance with Arrowhead Honda, “Learning Links” received an award of merit.

Kyrene Elementary District received the award for Overall Excellence for its PR Program, along with an award of excellence for the district’s “Open Enrollment” program; and nominated Ross Robb, of Benton-Robb Development for its partnership with the district; and Ahwatukee Foothills News education reporter for consistent and accurate reporting.

Tucson Unified School District also nominated Kimberly Craft, producer for KUAT Multimedia for her consistent and accurate reporting on Southern Arizona school issues.

The Chandler Unified School District, also a recipient of Overall Excellence for its PR program, in addition to an award of excellence for the Chandler Compadres, which created a Student Crisis Fund that assists families of youngsters who undergo life-altering injuries or illnesses for their contributions to the district (and to public education).

Paradise Valley Unified School District received an award or merit for Overall Excellence for its PR program, along with an award of excellence for “Every Day Counts!,” a program to counter student absenteeism; and an award of merit for its Foundation for Public Education.

Glendale Union High School District received an award of excellence for its “Annual Back-to-School Event,” and an award of merit for its “Career and Technical Education Program.” The district also nominated Troye Nash, President of the EndZone Booster Club for the group’s contributions to help provide Independence High School’s football team and its players with uniforms.

Mesa Public Schools received an award of excellence for its “Educational Television Department” program and an award of merit for its liaison with Mesa Community College “MCC Quest” television program. The district also nominated the Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens Latino Youth Delegation, which received an award of excellence; and the “Bilingual Information for Parents” DVD, which received an award of merit in the multi-cultural relations category.

Cave Creek Unified District’s “Musicfest,” a non-profit organization dedicated to providing classical music experiences to 6,000 students received an award of excellence; and the district also nominated the Kiwanis Club of Carefree for an award of merit for its assistance with scholarships, educational support and healthcare for the district’s students.

The Washington Elementary School District’s Washington Street Foundation, nominated by the district, also received an award of merit. The Foundation provides long-term mentoring and financial assistance to students with outstanding potential who would likely not succeed without special help.

The Horizon Community Learning Center, a charter school, received two awards of excellence for its “Tenth Anniversary Celebration,” and for its website.

Central Arizona Project’s “H204U Water Education Scholarship Program,” which was developed to connect middle school students, teachers, administrators and families to teach them about conserving Arizona’s water resources also received an award of excellence.

Gilbert Public Schools also received an award for Overall Excellence for its PR Program. Master of Ceremonies for the event, GPS Marketing and Public Relations Director, Dianne Bowers closed the program with a quote by poet and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Every great and commanding movement in the annals of the world is due to the triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it.”

The Arizona School Public Relations Association is a professional organization providing support for educators involved in school public relations, as well as professional development for school public relations specialists. ASPRA is a Blue Ribbon Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). The 2006-07 Officers are: President Eleanor Andersen, Arizona School Boards Association; President-Elect Dianne Bowers, Gilbert Public Schools; Treasurer Judi Willis, Paradise Valley Unified School District; Vice President/Programs Linda Jeffries, Alhambra Elementary School District; Vice President/Membership Lynn Strang, East Valley Institute of Technology; Secretary Mary Cummings, Education Consultant; and Immediate Past President Terry Locke, Chandler Unified School District.