Ceremony honors students and teachers
Extra work?
That didn’t sound too good to Julio Favela at the beginning of the school year. The sixth grader at Goodman Elementary was about to start the Read 180 program at school.
“I didn’t want to do it – because I just didn’t want to do extra work,” Julio said.
Fast forward to the end of the school year, and Julio has changed his tune. In fact, he excelled in Read 180 and was honored last month as one of the top Read 180 students in the entire country.
“Amazing,” he said about the award he received at last month’s Read 180 and Math 180 celebration. “I would just focus on it. My teacher was really good.”
The HMH Read 180 and Math 180 programs are designed to help students who are behind in reading or math make rapid gains. And the 180 Awards spotlight students who have overcome personal and academic challenges to make remarkable gains and educators who go above and beyond to deliver meaningful instruction, foster student achievement, and champion equity through intervention.
“Recognizing Read 180 teachers and student winners is a way to showcase and celebrate their hard work, growth and perseverance – building confidence, inspiring a love of reading and promoting a proud culture of literacy and learning in our school community,” said Michelle Webb, an Arlington ISD intervention specialist.
The 180 Awards recipients are nominated by fellow educators, coaches, intervention specialists, parents and school leaders from across the country.
Remarkable success is the standard
Remarkable success in the Read and Math 180 programs has become the standard in Arlington ISD, where producing national 180 Award winners is an annual tradition. And this year, it wasn’t just Julio. Two other amazing students earned the national recognition for their achievement. Martina Jiminez Ramon, a Rankin Elementary third grader originally from Spain, was also awarded for her monumental progress through Read 180.
On the math side, Rodriguez Junior High seventh grader Brianna Mayen Garcia was one of only five Math 180 winners in the entire country and the only one in Texas.
“Just stay positive,” said Brianna, who is known for always helping others in her class. “Keep going. Don’t give up.”
Student growth is only possible with great teachers, and three of Arlington ISD’s also received national recognition as top Read and Math 180 educators, including:
- Joanna Butcher, Read 180, Rankin Elementary
- Sandy Emerson, Read 180, Ousley Junior High
- Alicia Parr, Math 180, Ousley Junior High
Congratulations to these dedicated teachers and students!