Reading is Key: 2023-2024 Honorees
We are so excited to close out the 2023-2024 year by announcing and congratulating our nominees and winners of our inaugural Reading is Key literacy initiative! As you may recall, during the 2022-2023 school year, MPUSD continued its focus on improving reading levels in grades preschool through third grade with the goal of ensuring every child is able to read at or above grade level by the end of third grade. This goal aligns to the state’s priority of meeting the same mark by 2026.
During the 2023-2024, MPUSD doubled down on its reading efforts launching a “Reading is Key” literacy initiative focused on helping students achieve fluency in phonics to reach its reading goal. Additionally, this initiative highlights administrators, teachers, staff, and students who have worked extraordinarily hard to focus on literacy efforts.
2023-2024 Student Winners
Literacy Key Achiever Award: Recognizing students' outstanding achievements and contributions to literacy, symbolizing their role as keys to unlocking the world of reading and learning. Students will receive a t-shirt, bookmark, sticker, and Scholastic gift certificate to celebrate their achievements.
- Student Winners: Junji Celestino, Oliver Castro, Marwa Fazil
Literacy Trailblazer Award: Celebrating a student's pioneering spirit in overcoming challenges and making significant progress in their literacy journey. Students will receive a t-shirt, bookmark, sticker, and Scholastic gift certificate to celebrate their achievements.
- Student Winners: Myles Moody, Ginger Espinola Cardenas, Stephany Bukshaber, Edwin Silva Lucas, Benjamin Muniz, Jason Jimenez Barrera
2023-2024 Educator Winners
The District Visionaries: For a school that exemplifies strong literacy practices and routines across the campus. Educators uphold equitable instruction of grade level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful literacy instruction, every day. School winners will receive a "Reading Is Key" trophy to display prominently to their community and all staff members will receive a commemorative “Reading is Key” t-shirt, bookmark, and sticker.
- JC Crumpton Elementary School
- Olson Elementary School
- Ord Terrace Elementary School
The Literacy Leader: For the teacher demonstrating outstanding dedication, innovation, and leadership in fostering literacy skills among their own students and supporting colleagues to do the same through the thoughtful implementation of district-approved instructional materials and strategies. Teachers will receive a “Reading is Key” t-shirt, bookmark, and sticker. The winner will receive $500 literacy classroom makeover.
- Winner: Hugo Cortez
- Nominee: Michelle Faatuai, Jamee Lynch-Moore, Alyssa Mah, Veronica Brambila, Matthew Holmes, Sara Prather, Nicole Aboujaoude
The Literacy Legend: For the teacher who has achieved significant reading gains/growth for many years among their students through structured literacy practices. Teachers will receive a “Reading is Key” t-shirt, bookmark, and sticker. The winner will receive $500 literacy classroom makeover.
- Winner: Katie Mumm
- Nominees: Ann-Margaret Manyak, Diana Morales-Gregory
The Literacy Innovator: Recognizing educators who fearlessly change practices in order to explore new dimensions of literacy, blending MPUSD's Core Literacy Practices with cutting-edge research-based district-approved instructional materials and strategies. Teachers will receive a “Reading is Key” t-shirt, bookmark, and sticker. The winner will receive $500 literacy classroom makeover.
- Winner: Maria Murrillo
- Nominee: Erika Bertelsen, Reyna Merlin, Kate McMurtray
The Language Luminary: For the teacher demonstrating outstanding success in developing the literacy skills and language development of emergent bilingual students/English Language Learners (ELLs). Teachers will receive a “Reading is Key” t-shirt, bookmark, and sticker. The winner will receive $500 literacy classroom makeover.
- Winner: Tonya Miller
- Nominee: Mariana Ramos, Elizabeth Smith
The Data Dynamo: For the K-3 teacher who effectively utilizes Phonics to Reading Benchmark data to drive responsive Tier I instruction and intervention strategies to better enhance student literacy growth and achievement. Teachers will receive a “Reading is Key” t-shirt, bookmark, and sticker. The winner will receive $500 literacy classroom makeover.
- Winner: Tnaya Scott
- Nominee: Deanna Frybarger, Alix McGann
A huge congratulations to our Reading is Key winners and nominee educators and students. Their innovative approaches and unwavering dedication are making a real difference here in MPUSD. We support our educators in your continued pursuit of igniting a passion for reading and literacy attainment in all students.