A Stepping Stone Foundation Blog
Lifelong proponents of education to be honored at the 11th Annual Cena y Serenta
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Two of Arizona’s most influential advocates for quality and equitable education have been selected as the 2018 Distinguished Educational Leadership Community Impact awardees by A Stepping Stone Foundation for their decades of servitude and leadership to advancing education for all children and their families. Dr. Lattie F. Coor and Mrs. Elva Coor of the Center for the Future of Arizona will be honored at the 11th Annual Cena y Serenata presented by Valley Toyota Dealers on Friday, April 13th at Warehouse 215 in downtown Phoenix beginning at 6:30 in the evening.
The awardees were selected by the Cena y Serenata Committee for demonstrating: a long-term commitment to educational success, their active involvement in the community, making a significant impact to Arizona through their efforts and accomplishments, embracing the importance of providing stepping stones to create success through education for children and families who have limited opportunities, and for having demonstrated their passion for two-generational education approaches. A Stepping Stone Foundation Executive Director, Cynthia Gattorna remarked, “Dr. and Mrs. Coor are treasures to our community. They exemplify life-long actions to make Arizona a better place to learn and grow for all students, no matter what their background.”
Nominated by Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick, Chancellor of the Maricopa Community Colleges, she has witnessed their many contributions to Arizona and highlighted two recent contributions; Beat the Odds and SpeakOut AZ.
Beat the Odds is aimed at raising student achievement in schools with mostly low-income, predominantly Latino students, by training principals in how to improve leadership skills, which research shows is among the most effective ways for under-performing schools to improve student achievement.
SpeakOut AZ is designed to increase civic participation throughout Arizona and include civics curriculum in schools. Their strategies include, but are not limited to targeting early literacy and Pathways to Prosperity.
Dr. Coor and Mrs. Coor are architects of multi-faceted educational approaches to increase student and community success at all levels of our education systems. “Like A Stepping Stone Foundation, Dr. Coor and Mrs. Coor’s passions create milestones for students, families, and the community at large to be stronger together,” said Chancellor Harper-Marinick.
The benefit dinner co-chaired by Mrs. Jeanne Baker and Dr. Gabriel Escontrías, Jr. will benefit A Stepping Stone Foundation’s flagship program LEAF (Literacy Elevates Arizona Families). The program will be emceed by Ms. Arlety González and Mr. Octavio Pulido of Telemundo Arizona. Entertainment will feature Guitarist Gustavo Angeles and Rhythm Edition.
For more information about A Stepping Stone Foundation and the 11th Annual Cena y Serenata, go to http://asteppingstone.org or call 602-843-8281.