Arizona Education Association

Summer 2021

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ESPROFESSIONAL SUMMER 2021 | ADVOCATE 9 ESPecially for Kids AEA honors an exceptional education support professional with the "ESPecially for Kids" Award, which recognizes a classified employee for "extraordinary efforts on behalf of young people." e 2021 ESPecially for Kids award recipient is Todd Autenreith, Flowing Wells Education Association. Todd is the model for all public school employees. Aer retiring from an extensive teaching career in elementary and middle schools, Todd returned to Flowing Wells as a computer lab technician. Th oughout 2020 and 2021, Todd faced the challenges of new technology and a dependence on remote learning with a growth mindset and positive attitude. Todd has built many personal relationships with our Governing Board members to ensure a positive and productive school climate for all school members. He leads by example as he models how school employees can become active members of the Association and serve our students and the community daily. He celebrates all employee successes and accomplishments and is always seen as a positive resource. Todd has spent his entire career as a leader with two specific assions - an advocate for literacy and athletics. Aer serving as a wrestling coach for nearly 30 years, Todd continues to help with wrestling tournaments as an announcer and advocate for school athletics. He participates in the Love of Reading events in the district and eagerly practices reading with all students in his computer lab. He sees that students can learn perseverance and adaptability on the wrestling mat just as they can in reading. Todd Autenreith Flowing Wells Education Association Nell Wilcoxen Future Educator Scholarship is scholarship is offered to an AEA member or their immediate family who plans to pursue a career as an educator. Scholarships are utilized for accredited college or university coursework. Anthony Lovio is an Education Support Professional in the Flowing Wells Unifi d School District. He is a classroom assistant. He attends Prescott College, majoring in Special Education. Anthony wants to become a certifi d teacher because he has a genuine love for special education and public education. He knows that everything he does will have a lasting impact on the students. Th oughout his educational career, he had teachers whose actions still wander the halls of his memory. He may not remember their math lesson, but he does remember their compassion and understanding for a student who was willing to learn. Anthony had a US History teach and Academic Decathlon coach write, "Keep carrying the fi e" in his yearbook. at comment from his mentor was a tremendous inspiration. He now proudly displays that phrase in his own classroom as a reminder to himself and his students. He wants his students to know that no matter what happens in life, no matter how difficult that specific oment may be, there are better days ahead. Working in a low-income school, he sees how poverty directly affects a student's success in the classroom whether that is not having access to the proper materials or not having a clean mask to wear. He wants to help and support all students. He believes that no student is unteachable, and no special education student needs to be "fi ed." Anthony wants to inspire and empower his students to be the best version of themselves. He hopes that one day his students will look back and tell their own children to "Keep carrying the fi e." Jesus Anthony Lovio ESP Member, Flowing Wells Education Association ESP Professionals in the Spotlight

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