March 5, 2008

Do you know a city teacher, principal or administrator who deserves public recognition for a job well done? How about a volunteer who is always there for city students? On October 28 Rochester Education Foundation will hold its Third Annual Partnership Awards Dinner. We are asking for your help for nominations for the best city educator and the best volunteer in city schools. To nominate someone, please tell us in an e-mail or a letter why you believe this volunteer or educator has made a difference in the lives of city students. Details are encouraged, including the length of time an individual has worked with city children, the specific ways their work has helped children, and the particular strengths that have contributed to their work. Please include your own complete contact information. You can e-mail the information to us or mail it to REF, 250 Mill St., Rochester, NY 14614. For more information about the 2008 dinner, please go to:
http://rochestereducation.org/events/partnership_awards_2008.shtml

2007 honorees a distinguished group

Patricia Dodge, a retired kindergarten teacher who had a 40-year teaching career at School 4, was our educator of the year in 2007. Nominator Gloria McDonald wrote that she, her daughter and her son enjoyed learning as students in the kindergarten class of Ms. Dodge. "My children and I are forever grateful for all she has done for us." Ms. Dodge, who continues to volunteer daily at the school, attended the dinner with a large number of former students whose dinners were funded by our generous sponsors. Our volunteer of the year was Geri Spino, who founded the Scott Spino Foundation serving city students after the death of her son Scott, a city school teacher, in 2004. As her friend and collaborator Karen Guidarelli said, Geri's goal is to improve education in Rochester while honoring her son. Other honorees named by the REF board included Wegmans (Business Partner), First Unitarian Church (Sustained Partnership), Isobel Goldman (Making a Difference), Julio Vazquez, Sr. (Makin g a Difference), and Annette Rouse (Lifetime Commitment to Children and Education). For a story about the dinner, please go to:
http://rochestereducation.org/events/partnership_awards_2007.shtml

Pass it On

We'd appreciate your help in spreading the word about our search for nominations. Please consider forwarding this message to a friend ...or a few. Or call a friend right now and suggest that he or she visit the REF website:
http://rochestereducation.org/

Thanks!