Tucson Values Teachers (TVT) presented the January Teacher Excellence Award to Maricela Parra, a preschool teacher at Santa Clara Head Start, part of Child-Parent Centers, Inc. Ms. Parra first became involved with Head Start 20 years ago as a volunteer. Originally from Mexico, Ms. Parra decided she wanted to pursue a career in education and worked with the center to continue her education; she began as a substitute and then later became a co-teacher. She has spent the past eight years as the lead teacher.
Ms. Parra was nominated by the Center Director of Santa Clara Head Start, Narda Olivarez. In her nominating statement, Ms. Olivarez wrote, “Maricela has gone above and beyond this year working with children with special needs, collaborating with the Speech Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, and a Special Education Teacher from Sunnyside Unified School District.
“She has coordinated IEP meetings with parents and ensures that her work continues into the home by working with parents on strategies that will help children thrive not only in the classroom but also at home. Her work is made evident as children are already meeting goals set by their IEP. Families as well as co-workers have commended the implementation of her strategies in the classroom as well as her constant communication with the parents.”
