News

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Kudos to Marlen Valencia, Recipient of an Award of Excellence by the California School-Age Consortium

Marlen Valencia, Child Development School Age teacher of children in grades K-1 at Adams Elementary School, has received notification that she was chosen for an award of excellence by the California School-Age Consortium. This award honors two teachers each year in California who work in afterschool programs. She will be honored at a luncheon reception on October 16 in Torrance during the annual statewide Afterschool Conference for her accomplishments and commitment to the field. Ms. Valencia has been teacher in the districts’ Child Development School Age Program for the past 25 years and is deeply committed to providing a classroom environment where children receive continuous support in social skills, conflict management, and self-care. She has led the way in the Child Development Program in developing her outdoor classroom with garden areas planted and maintained by the students and her families.

When asked if there were any particular turning points in her career, she quickly responded that her stepson John was a major influence. In the course of raising John, she realized that he was in fact teaching her how to be a compassionate mother and also a compassionate teacher. Her stepson is now grown but that relationship helped her see that her passion was to commit herself to work with other people’s children and be there for them 100 percent. She said, “Teaching is a profession of giving and I feel blessed that I am doing my love and my profession.” The Child Development Program was once a K-6 program that served children after school and during the summer. Ms. Valencia enjoys keeping in contact with the youngsters she once served who have since headed off to college, joined the military, or have had children of their own. With 25 years in the classroom, she has taught the children of former students.

Ms. Valencia was very humbled by the honor and said, “I feel this award isn’t just for me but for everyone who works for the Child Development Program.”