Jacqueline Hamilton, Executive Director of ECCLA
Teacher talent in South Los Angeles schools was recognized and celebrated on Thursday at the ECCLA (Education Consortium of Central Los Angeles) 2013 Awards Ceremony.
The 22nd annual ceremony was held in the Hall of North American Mammals at the National History Museum of Los Angeles County, where several hundred people nibbled on snacks and cheered for a diverse group of teachers who were rewarded for their innovative and creative teaching strategies, some of whom have benefited the community at large.
“When I think of ECCLA, I think of community,” said Dr. Jane Pisano, President of the National History Museum, in her welcome. Dr. Pisano remarked that ECCLA celebrates excellence.
ECCLA’s Executive Director, Jacqueline Hamilton, said the award ceremony — where honored 65 students and teachers — is meant to call attention “to the hard work of teachers” and by recognizing their contributions, be a factor in helping schools retain talented teachers.
The reason for Hamilton’s excitement and enthusiasm as she spoke became clear when she introduced the teachers nominated for awards. Teachers like Stephanie Hoffman at Foshay Learning Center who used blood drives as a service learning project and helped the community learn the value of blood and organ donation, or Silverio Chan of Arlington Heights Elementary who is well-known for growing silkworms or Wynona Asher who has been serving inner-city children in parochial schools for 38 years, or Edgar Villasano who teaches in the same community where he grew up who through the Donors Choose program provided his students with equipment to make a video documentary.
The list of achievements, enthusiasm, rigor, creativity and dedication is long from teachers who work in schools like Normandie Avenue and 42nd Street Elementary Schools, Frederick Douglas Academy, Crenshaw High School, John Muir Middle School and many others.
ECCLA is a consortium of local schools, museums, community groups and colleges, including USC. The relationship between USC and area schools was evident. One of the speakers at the event was Kim Thomas-Barrios, an ECCLA awardee in 1995, and now the Executive Director of USC Educational Partnerships. USC alum Alberto Rivera is now teaching at Vermont Avenue Elementary School in South L.A.
To read more about ECCLA and its programs, click here.
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