May Newsletter: A Slice of APIE

Quick Bites of APIE: Teachers of Texas
1. AISD has 242 national board certified teachers – more than any school district in Texas.
2. The 2015 National Teacher of the Year is from Texas – the first time since 1957.
3. AISD has more than 6,300 classroom teachers.
4. 95% of participating teachers agree APIE programs are a good use of class time.
5. AISD teachers have an average of more than 11 years of teaching experience.

Donor Spotlight: Horace Mann
Horace Mann has a 75 year history of providing educators with quality life, health, and car insurance. They are a longtime supporter of APIE and are this year’s Signature Sponsor for Celebrate and Salute events honoring excellence in AISD. Horace Mann maintains over 750 offices in 46 states with former teachers making up approximately 50% of their workforce. Regional Marketing Officer Lori Gray is one of these former educators and understands the high demands and stress associated with working long hours in the classroom. Horace Mann believes teachers are unsung heroes, so Lori and her colleagues work to provide educators with insurance products to meet their unique needs.

As part of Teacher Appreciation Month, Horace Mann representatives will be visiting schools throughout May to provide breakfasts, lunches, and treats to AISD educators. Lori enjoys the camaraderie of these school campus visits as well as the opportunity to recognize hardworking teachers in our community. “If we can put a smile on their face and put them in a better mood, at the end of the day the kids benefit from happy, well-fed teachers.”

Horace Mann understands the impact teachers have on young minds as they continue to grow and develop and gives teachers the necessary support and encouragement needed to continue in their often thankless positions. Lori hopes all teachers know, “You are an appreciated and respected part of society and the most valuable asset to the community. You are not just a teacher. You are THE teacher.”

Please join APIE and Horace Mann in recognizing AISD’s hardworking teachers on May 19 at this year’s Salute event.

To learn more about becoming an APIE donor, please visit www.austinpartners.org.

Volunteer Spotlight: David Matustik
David Matustik, Deputy Communications Director for the City of Austin, has been a committed APIE Classroom Coach for the past seven years. Each week, he takes 45 minutes out of his busy schedule to read with 2nd graders at St. Elmo Elementary School. Since he was a child, his parents ingrained education in him and his siblings as the “ticket to success.” He strives to pass this along to his students in hopes they will have bright and successful futures. Most of David’s students are bilingual, and although he is not fluent, David has managed to make a deep connection with each of them.

“We become, in a sense, another family to the children,” he said as he reflected on his experiences. David said he learns as much as the students each week and enjoys the stories and laughs they share. One of his proudest moments was when his most timid student volunteered first to read aloud to his classmates in English. “I love to see the smiles on the children; that really brings me back every year.”

APIE in the Classroom
Thanks to each and every volunteer who helped make this school year GREAT! You make a difference in the life of a child, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Everyone needs someone who cares about them, someone to look up to, or someone to admire. You were that person for a student this year. We, and your students, thank you deeply.

“Many times at the beginning of 8th grade I said I hated math. I said that because I had zero confidence in myself. Now I’m great at math and have a lot of confidence… My confidence all began when APIE Coaches started coming… [they] boosted my confidence by making me feel wanted and making sure I knew the concept before moving on.”
–Iza, 2015 Math Classroom Coaching student

APIE After School
We see the dedication of teachers and school staff members firsthand every day. This month we get to celebrate them. Join APIE and AISD to celebrate teachers in May at Salute: A Tribute to Excellence. We’ll be awarding Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, Librarian of the Year and more! We hope to see you Tuesday, May 19 at the new AISD Performing Arts Center. The reception begins at 5:00 p.m. followed by the program at 6:30 p.m. For more information, you can visit the Salute webpage.

APIE Donor Meter

APIE donors give students an
educational boost! Please join
them to help us reach our
goal of $45,000 by May 31!