The Foundation for the Future is pleased to recognize M-A’s talented teachers and staff with a variety of awards:

New-Teacher Awards
Each new M-A teacher receives welcome-check to help defray the cost of classroom supplies

Impact Awards
In 1999, The Foundation began a program to recognize M-A teachers and staff members who make a positive impact on campus. 

2006-07 Impact Award winners (L to R). Back row: Karl Losekoot, Lance Powell, Gregg Whitnah, Monique Martinez. Middle row: Kai Lee-Hay, Jenna Carson, Susan Sharer. Front row: Bobby Wong, John Giambruno. Not pictured: Patrick Maier, Hector Melgar, Frank Moura, Colleen O’Neill, Margie Osborn, Sam Stephens, Toni DiCicco, Karen Ramirez, Dana Collins.

Teaching, Classified & Leadership Awards
Since 1995, the Foundation for the Future has recognized and rewarded teachers who demonstrate excellence in the classroom through the presentation of annual Foundation Teaching Awards. In 1998, an additional award was created to recognize and reward M-A teachers or staff members with a long history of leadership at M-A through the creation of the Leadership Award, to be presented periodically, as warranted. In 2003, another annual award was added to recognize and reward classified staff through the presentation of  the Foundation Classified Staff Award. 

Here are the 2006-07 Foundation for the Future Teaching, Classified Staff and Leadership award recipients, who are a very deserving group:

Left to Right: Diana Beers, Madeleine Besse, John Giambruno, Stephen Ready, Jim MacKenzie, Hector Melgar

Madeleine Besse
In the more than twenty years that she has been teaching Latin at M-A, Madeleine has inspired class after class of M-A students. In addition to her regular teaching duties, she spends a weekend each year with her students at the California Junior Classical League—this year, they took first place both in catapult and costume. Madeleine’s career at M-A has been lived “consilio et animis” (or, for the non-Latin speakers amongst us, “with a plan and with courage”).

John Giambruno
John wears many hats throughout his day at M-A. He teaches English, Video Production, and runs the AVID (“Advancement Via Individual Determination”) program providing academic support to help students achieve their goal of attending college. Known affectionately as “G”, John is admired for his dedication and compassion to his students and their families. He’s also been known to produce a video or two showcasing M-A programs and even staff weddings.

Stephen Ready
In his eight years at M-A, Stephen has taught ESL (“English as a Second Language”), World Studies, and is now M-A’s Bilingual Resource Teacher. After teaching high school English on the Texas-Mexico border for a number of years, Stephen came to M-A well prepared to encourage and empower M-A English learners. He also provides invaluable support to other teachers and staff in imple-menting strategies for advising and assisting our English learners. Stephen’s positive impact is felt school-wide.

Diana Beers
Diana has been the M-A librarian for nine years. During her tenure, she helped move hundreds and hundreds of books one summer from the old library to our current state-of-the-art library. Diana has built our collection of books, software, DVDs and videos for both classroom use as well as pleasure. Diana has also arranged for presentations by guest authors, inspiring our students in and outside the classroom. Indeed, many say the M-A library is the place to be.

Classified Staff Award Recipient

Hector Melgar
A native of Guatemala, Hector has been making M-A a better place for 9 years as custodian. Whether he is helping to set up for sports or other events on nights or weekends, Hector can be counted on to go above and beyond what is asked. He helps maintain a clean and safe learning environment for our students, teachers and staff. Thank you, Hector.