Dear Friends and Neighbors,

On Monday, students in the Anchorage School District are headed back to school! With the 2016-2017 school year approaching, it is important to honor our teachers and thank them for their hard work.

Sarah Afoa receives BP Alaska Teacher of Excellence Award

Congratulations to Sarah Afoa, who recently retired as a Kindergarten teacher at Gladys Wood Elementary, on receiving a 2015 BP Alaska Teacher of Excellence Award. The BP Teacher of Excellence program, now in its 20th year, honors K-12 teachers from public and private schools who have shown great dedication to teaching and inspiring students in Alaska. In 2015, BP recognized 32 Alaska teachers out of 1,200 tremendous nominations. Sarah was one of 10 recipients from Anchorage, which includes a $500 matching grant to Gladys Wood Elementary.

Rep. Claman visits Gladys Wood Elementary.

Sarah was born and raised in Anchorage and grew up near Gladys Wood Elementary in the Sand Lake neighborhood, where she still resides. Sarah has been teaching in Alaska for the last 32 years and taught Kindergarten for 29 of those years. She believes that family involvement in the learning environment is crucial to each and every student’s success. She has established activities such as a reading skills lab, family skating events, and movie nights to get to know families outside of the classroom. Beyond her work at Gladys Wood, Sarah is an active volunteer and supporter of the UAA women’s basketball team.

Sarah is presented with her legislative citation.

Sarah was honored, along with other teachers from across the state, for her exceptional performance in the classroom, dedication to students, and lasting contribution to Alaska’s future. This spring, I had the privilege of meeting Sarah and her students at Gladys Wood to present a legislative citation for her accomplishments. Sarah has touched the lives of many students and families in West Anchorage, and her dedication to teaching has made a lasting impact on the next generation of Alaskans.

Rep. Claman visits with Kindergarten students at Gladys Wood Elementary.

Sincerely,

    Rep. Matt Claman

    P.S. follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Click here to unsubscribe