Every year for the last eighteen years, the Foundation has recognized teaching excellence with Teaching Awards. In 1998 we instituted a Leadership Award and in 2003 an award for Classified Staff was introduced. Recipients are nominated by colleagues and reviewed by a committee of administrators, certificated and classified staff and the Foundation. Each month teachers and staff who have a measurable positive impact on campus are recognized with Impact Awards. All new teachers receive a Foundation grant to defray classroom start-up Costs.

2012 Teaching & Classified Staff Award Recipients:
l. to r., Sam Stephens, Silvia Torres, Natalie Stuart, Michele Breen.

Teaching Awards
Silvia Torres
Guidance Department Chair Silvia Torres is a dynamo. She is always cheerful under pressure, overseeing the complex registration, scheduling, and certification for graduation of all Menlo-Atherton students. In between, she oversees support and college readiness efforts
for students who are struggling. As an English language learner and first-generation college student herself, she is a constant reminder to all of our students of what is possible when one is driven to achieve a goal. Silvia’s contribution to M-A students and families cannot be underestimated. She’s a remarkable contributor to our community!

Natalie Stuart
M-A veteran Natalie Stuart is kind, caring and nurturing to students and colleagues alike. Natalie started at M-A as an Instructional Associate in Special Education, then stepped up
to teaching and became the Chair of the Special Education Department, overseeing a staff of nearly 40 people. The heart of Natalie’s job is the support she gives her students and their families throughout the four years of high school—and the results are many of her students successfully going on to college. Natalie brings laughter and levity to our campus and a serious commitment to her work. What a winning combination!

Michele Breen
M-A Math teacher Michele Breen is a natural leader. Michelle creates curriculum that benefits all geometry students at Menlo-Atherton. She finds interesting, tangible ways to explain abstract concepts to students in order to help them remember and process materials, and makes herself available to students in her spare time to offer extra help. Michele is also instrumental in organizing M-A’s teacher survey and evaluation process. Her efforts to encourage teachers to collect and analyze data with ease can only be described as herculean. Michele also volunteers her time as the Outreach Coordinator, setting a strong community service example for M-A students. Simply put, Michele Breen makes M-A a better place!

Classified Staff Award Recipient
Sam Stephens
Campus Aide Sam Stephens is a role model and an M-A icon. Sam not only monitors students’ behavior to keep our campus safe; he takes the time to get to know students and challenges them to be better citizens of the M-A community. Sam shares his life experiences to help guide students down the right path and generously offers help and counsel to whomever he encounters. Sam has an amazing way of making everyone improve their attitude. He treats the students with respect, even when they’re out of line, and offers them straight-talk and guidance for keeping out of trouble. When students look back on their years at M-A, their interactions with Sam Stephens will be among their fondest memories. Sam Stephens is a M-A treasure!

2011–12 Foundation Impact Award Winners: front row, l. to r., Sherinda Bryant, Lara Gill, Christina Galliano, Tamatha Hauskens. back row, l. to r., Paul Snow, Chris Rubin, Kevin Coulombe. Not pictured: Mike Amoroso, Courtney Avila, Craig Carson, Frank Cornejo, Susie Duenas, Tonya Edgington, Crystal Gilfillan, Sergio Gonzalez, Gladys Gudino, Simone Kennel, Scott Kirk, Kent Kurrus, Karl Losekoot, Brien Oliver, Deanie Taufoou, Kelly Todd, Alison Tovar.