Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1533049
African American Human Rights Award in Honor of Lois Tinson Awarded to a CTA member whose activities have helped to achieve significant progress on behalf of equal opportunity for African Americans; Lois Tinson was CTA's first African Ameri- can president. Errol Garnett COMMUNITY SCHOOL SITE COORDINATOR Alvord Educators Assn. Errol Garnett, or "Mr. G.," has demon- strated an unwavering commitment to advancing human rights and empowering underserved communities, particularly African American youth. His multifaceted efforts as an adoptive parent, education advocate and com- munity leader make him an exemplary candidate for this Human Rights award. As adoptive parents, Garnett and his wife have opened their heart and home to children in need, providing them with stability, love and opportunities they may not have otherwise had. This dedication to improving young lives demonstrates Mr. Garnett's belief in the fundamental right of every child to grow up in a nurturing environment. Garnett's creation of the Greatness Within program show- cases his vision for systemic change. This initiative advocates for, honors and educates African American students, addressing the unique challenges they face in the education system. By empowering these students to recognize their inherent potential and providing them with resources and mentorship, Garnett is actively working to dismantle barriers and promote equal educational opportunities. This year, Garnett chose to leave his high school math classroom to become the Community School site coordinator at Alvord Unified School District 's most impoverished community school. In this role, he bridges the gap between schools, families and community resources, ensuring that students and their families have access to vital support services. Garnett has also established other community partner- ships to add to the lasting and transformative impact of the community schools in his district. He hosts monthly food drive events that are open to the entire community. He brings up everyone around him and encourages new and existing community members to become more involved. In addition, Garnett is an elected member of his local executive board and actively recruits members of historically marginalized communities into leadership within his local. He is part of the CTA Cadre program and focuses his efforts on promoting CTA's Human Rights programs not only to his local but statewide. American Indian/Alaska Native Human Rights Award in Honor of Jim Clark Awarded to a CTA member whose activities have helped to achieve significant progress on behalf of equal opportunity for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Donna Fernandez M. ED (POMO), HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER Santa Rosa Teachers Assn. National Board Certified Teacher Donna Fernandez, Pomo from Elem Indian Colony, is a secondary mathe- matics educator at Piner High in Santa Rosa. She is committed to equitable educational opportunities for Native youth, focusing on mathematics while preserving cultural heritage. She is not only transforming individual lives but also contributing to the larger goal of equity in education and representation in STEM fields. She does this by fostering collaborative teamwork and connecting students with the cultural and mathematical relationships that surround them, cultivating an inclusive environment where all students can see themselves as mathematicians. In addition to her impactful classroom teaching, Fernandez is co-director of the Alliance for Indigenous Math Circles (AIMC). Through AIMC, she empowers Indigenous students and educators by integrating mathematics with cultural understanding and identity, making mathematics a tool for self-expression and community growth. Among Fernandez' many accomplishments: • Planning and directing with AIMC mathematicians the annual week-long math camps to blend experiential learning through math circle problems with cultural and STEM activities at Navajo Preparatory School in Farm- ington, NM, and at the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center in Santa Rosa. These camps promote the connection between mathematics and Indigenous tra- ditions, fostering a sense of pride and belonging among participants while providing students with hands-on, culturally relevant mathematical experiences. • Serving as a teacher representative on the Santa Rosa City Schools Indian Education Committee where they do fun family math nights for the community. • Creating math lessons that center on Indigenous math- ematical knowledge to strengthen students' identity and sense of belonging in mathematics. • Partnering with the American Indian Science and Engi- neering Society to implement Native Financial Cents to build participants' financial capability. • Speaking and presenting at multiple professional and cultural events about Indigenous mathematics education. Fernandez has devoted almost two decades to the Indig- enous community, uplifting native students to dream, excel and achieve academic excellence through mathematics. 38 cta.org Feature