Vol. 25| Iss. 7| July 2021
CHRISTIAN BUSINESS CONNECTIONS CELEBRATES SHINING LIGHT TEACHER AWARD 17
By Kelly Wise Valdes
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Columns: Grace Notes: Hooked On Books: Faith & Footprints: News From The Wire:
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Christian Business ConAward winner was Kathy nections (CBC), a faithMetz, kindergarten teachbased business networking er at Foundation Christian group located in Brandon, Academy. Metz, a mothcelebrated the 2021 Shiner of two daughters, has ing Light Teacher Award taught kindergarten at presentation last month. Foundation Christian AcadThe Shining Light Teacher emy since 2010. She is a Award spotlights the exhighly requested teacher traordinary educators that because of her reputation serve students in Christian as a Christian and an exschools in the area. cellent reading coach. Metz The premise for the award partners with parents to is founded on Titus 2:7-8: help students grow aca“In everything set them an demically, emotionally and example by doing what is spiritually. She has taught good. In your teaching show while battling cancer and integrity, seriousness and also while caring for her ill soundness of speech that parents and father-in-law, cannot be condemned, so Christian Business Connections recently celebrated this year’s Shining Light and she continued to teach that those who oppose you while dealing with the Teacher Award presentation. The finalists were Terri Fellers and Kimberly Oates (finalists/Bell Shoals Baptist Academy/top), Kathy Metz (winner/ may be ashamed because loss of those parents, losFoundation Christian Academy/middle), Julie Pollock (finalist/St. Stephens they have nothing bad to ing her home to a fire and Catholic School/lower left) and Kathleen Greenberg (finalist/Nativity Cathosay about us.” caring for a husband with lic School/lower right). “CBC began this award major health issues. She’s lives. All winners were visited indiin 2017 but was unable to a team player and a child provide a winner last year due to vidually for the award presentations. advocate. Metz is one of the many “There is no cost for schools to par- deserving teachers showing up with COVID,” said Ryan Hughes, founding member of CBC. “We were happy to ticipate and all awards are donated a happy heart for her students each by local businesses,” said Hughes. and every day. bring the award back this year.” The Shining Light Teacher Award “Principals from interested schools If you are a business or individual process begins with peer nominations can reach out to me for more details that is willing to donate or become within the participating Christian for next year.” involved with this outstanding proThe 2021 finalists were Terri Fellers gram or want more information on schools. The school administration forwards the nominees to interview and Kimberly Oates from Bell Shoals the CBC’s Shining Light Teacher with a board of CBC members who Baptist Academy, Julie Pollock from Award and how your school can parselect the winners based on certain St. Stephen Catholic School and ticipate, email shininglight@chriscriteria, including Christian leader- Kathleen Greenberg from Nativity tianbusinessconnections.com or visit ship, commitment to educational ex- Catholic School. www.christianbusinessconnections. This year’s Shining Light Teacher com. cellence and their impact in students’
CHILDREN & ADULTS CAN ‘ACHIEVE’ LITERACY AND EDUCATIONAL GOALS
By Kelly Wise Valdes
Many children as well as adults struggle with educational goals and may be looking for outside alternatives and assistance. Achieve Plant City is a nonprofit organization established by a middle school dropout who changed her own life through education and is paying it forward to help others achieve their educational goals. The organization has been providing services in Eastern Hillsborough County since 2011 under the support of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. “Achieve Plant City was established to help others achieve their dreams through education,” said Founder and Executive Director Angelica Ibarra. “I personally saw the transformation in my life and the lives of my children once I started gaining knowledge and after I realized the importance of literacy and education.” The organization’s philosophy is that through education and support, all individuals can reach their potential. One of the most important programs offered is Adult Literacy, which includes English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes,
that strengthen the family unit. Parents and children work together on literacy activities and parents are taught strategies for supporting literacy that they can reinforce at home. Before COVID-19, Achieve Plant City was serving up to 100 individuals each year. “The families who attend our program enroll because they want better lives,” said Ibarra. “They want to be able to communicate with others and they want to be involved with their children’s education. They Achieve Plant City is a nonprofit organization that helps are hardworking individuals who are seekchildren and families achieve their educational goals ing to better themselves through literacy through literacy programs. and who need the extra Adult Basic Education (ABE) classsupport to reach their es, General Education Development goals.” (GED) classes and basic computer Achieve Plant City is in skills instruction. Achieve Plant City also offers child need of volunteers for the after-school program and literacy programs, which include early the adult literacy program, and it also always welchildhood education for children ages comes donations that can help with school supplies 18 months to 5 years old and reading and tutoring costs. It is located at 202 W. Reynolds and homework assistance for children in kindergar- St. in Plant City. For more information about donaten through fifth grade. This also includes parenting tions, volunteering or becoming part of this important education with workshops that focus on supporting program, visit www.achieveplantcity.org or call 752parents in their role as their child’s teacher and topics 4010.