MVHS AVID Teacher Receives $10,000

When Moreno Valley High School (MVHS) AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Coordinator Tommy Stokes heard he won $10,000, he was taken aback, to say the least. "I was in total shock," Stokes said. Stokes was one of five California AVID educators who was recently awarded the AVID Teacher Advocacy Award, which seeks to support AVID teachers and site team teachers in the state, improve AVID teaching, retain AVID teachers, share professional learning and further the AVID mission: “to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society,” according to the AVID Center website. Stokes, along with four other AVID teachers—Amy Dellefield, Oakland High School, Oakland; Amy Lobsinger, Fesler Junior High School, Santa Maria; Amanda Peterson, Sunnyside High School, Fresno; and Donna Rankin, Jean Farb Middle School, San Diego—on July 9 accepted his award at the General Session of AVID’s Summer Institute in Sacramento. Stokes bought a classroom set of laptops for the AVID students with his winnings, said MVHS Principal Robert Brough. “The portable laptop setups will help with test preparation or when there’s a big college application day,” said Brough. Stokes said, "It was amazing, because literally just the day before [I found out I won], I had talked with the IT guys at our school district about getting a set of laptops." From that discussion, Stokes said he learned of the new Google Chromebooks, which sell for around $300 each. For a classroom set, shared Stokes, the total cost came out to $10,800. "With the program growing like it is, we have over 110 seniors this coming year. That's four classes. I didn't want to monopolize the computer labs and not allow the lower grade level students to use the computers," said Stokes. Currently, MVHS’s AVID program sees over 600 students in 20 sections—an astounding jump from its one AVID section with 25 students when the program was started in 2001, Brough noted. “That’s in large part because of Tommy Stokes,” said Brough, “and all that he does with the program. He has a passion for it. He’s such a goldmine of a person.” Moreno Valley Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Martinrex Kedziora agreed. “Tommy is seen by everyone as a real champion. He is relentless and tireless in his efforts to bring resources to students to help them succeed.” Stokes is also the recipient of various other awards for the dedication he exhibits in his life daily toward his students. He has been named in the past as both the MVUSD 2013–2013 Teacher of the Year and as the 2013 Riverside County Teacher of the Year. The AVID Teacher Advocacy Award was created by the AVID Center from an anonymous donation of funds designated specifically to create an award to give AVID teachers the opportunity to enhance their work with students.