MVHS AVID Teacher Receives $10,000 by Breeanna Jent - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events

MVHS AVID Teacher Receives $10,000

By Breeanna Jent, Staff Writer
August 7, 2013 at 09:28pm. Views: 79

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.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 365

Athlete of the Week Christopher Michael Lemos, Redlands High School Junior and Varsity Quarterback, proudly represents the Terriers with his dedication, leadership, and passion for the game.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 523

Redlands Pottery Project joins A.K. Smiley Public Library for a November 14 workshop designed for young artists ages 13 to 18. A lump of clay may not look like much at first. In the hands of a young artist, however, it can become a bowl, a decorative sculpture or an entirely unexpected creation.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.redlands.edu/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 827

The University of Redlands Department of Theatre and Dance will present Día de los Muertos and Other Folk Tales November 5 through 8, 2026. Stories told by grandparents often become treasured parts of a family's history. Some are humorous, others mysterious, and many carry lessons that remain meaningful long after the storyteller is gone.

Photo Courtesy of: UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 430

A remote wildfire-monitoring camera overlooks a Southern California landscape. Redlands has partnered with UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia program to improve monitoring of areas near northern Redlands and the Santa Ana River wash.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.akspl.org/events/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 745

Annual ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will bring American history to life on November 21. On a November morning in Redlands, the sounds of fifes, drums and historic artillery will offer residents an opportunity to experience a chapter of American history that continues to influence the nation more than 160 years after the Civil War.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:18pm. Views: 377

The first years of a child's life are filled with milestones that families often remember forever. A baby's first smile, the first attempt to crawl and the first spoken words are moments of celebration. They can also bring questions, uncertainty and new responsibilities for parents learning how to care for a growing child.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.csusb.edu/

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 450

CSUSB’s Department of Physics and Astronomy has earned recognition for it for its work to create a more inclusive, diverse and supportive physics department, earning the Bronze Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science Physics & Astronomy SEA Change program.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.naco.org/program/operation-green-light-veterans

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 1054

Operation Green Light returns November 4–11, encouraging residents to recognize military service and help veterans connect with available resources. As darkness settles over San Bernardino during the first week of November, green lights will illuminate several county buildings, transforming familiar government facilities into visible reminders of the sacrifices made by America's military veterans.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.authentikusa.com/

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 435

As America's most famous highway celebrates its centennial in 2026, San Bernardino reflects on the road that helped shape its neighborhoods, businesses and identity. Long before interstate highways became the preferred routes for cross-country travel, motorists making their way through San Bernardino followed a road that would become one of the most recognizable highways in American history.

Photo Courtesy of: Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 355

Muscoy Elementary students join SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, Board of Education President Mayra Ceballos, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Sandra Rodriguez and Dr. Tasha Doizan, Director MaryRone Goodwin and San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. for the official ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the school’s new outdoor learning center.

Photo Courtesy of: https://riversiderecord.org/; A photo of Moreno Valley City Hall. (Alicia Ramirez/The Riverside Record) Credit: (Photo by Alicia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 670

A city is often judged by what residents experience every day: the condition of its streets, the reliability of public services, the availability of recreational programs and the ease of obtaining information from local government. Behind those everyday experiences are departments and employees whose work rarely attracts national attention.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 640

Athlete of the Week Zachary Scott Perez, Senior at John W. North High School, is recognized as Athlete of the Week for his dedication and accomplishments as a student athlete.

--> -->