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The School Safety Patrol at Esperanza Elementary.For Fourth Year in a Row, An OUSD School Safety Patrol Advisor Wins National Award from AAA
Safety Patrol Students From Across District Are Honored on Same DayOakland, CA -- On Wednesday morning, May 30, the School Safety Patrol outside the co-located Esperanza Elementary and Fred Korematsu Discovery Academy did its job of helping students and families arrive to their campus safely. Wearing their neon green patrol belts and hats and helping other young people understand the importance of taking great care when crossing any street, these students showed that they are dedicated and well-guided. But that’s no surprise, as they have an outstanding advisor, Veronica Martinez.
The morning was different as staff from AAA Northern California were on hand shooting a video about the safety patrol and all the work the students do. What the young people didn’t realize was that the camera crew was there also to capture AAA leadership telling Ms. Martinez that she had won the honor of Safety Patrol Advisor of the Year for the entire United States. Before winning this honor, Ms. Martinez had already won a regional award for Northern California, Nevada and Utah.
Tasha Tolbert from AAA Northern California telling Esperanza Elementary's School Safety Advisor, Veronica Martinez that she has won the AAA Advisor of the Year award.Surrounded by her patrol crew, Ms. Martinez listened as Tasha Tolbert from AAA Northern California told her that she had won this national award. “We run this program all throughout the United States, and you were selected nationally as our patrol Advisor of the Year for AAA.” Tolbert added that AAA was awarding Ms. Martinez a $2000 credit with the Gig car-sharing program so she can drive whenever she needs. “We want to just give this to you as a token of our appreciation for all of your hard work and commitment and dedication to these children at Esperanza Elementary School. We know that you are a volunteer and it’s incredible what you do.”
Tasha Tolbert and Veronica Martinez standing in front of a Gig car-sharing car that Martinez now gets to use for free as a thank you from AAA Northern California.
The students erupted in cheers and Ms. Martinez laughed in disbelief. “This is very big. Thank you,” she said in Spanish.
AAA, which supports the Safety Patrol Program, says it “teaches students to be pedestrian safety ambassadors in their communities, which helps them gain lifelong leadership skills and responsibility. Students in this program help reduce pedestrian accidents as children cross streets to and from school.”
This is the fourth year in a row that an OUSD Safety Patrol Advisor has won the national award. The three previous advisors who won are at Hoover Elementary, Martin Luther King Elementary and Glenview Elementary. Congratulations to Ms. Martinez and her students!
Also Wednesday, Safety Patrol program participants from across the District came together to be recognized for their hard work all year long. It was the 90th Annual Oakland Police Department / AAA Safety Patrol Pass in Review event at Oakland’s Mormon Temple.
The event featured 700 students from 35 different schools receiving awards and gratitude for their leadership in support of safety at all Oakland schools. About 900 students take part in the program.
Principal Eleanor Alderman and the International Community School Safety Patrol.
Garfield Elementary School Safety Patrol Member Joseph Cannon Wright.
The Safety Patrol from PLACE at Prescott Elementary School.The Oakland Schools Safety Patrol Program is managed by the Oakland Police Department and the Alameda County Public Health Department with critical support from AAA Northern California. OUSD salutes and appreciates all these students for helping to keep our school communities safe. Congratulations!###About the Oakland Unified School DistrictIn California’s most diverse city, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is dedicated to creating a learning environment where “Every Student Thrives!” More than half of our students speak a non-English language at home. And each of our 86 schools is staffed with talented individuals uniting around a common set of values: Students First, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, Cultural Responsiveness and Joy. We are committed to preparing all students for college, career and community success.
To learn more about OUSD’s Full Service Community District focused on academic achievement while serving the whole child in safe schools, please visit OUSD.org and follow us @OUSDnews.
