2005 AALL Awards
Gary Eyre Lifetime Achievement Award - Clark Atkinson
Clark Atkinson’s contributions to the field of lifelong learning are almost immeasurable. He began his teaching career in the Peace Corps in 1965. As a Fulbright Hayes Teacher Exchange recipient in 1974, he provided training for ESOL teachers, developed curriculum and provided teacher training at various institutions in several areas in Asia . Clark has over 18 years of experience as an adult educator at Pima College Adult Education and another 15 years at the University of Arizona ’s Center for English as a Second Language, where he also was an academic advisor. He has been an advisor and mentor to countless instructors within both institutions. Probably most notable to him are his experiences as an esteemed and trusted instructor to literally thousands of students worldwide. His most important contributions have been the relationships he has developed and nurtured with his students; their value, their languages, their culture, their experiences, their hopes, and their dreams – that is what drives Clark . He has contributed to the field of adult education locally, statewide, nationally and internationally, serving on committees, presenting at conferences, publishing articles, writing curriculum, participating on standards development, co-authoring books, training teachers, and teaching. He has been instrumental in developing criteria for the National Adult Education Honor Society as well as having served on the GED graduation committee for over 10 years. He worked on the team of PCAE educators that were part of the multiyear What Works Literacy Project (WWLP). This team collaborated with colleagues from selected programs nationwide conducting research, compiling reports, and traveling extensively to share their findings. Together they created a set of recommendations for best practices for assessing the ABE/GED students and collecting testing data. He was part of a pioneering group of adult educators and students that worked for years getting a dedicated building for adult education. The new El Pueblo Liberty Adult Learning Center opened its doors in 1999,a historic achievement for adult education students and staff. This building will for years and years to come serve to highlight Clark ’s belief in how students and staff can work together to accomplish great things. In 2003, when his career in adult education could have been winding down, he went through a rigorous interviewing process to take on the new challenge of Assistant Manager at Community and Workplace programs. This program included fur distinct and complex programs, including Community Classes, Workplace Education, Civics and Citizenship and Volunteers. In 1972, Clark co-authored two text books for intensive English language instruction. The fact that former students continue to seek him out for advice or to share the birth of child, new job, or a recent success, provides testimony to the depth of his commitment to the principles of participatory learning and teaching. Nominated by his peers, he was selected as the 1997 Arizona Department of Education’s Division of Adult Education Teacher of the Year. It is the Arizona Association for Lifelong Learning’s honor to present the Lifetime Achievement Award in Honor of Gary A. Eyre to Clark Atkinson .
Lifelong Learning Advocate Award - Lily Beth Brazones
Lily Beth Brazones has quietly made a positive impact on lifelong learning, first starting in the mid-1980s in the Rio Salado College Adult Basic Education Program. She then served as a classroom instructor, both for ABE/ASE and ELAA, teaching students of many different ability levels. At the managerial level, she has worked as a supervisor, where she guided, mentored, evaluated, and contributed to the success of a large group of instructors and classroom aides. As a team member of the ABE Program, she has attended monthly Program Management meetings since 1994, at which important decision are made regarding how the program will run. Lily Beth as served on statewide task forces in which she mad similar statewide contributions. As a presenter, she has frequently shared what she knows with others in the field of lifelong learning. She served many years on the AZ-TESOL board and on the ABE Program’s National Adult Education Honor Society Committee several times. Her teachers consistently rate her a 5 on a 1 to 5 scoring system when they evaluated her work as a supervisor. Comments they have made are “She is very supportive and understanding”, She almost always give great input on class management or lessons”, There is not much more I could ask from her”. Lily Beth was selected as the Outstanding Instructor in the Rio Salado College ’s ABE Program. For her positive impact and added value to the concept of learning as a lifelong process, the Arizona Association of Lifelong Learning is proud to award the Adult Learner Advocate Award in honor of Francis E. Blake to Lily Beth Brazones.
Award of Excellence - Cara Bryant
Cara Bryant has successfully operated and expanded Gila Literacy, Inc. She was chosen as one of only seven pilot programs to develop and implement a distance-learning model for adult learners statewide. Gila Literacy has received two awards as the Best Overall Program and the Most GED Recipients. Cara oversees program operations, creates and maintains an annual budget, allocates funds for appropriate expenses, performs grant writing as needed and is responsible for all public relations. She has the professional instincts, work ethics, and ability to complete projects on her own. She has a very strong ability to pull people, businesses, and institutions together to meet identified academic and or social needs. Through her experience and association with numerous agencies and business in Gila County , Gila Literacy and Gila Distance Learning is incorporated, trusted, and respected as an alternative academic delivery program. Her dedication of lifelong learning convinced the Globe Unified School Board to provide complimentary classroom space to open a computer lab for Gila Literacy and Gila Distance Learning. The Gila Pinal County Workforce Investment Act office was introduced to and adopted Gila Distance Learning as a service provider. Cara has been a member of the Gila/Pinal Workforce Investment Act Board of Directors since its inception and collaborates with One Stop Centers to offer a variety of educational opportunities. She has worked for Gila Literacy Program for 15 years and has observed many changes in Adult Education over the years. Gila Literacy has grown and expanded its offerings countywide. Much of this is due to her participation in developing Gila Distance Learning Network through the Gila County School Superintendent’s Education Service Agency. Cara has been instrumental in developing and maintaining the Gila County Literacy Consortium. She has contributed toward fostering the concept of education as a process continuing throughout life and hopes to make it more accessible to all residents of Gila County and the State of Arizona . Because of her dedication, commitment and perseverance, the Arizona Association of Lifelong Learning awards the Excellence Award in Honor of Gary P. Tang to Cara Bryant.
Special Assistance to the Past President - Connie Armstrong
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