Norfolk Public Schools is pleased to announce that Caren Rubio, ELL Paraprofessional, Grant Elementary School, was the recipient of the NPS Award for Excellence for March 2024.
Thank you, Caren Rubio, for your dedication, hard work, and service to our students, staff, and the NPS community!
Listed below are excerpts from some of the submitted narratives of Ms. Rubio's nomination:
- Caren is a wonderful colleague and a tremendous asset to Grant Elementary! Whether Caren is working in a regular classroom or in the ELL room, she is always looking for ways to help students. She is the type of quality person we need in all our classrooms.
- Ms. Rubio is an invaluable member of our Grant team! She is kind, patient, and intuitive when working with all of our students, but this is especially true in regard to how she interacts with our English language learners. She is always aware of their strengths, struggles, and needs and effectively communicates this information to the teaching staff.
- Caren Rubio is a gift to Grant and to all of our ELL students. Caren checks in with the teacher to advocate for her students on their growth and struggles.
- Her quiet presence calms students and seems to unleash a confidence in them to use their newly acquired English skills and reach out and become more involved in their classroom community. Caren is also more than willing to drop everything and help with a parent phone call or visitor who needs an immediate translator.
- The smiles on student's faces when you say 'Miss Rubio' are all the proof you need!
- I see faces light up when students see Miss Rubio coming to work with them. Normally quiet ELL students turn into happy chatterboxes when working with Miss Rubio. They work hard and want to please her.
- Caren goes ABOVE AND BEYOND what is expected of her. She is willing to come early or stay late to help out when we need her translation skills. Grant school is so very blessed to have her!
Caren received her award at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 11, 2024. Please congratulate Caren on this well-deserved award!
