Diversity Leadership Awardees
Announced at MLK Tribute Event

January 21, 2005

The Plano ISD Multi-ethnic Committee presented its annual Diversity Leadership Awards to Sandy McKenzie, RN, Huffman Elementary School Nurse, and the Daffron Elementary School PTA during Plano ISD’s Martin Luther King, Jr., Tribute Event held the evening of January 20 at Plano Centre.

The awards presentations were among the many features of the MLK event, which was attended by approximately 1,000 students, staff, parents and community members.

Sandy McKenzie, RN

As the nurse at Huffman Elementary School, Ms. McKenzie brings love, enthusiasm, acceptance and fun to the school’s culturally rich student population. Through her work with “Huffman Friends,” an outreach program for students who are economically disadvantaged, Nurse McKenzie has developed partnerships with the school’s PTA, staff, Parr Library, Haverly Park Apartments, Haverly Park “Cares Team,” St. Andrews United Methodist Church, cub scouts and many families.

Nurse McKenzie has coordinated several events conducted at the Haverly Park Apartments, including a school registration night, story times each Thursday evening, and a weekly summer “Story & Sandwich” event. The summer program helped the Huffman Friends forge bonds with students to ease the transition into their new school.

Known as “Princess Nurse,” Ms. McKenzie is also being honored this month at the Texas School Health Association’s annual conference for her unique anti-germs program, “Princess Nurse Says: Don’t Touch Your Face.” The program recently captured a $1,500 award from the Texas Department of Health and Texas Health Foundation.

Daffron Elementary PTA

For years, the Daffron PTA has fostered cultural inclusiveness, awareness and education in its daily presentation of cultural artifacts on the campus, its successful annual programming (which includes multi-language singing, parade of multi-national costumes and educational presentations) and its ongoing efforts to proactively include students and parents of all nationalities in every aspect of the school’s social and educational life.

The Daffron PTA annually sponsors a “Cultural Diversity Day” for the school community. Students “travel the world” by visiting country tables where they interact firsthand with parents familiar with that country as well as participate in hands-on learning experiences regarding the country’s culture, fashion and food.

Another highly successful event sponsored by the Daffron PTA is “Experience the Awareness” which exposes students to the difficulties faced by children with special needs. The weeklong event culminates with a day of interactive experiences.

Honorable Mention

The Multi-ethnic Committee also presented an “Honorable Mention” award at the district MLK event to Beverly Elementary School ESL Teacher Glenda Smith. Ms. Smith founded the ELMS Club (Everyday Language Made Simple) on her campus, which has become a springboard for nurturing friendships among bilingual families.

Special Recognition Award

The Multi-ethnic Committee also presented “Special Recognition” to the Schimelpfenig Middle School Multi-cultural Club. The club, which hosted an International Evening last year, fosters an appreciation of the differences among cultures.

Nominees

Linda Martin & Sharon Neicheril, diversity committee chairs, Mitchell Elementary PTA
Jacque Meziere - principal, Hickey Elementary
Tita Alarcon - literacy/reading curriculum specialist, PISD
Jennifer Goebel - NJHS president, Schimelpfenig Middle School
Christina (Tina) Raymond - music specialist, Barksdale Elementary
Ana Talbot – Title 1 Parent Center liaison, Memorial Elementary
Alexander Na – Chinese Bilingual Program teacher, Harrington Elementary
Plano ISD Multicultural Assessment Team (Bonnie Kahn, Olga Pace, Carmen Toal, Liza Terrazas Gilliam, Rosario Brusniak, Rose Weitzman and Maggie Cardona)