Linda Shelley, the Communities In Schools of Peninsula Site Coordinator at Vaughn Elementary, has won the Whatever it Takes award from the Communities In Schools National office located in Washington DC.
Colleen Speer, Executive Director for Communities In Schools of Peninsula, nominated Linda in May 2012, and they were notified recently that she won one of the five coveted awards (formerly known as Unsung Heroes awards) from a pool of applicants across the nation. There are nearly 200 Communities In Schools affiliates in 25 states and the District of Columbia, so winning this award is quite a feat. The application process included an essay from the Executive Director and letters of support from school leadership and students.
The nominees were judged according to how closely their performance adheres to the five core values of the Communities In Schools model. The core values are personalism, coordination, accountability, persistence, and equality. Communities In Schools National will pay for Linda to attend a celebration ceremony at the headquarters in September 2012.