Sonia Padilla Counselor of the Year - Elementary Clearwater Elementary Brownsville ISD

February, 2004
Sonia Padilla from Clearwater Elementary, Brownsville ISD, has devoted herself to her students, parents and staff. She has gone beyond the call of duty by making home visits in the evening, phone calls at night to parents and students, and attending events to promote teacher and student morale. According to her principal, “It is this kind of dedication and endless commitments to her profession that make her stand out as an individual.” She is also involved in many committees at her school including the Just Say No Club and Student of the Month Program. She has also initiated successful programs that are unique in their outreach to the community: F.U.E.R.T.E. (Females Uniting, Educating, Reaching, Teaching, Empowering) Club and the C.A.R.E. Program (Caring Adults Reaching Everyone). In these programs Padilla recruits community members to adopt classrooms and come to the school once every six weeks and make class presentations or get involved with the students in the day’s lessons. These community members vary in professions, thus exposing students to different role models. It is this type of determination that makes a difference in a child’s life!