About Maria

Maria Piñón is the 2009 Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year. For the past five years, she has been instrumental in building, sustaining and expanding the All-Aboard Family Literacy Program at Riverside Elementary School in Miami, Florida. Armed with a master’s degree and 20 years experience in the field of education, she has turned her focus to family literacy. Belief in the power of families and the importance of children entering school with the skills they need to succeed in education and life are her guiding passions. Her impact is seen in the measurable achievements of her families—both parents and children. Ms. Piñón’s positive and never-say-no attitude is contagious and has sparked community interest and involvement in her program.

Excerpt from her acceptance speech

“Although both of my parents did not have the luxury of an education, they were very aware of its value. Early on they, at their own expense, built and covered the operating costs of three elementary schools to meet the educational needs of our farm worker’s children. It was also my father’s intentions to give future generations the opportunity, if they wished, to leave the tough and difficult life of farm labor to perhaps become doctors, engineers or teachers.

In 1960, a communist form of government was established in our island nation where the products of my family’s hard work and dedication disappeared overnight. My family traveled as exiles to Miami from Cuba. My father, having lost his life’s work was not bitter but he rather reassured us we had not lost anything because we still possessed two large treasures that can never be taken away… our family and an education.”

About Katy

As an adult education teacher in the family literacy program, Katy maintains her focus on a clear goal—helping parents excel in their roles as their children’s first teachers. Her adult classroom is a balanced combination of collaborative group work and one-on-one instruction. Students benefit from individualized lesson plans and learning strategies.

Over the years, Katy has leveraged partnerships with a multitude of outside organizations—intricately connecting families to the community. Families are continuously offered services related to computer literacy, citizenship and job training.

Katy’s recruitment plan, which encourages continuous participation, includes class celebrations, award ceremonies and incentive opportunities for families to earn books, educational resources and household items.

Excerpt from her acceptance speech

“So how to express what it means to be a family literacy professional to people in other professional worlds? I’ve since come up with a fitting analogy, thanks to an old childhood friend, Dr. Seuss.

…Horton is just an everyday elephant, enjoying the cool waters of the jungle pond, when he hears a tiny request for help coming from a small speck of dust floating in the air.

…Despite a surrounding community that thinks Horton has lost his mind and fails to believe in the worth of these tiny citizens, Horton is determined to help the WHOs. And how does he do this?... Horton simply believes in the value of the WHOs. In his small act of encouragement, he helps the WHOs to find their voice in society…

…That’s just me. That’s what I do. I’m just your everyday Horton encouraging, believing, strengthening the voices of some very special WHOs, the families I serve.”

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2009 Teacher of the Year

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Toyota Teacher of the Year - English
Toyota Teacher of the Year - Spanish