According to the grant report, the county’s plan is to conduct a “Not Alone” media campaign to stigmatize mental health services through radio, television, social media, and print advertising.

The funds will also be used to provide youth mental health first aid training to up to 64 teachers and other youth service providers in K-12 schools in partnership with the National Mental Wellbeing Council. increase.

The window to fully use the $6.8 million in grants obtained through the Arizona Department of Health will close on July 31. A two-month extension was granted to him on March 7 by the Pima County Board of Supervisors in a 4-1 vote. .

Supervisor Rex Scott is pleased that the grant funding has provided more opportunities for the health department to work with local school districts to support the mental health of students and teachers.

“It’s certainly true that the pandemic has brought our attention to the behavioral and mental health of students in ways that perhaps some people didn’t realize,” Scott said. rice field. “But as someone who has worked in schools in this county for nearly 30 years, I can tell you that it was not caused by the pandemic.”

“Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, educator concerns about the behavioral and mental health of students and the educators who serve them have been a burgeoning and growing issue,” he said. I was.

However, supervisor Steve Christie did not agree to give more time to spend the funds, pointing out that the measure deals with time extensions.

When voting against the bill, Christie said, “This is just another example of reckless spending on things we don’t need and we should get our money back.”

Aimee Carter-Jenkins, a first grade teacher at Borman K-8 School, received Tucson Values ​​Teachers’ February Teacher Excellence Award.

She has previously taught in the UK for 15 years and this is her first year at Bowman. According to Tucson Values ​​Teachers, Carter-Jenkins has received 13 nominations, many of them from her students’ parents.

“MS. Carter-Jenkins does her best to make her children feel like they are the most important children in her life. It shows that we support everything,” parent Chris Dyer wrote in the nomination application, and Carter Jenkins sends parents daily emails detailing class events and activities. I added that there are

Carter-Jenkins said that as someone with dyslexia, school has always been a challenge for her. But she said she had one teacher who took her struggles seriously and encouraged her to succeed in her own way.

Carter-Jenkins said, “Bowman welcomed me to be my authentic, fun-loving, passionate self.” It teaches us to communicate emotions and try to understand others from all backgrounds.”

Tucson Values ​​Teachers spotlights teachers in Southern Arizona each month. For more information on awards and nominations for teachers, please visit: tucsonvaluesearchers.org.

Chicanos Por La Causa is open for nominations for the 24th Annual Esperanza Latino Teacher Awards.

The organization conducts a statewide review and awards four winning teachers $5,000 each and $2,500 to their respective schools. Deadline for nominations is April 12th at 5pm. The award she will be announced on May 9th.

Candidates must meet the following criteria: spend at least 50% of their teaching assignments direct to students, teach any level from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Arizona, Have completed at least 6 years as a classroom teacher with 3 qualifications. In recent years in Arizona, plan to become a full-time teacher and continue active teaching status through the 2023-2024 school year.

Last year, local teacher Saray Martinez (now Saray Tigerina) was awarded the 2022 Esperanza Latino Teacher Award. She is her 5th grade teacher at Hendricks Elementary School in her Wells Unified School District, Flowing.

For more information about the Esperanza Latino Teacher Awards, or for a nomination form, please visit: cplc.org.