Curriculum Associates Supports the Advancement of Latino Educators by Sponsoring ALAS Scholarships

NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., Nov. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Curriculum Associates recently donated to the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) to support the organization's scholarship program. The donation allowed ALAS to award two aspiring superintendents with a total of $12,000 in scholarship funds to pursue or continue their advanced educational degrees. Rubén Gutiérrez of Pendergast Elementary School District in Phoenix, AZ received a $10,000 scholarship and Ivette Dubiel of Indian Prairie School District 204 in Aurora, IL received a $2,000 scholarship.

"We strongly believe there needs to be more diversity within K–12 leadership to better match the current diversity found at the student level," said Aurora Martínez, Executive Director of Curriculum Associates. "ALAS is working to make this a reality and, because of this, we have chosen to support their scholarship program." 

Gutiérrez, a governing board member and the associate superintendent for teaching and learning for his district, has worked vigorously with multicultural and economically diverse communities in Arizona to provide a first-rate education to students throughout his 20-year career. He has worked as a college academic advisor, high school teacher, adjunct professor, principal, district director, and state director prior to his current role. The recently awarded scholarship will support Gutiérrez's completion of a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership in K–12 Education from Grand Canyon University.

"Rubén is an amazing Latino educator and board member who embraces the true meaning of being a servant and transformational leader," said Dr. Lily Matos DeBlieux, superintendent of Pendergast Elementary School District. "Through the generous support of Curriculum Associates, this scholarship will allow Rubén to further his education and use the knowledge gained for the benefit of his students, colleagues, and community. We are so proud of him."

Dubiel has been an educator for the past eight years and is currently the director of educational equity for her school district, which is the fourth largest in the state of Illinois. In addition to this role, she is the board president for two nonprofits and a blogger for The Huffington Post where she writes articles about Latino voices. Dubiel has three Master's degrees in Public Administration, Teaching with Certification, and Educational Leadership, and is currently in her second year of doctoral studies pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in Teaching and Learning.

"I am honored and privileged to have been selected for this award," said Dubiel. "The scholarship signifies ALAS and Curriculum Associates' collective belief in the importance of higher education and reaffirms that hard work can be extrinsically rewarding."

To learn more about the 2015 ALAS Scholarship, visit http://alasedu.drupalgardens.com/resources/2015-alas-scholarship-awards.

About Curriculum Associates
Founded in 1969, privately owned Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company's products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students.

SOURCE Curriculum Associates