You Make A Difference Award (YMAD) nomination forms

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education is soliciting nominations for the “You Make A Difference Award”. This award will be presented to persons or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the lives of special education students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. The awards will be presented at a dessert social in the Spring. Nominations are due by February 28th. 

Eligible for consideration are:
a. Parents (General Education, Special Education)
b. Students (General Education)
c. Teaching Staff (General Education, Special Education)
d. Support Staff (i.e. Office Managers, Assistants, Custodians)
e. Community (Individuals or Organizations)

Evaluation Guidelines: 
a. Nominees must have demonstrated contributions above and beyond their role as a parent/student or their job description.

b. A balance will be sought from all aspects of the student’s life, i.e., educators, bus drivers, custodians, 
employers and community organizations or individuals. 

c. High priority consideration will be given to, but not limited to, activities in the area of mainstreaming, 
integration, fostering parental involvement, job placement, career development and curriculum enhancement.

d. Up to 20 awards will be given. 

YMAD nomination forms HERE.

Spanish YMAD nomination forms HERE.

Don't miss the "You Make A Difference Awards!"

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education presents the
You Make a Difference Awards!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012
7 p.m.
Mountain View Elementary
1705 Thornwood Drive, Concord

This years recipients:
Laurie Abbey, Lauralyn Amundson, Johnny Applegate, Marji Calbeck, Roseann Colvig, Andy Conley, Rosa Cornejo, Rene' and Magge De Luna (Lions Club International District 4-C3 special Kids Day Event), Sally Bibbs, Austin Green, Kirsten O'Leary, Shani O'Neal, Mickey Pawar, David and Sheila Rowntree (Boy Scout Leaders Troup #1994), Ken Ruiz, Crystal Stull, Ellen Teminello, Jenny Tran, Mary-Ann Tucker, Nancy Villa, Lori Williams and Sarah Young.

All welcomed.

You Make a Difference Award nomination

By Vi Ibarra from the MDUSD Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education is soliciting nominations for the “You Make A Difference Award.” This award will be presented to persons or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the lives of special education students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. The awards will be presented at a dessert social on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 7:00 pm, at Mountain View Elementary, 1705 Thornwood Drive Concord, CA 94521. Nominations are due by March 1.

Please use the attached form to nominate any person who has made an outstanding contribution to your child with special needs. Past nominees have included community members, bus drivers, general ed students, and custodians, just to name a few. Please take a moment to think about who has made a difference for your child, and consider nominating that person for this recognition.

Nomination form in English HERE.

Nominación en Español AQUÍ.

You Make a Difference Award Nominees Needed!

Let us Celebrate! Honor! Acknowledge! Reward!

We are looking for you to nominate someone for the You Make a Difference Awards

Please send us your nominations for a person who has done an outstanding job providing support to a student with special needs in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. It is a chance to recognize those who went above and beyond for our children with special needs and to say thank you at a special awards evening. You can nominate staff, a teacher, principal, community member, parent, student, etc.

We look forward to all of your wonderful nominations. Fill out form: YMAD Form , or in Spanish and return to: Hilary Shen, Parent Liaison at Mt. Diablo Unified School District via email at: shenh@mdusd.org, fax at: (925) 609-9246 or mail to: 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord, CA 94519.

You Make a Difference

On the evening of Wednesday, March 24, 2010 the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education event awarded 20 recipients with a “You Make a Difference Award” at Mountain View Elementary. A committee of staff and Community Advisory Committee members worked together in planning the event. As a committee they were challenged with the task of choosing just 20 recipients from the wonderful nominations they received. It was a difficult decision for them to narrow down the award recipients but in the end they choose 20 that have gone above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of children receiving special education students. Many award recipients came from all different areas of services provided throughout the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and the community. Some recipients included community members that dedicate their time providing services to those with special needs, Teachers, Special Education Assistants, general education student, parents, Board Member, bus driver and much more including a campus supervisor that passed away earlier this year. Of the recipients awarded they were:

Jacques Casamajor Teacher at Valley View Middle School
Louise Clark CEP Teacher at Sun Terrace Elementary
Reatha Clark Special Education Assistant at Ayers Elementary



Roberta Compagno Campus Supervisor at Sequoia Middle School



Bernadette Fatehi Buddy Play Coordinator
Pete Gaughan Concord AYSO VIP Director
Autumn Green All In Need Coordinator at Oak Park Christian Center



Carolyn Jaynes Educational Representative for Foster Youth Volunteer
Cheryl Kolano Principal at Robert Shearer Preschool and Gregory Gardens Elementary
Angela Large Special Education Teacher at Concord High School
Linda Mayo Board Member for Mt. Diablo Unified School District
Lucy Murov General Education Student at Strandwood Elementary
Julie Nibblett Parent at Strandwood Elementary
Mari Nist Special Education Assistant at Pine Hollow Middle School
Carole Penaloza Special Education Assistant at Highlands Elementary
Carol Smith Special Education Teacher at Strandwood Elementary
Wade Taylor Special Education Bus Driver at Mt. Diablo Unified



The Walnut Festival Association “Special Needs Night” at the Walnut Festival
There to receive the award were Bob Lloyd & Wendy DeVoe.
Carrie Weil Special Education Teacher at Riverview Middle School
Don and Judy Williams Community Volunteers at Monte Gardens Elementary



The evening was a very heart warming event where the stories about the award recipients were exemplary of the outstanding efforts they had made to make a difference for these students. As the recipients received their awards they spoke very kindly about those that have supported them to do their work and also the students they have made a difference for have truly touched their lives as well.



Also, a big thank you goes to the donors that helped provide refreshments for the event including Sweet Tomatoes, Starbucks on Railroad Ave and in Pleasant Hill, Mimi’s Café, Carl’s Jr. on Kirker Pass Rd., Progressus Therapy, Trader Joe’s on Oak Grove Rd., and the CAC members and staff. We had a special musician volunteer his time to play music for the event, so a thank you to Paul Blackwell for the beautiful music played that evening.

You Make a Difference - Tonight!

WHAT: You Make a Difference Celebration to honor community members who make a positive difference in the lives of our children with special needs.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 24

TIME: 7pm

WHERE: Mountain View Elementary

You Make a Difference - Deadline Extended

The deadline to submit nominations for the You Make a Difference Award has been extended to March 9th.

What is the You Make a Difference Award?
The You Make a Difference Award is presented to persons or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the lives of special education students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District .

Who should be nominated?
Parents (General Education, Special Education)
Students (General Education)
Teaching Staff (General Education, Special Education)
Support Staff (i.e. Office Managers, Assistants, Custodians)
Community (Individuals or Organizations)

What are the criteria?
Nominees should have demonstrated contributions above and beyond their role as a parent/student or their job description. A balance will be sought from all aspects of the student’s life, i.e., educators, bus drivers, custodians, employers and community organizations or individuals. High priority consideration will be given to, but not limited to, activities in the area of mainstreaming, integration, fostering parental involvement, job placement, career development and curriculum enhancement. Up to 20 awards will be given.

Where and When will the awards be presented?
The awards will be presented at a dessert social on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 7:00 pm at Mtn. View Elementary, 1705 Thornwood Drive Concord , CA 94521 .

Download the nomination form HERE.

Nominations for the Mt. Diablo CAC Special Education "You Make A Difference" Awards

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education is soliciting nominations for the “You Make A Difference Award”. This award will be presented to persons or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the lives of special education students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. The awards will be presented at a dessert social on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 7:00 pm at Mtn. View Elementary, 1705 Thornwood Drive Concord, CA 94521.

Eligible for consideration are:
a. Parents (General Education, Special Education)
b. Students (General Education)
c. Teaching Staff (General Education, Special Education)
d. Support Staff (i.e. Office Managers, Assistants, Custodians)
e. Community (Individuals or Organizations)

Evaluation Guidelines:
a. Nominees must have demonstrated contributions above and beyond their role as a parent/student or their job description.
b. A balance will be sought from all aspects of the student’s life, i.e., educators, bus drivers, custodians, employers and community organizations or individuals.
c. High priority consideration will be given to, but not limited to, activities in the area of mainstreaming, integration, fostering parental involvement, job placement, career development and curriculum enhancement.
d. Up to 20 awards will be given.

Nominations are due by February 22, 2010.

For an application, please click HERE