Three Porterville Military Academy educators earned recognition at the California Association of Teachers of English, CATE, Convention for their contributions to student learning and professional development.
PMA instructors Kimbery Agustin, Destiny Warren and Shawny Bledsaw were all recognized.
Agustin, an English teacher at PMA, received the prestigious CATE Award for Classroom Excellence, recognizing her commitment to student success and innovative literacy instruction. Since joining PMA as a tutor, she worked hard to connect with students and families, paving the way for her to earn her teaching credential and become a full-time ELA teacher.
Principal Rudy Cardona praised her impact, stating, "Kimberly Agustin is the kind of teacher every student remembers for a lifetime. With energy, a contagious smile, and a passion for making learning fun, she goes above and beyond to engage her students in creative and inspiring ways."
Warren and Bledsaw presented at the CATE Convention with their session, "Storying in the Classroom: Using Narrative to Empower ELL Students." They demonstrated how picture books and narrative writing can engage English Language Learners, even at the high school level, supporting writing, reading, speaking, and listening development, Cardona said. “Their interactive session provided activities, student work samples, and practical resources for educators.”
Participants praised the session, sharing their appreciation for the knowledge and resources provided. One attendee stated, "I really gained a lot of insight when it comes to incorporating storytelling and the importance of vocabulary for EL students." Another remarked, "You showed expertise, were well-prepared, and understand the needs of today's teachers. Tthank you for all the materials and lesson plans!"
Warren, with eight years of teaching experience, spent the last four at PMA as the English Language Development (ELD) Liaison and AVID Site Coordinator. In 2024, she was recognized as PMA's Faculty Member of the Year for her dedication and contributions to student learning.
Bledsaw, with 16 years of experience, taught at various levels before becoming PMA’s Reading Teacher and ELD instructor. She received multiple awards, including the Excellence in Teaching Award from the California Council for Adult Education, CCAE, in 2019 and the CCAE State Excellence in Teaching Award in 2020, the highest honor for adult educators in California.