LITERACY CELEBRATED AT PABLO ROYBAL ELEMENTARY

On the surface, the event was an awards ceremony much like similar recognitions throughout New Mexico. But scratch the surface, and the similarities disappear. On May 23, 2007, 130 students at Pablo Roybal Elementary School in Pojoaque received certificates and Crystal Apple Awards to honor their gains in reading.

Children were also ranked the highest for each grade, as well as one high achiever for the entire school. The awards event was a joint project of the Pojoaque school district, the Christopher Montalvo Memorial Fund, the National Education Association-NM and its partner Horace Mann Insurance.

Two individuals, both integral to this celebration, were greatly missed at the event: the late Pojoaque High School student Christopher Montalvo and the well-known New Mexico author Rudolfo Anaya. Without the involvement of Montalvo and Anaya, the literacy awards ceremony would not have had the resonance, the deep meaning and spark that is now inspiring literacy to take on more significance in the Pojoaque school district. Rudolfo Anaya is the NEA-NM Read Across America honorary chair for 2007. In this capacity, he promotes literacy throughout the state.

The Pojoaque awards were in memory of Christopher Montalvo who was born December 28, 1987 in Espanola. He was a Pojoaque Elk and a member of the 2006 class of Pojoaque Valley High School. In 2005, Chris died in an auto accident on his way to school at the start of his senior year at Pojoaque High. He was a three-sport letterman, enjoyed soccer and cross-country, but loved basketball the most. His father, Michael Montalvo, is one of Pojoaque High School's assistant basketball coaches.

Chris’s family established The Christopher Montalvo Memorial Fund in 2005 to support Pojoaque Valley students through a scholarship program, educational programs, and athletic events such as basketball tournaments and youth soccer clinics. The fund was set in motion by Michael and Maryrose Montalvo. Donations from friends and family members have expanded to a greater geographical area. Last year, two scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors, followed by scholarships also awarded this year. Fundraising efforts have included a youth soccer clinic and a recent golf tournament (cosponsored with the PVHS Boys Soccer Program).

A total of 33 classroom teachers in grades K-4 participated in this year-long reading effort. Diane Katzenmeyer-Delgado said, “Awards ceremonies like this provide invaluable feedback to students that reading is important and that progress in this important area is worthy of celebration. One of our teachers shared with me that the students were truly impressed by the reading gains that students made because they understood how the gains were measured and achieved. We want this celebration to become an annual event in our school.” Assistant Gerry Washburn, assistant principal, added, “We are fortunate that groups like the NEA and Horace Mann are supportive of the efforts of Rose Montalvo and her family in providing a quality reading celebration for our students.”

Noted Eduardo Holguin, NEA-NM president: "NEA-NM is happy to assist the Montalvo family in keeping Chris' memory alive by celebrating literacy in the Pojoaque Schools through our Read Across America program. There is no better way to honor such an outstanding individual than through the continuation of his service to the area's youth."

Read more about this special event in the September "Back to School" issue of The Advocate's Voice, the NEA-NM statewide publication.