San Jose, March 18, 2022: Moreland School District announced that Yonit Parenti, Counselor at Latimer School and District-wide School Link Services (SLS) Coordinator, has been selected for the 2022 Project Cornerstone Asset Champions Award in the Adult Role Model category. The annual Asset Champions Award recognizes schools and individual efforts to make the community a better place for young people to live and grow.
Yonit’s initial role as a counselor at both Easterbrook Discovery School and Latimer School has extended to reach all of Moreland School District’s seven schools and approximately 4,000 students because of the inspiration she gives teachers, the impact she has on children, and the passion she has for reaching each individual student. Developing more than just assets in students, Yonit is helping students feel valued, respected, and known. She has developed programs for her individual school sites with additional implementation throughout the District with the common goal of developing students into healthy, caring and responsible adults.
As school has returned to full-time, in-person instruction, Yonit has made it a point to keep in direct contact with the ever-changing needs of the students. She has been the staff advisor to student-requested lunchtime clubs, expertly leading members to create a mission and guidelines for clubs, as well as developing weekly activities and long-term projects. Additionally this year, Yonit has introduced restorative circles for classes or groups of students as a method to replace punitive forms of discipline on campus. Yonit has a lasting impact, leading students toward independence, helping to create an environment where they are able to learn how to talk through conflict instead of acting on it, a transformational gift she gives to each student.
The Project Cornerstone’s Annual Asset Champions Awards Breakfast will take place virtually on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Yonit received her award in person today, Friday, March 18, 2022, at the Moreland School District Office. In addition this year, Moreland Middle School (MMS) was nominated for a Caring School Climate award, and Brad Edwards, Moreland Middle School Counselor, was nominated as an Adult Role Model. Both MMS and Brad will receive a Certificate of Appreciation for their nominations.
The Moreland School District and its community have been honored several times for being an Asset Champion that makes extraordinary efforts to build developmental assets, create positive connections with young people, and inspire others to do the same. Past winners include:
- Claire Kampmeier, Moreland Middle School Studentm, Peer to Peer Award 2019
- Baker Elementary School, Caring Elementary School Climate Award, 2017
- Veronica Trejo, Positive Cultural Identity Award, 2015
- Leticia Tapia, Positive Cultural Identity, 2014
- Moreland Middle School, Caring Middle School Climate Award, 2013