On Tuesday, March 18, the Rotary Club of Alameda honored its Student and Teacher of the Month from Alameda Community Learning Center (ACLC). The school principal, Annalisa Moore, shared the reasons why these honorees had been chosen.
Teacher of the Month is Erica Tolaio, whose dedication to shaping the future of her students’ lives included working with outside agencies and families to raise over $5,000 to send eighth graders to Washington, D.C. for a learning experience outside the classroom.
Tolaio has consistently worked hard to improve student learning by organizing community events through her middle school leadership class, offering support to local initiatives and volunteering time to support after-school activities, including cheering at all of the middle school sports events. Through both her actions and words, she has shown what it means to be a leader in education and in service.
Rotary’s Student of the Month was Kennedy Fong, who has consistently impressed her teachers with her intelligence, work ethic, and unwavering dependability. Principal Moore shared that Kennedy is the kind of student every teacher hopes for—responsible, thoughtful, and always willing to step up when something needs to be done.
In her middle school leadership class, Kennedy has been a driving force, helping organize and execute countless activities, including fundraisers to pay for trips to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas, leading by example, or simply making sure the little details get taken care of, she does it all — and always with a smile.
Beyond the classroom, Kennedy leads her peers in community service hours, setting the standard for what it means to give back. She’s also active in theater, Girl Scouts, and softball—and she balances it all with grace.
Rotarians who were present for the ceremony were truly impressed by Principal Moore’s stories about ACLC’s honorees, and glad to be able to present these awards to such worthy recipients.
Robin Seeley is the current president of the Rotary Club of Alameda. Learn more about the Club online.
