A dedicated volunteer who hung up his traveling boots for a role as an elementary school tutor will be honored as a California State Lottery Hero in Education on "The Big Spin®" show airing statewide October 7, 2006. Roger Murray, a member of the award-winning Pacifica School Volunteers group, will be presented with the recognition by Don Most, an actor best known for his role as Ralph Malph in Happy Days.
After retiring from a career in travel and public relations, Roger Murray decided to share his expertise on Asian countries with the students of Pacifica. He quickly realized, however, that he could put his skills to greater use tutoring students in math and reading and help them build a firm foundation for academic success. So, for the past eight years, Mr. Murray has spent three days a week in four different classrooms at Ortega and Sunset Ridge Elementary schools in Pacifica helping kids brush up on these basic skills.
Teachers and students all agree that Mr. Murray’s efforts have contributed to great improvements in the students’ grades as well as their attitudes toward academics. Thanks in part to his efforts, Roger Murray’s volunteer group, Pacifica School Volunteers, has been awarded the International Reading Association’s ‘Celebrate Literacy’ Award, Starbucks Bay Area Grants for Giving as well as the San Mateo County Children’s Report Award for ‘Helping Children in School’.
The California State Lottery's "Heroes in Education" award has been presented monthly on The Big Spin show since 1999. The Lottery partners with celebrities to present these awards, which recognize special individuals who volunteer time and resources to their schools and communities.
For more information about the Pacifica School Volunteers program, please visit http://www.pacificasd.org/curriculum/pacificaVolunteers/volunteer.htm.