APS All Stars for November 2022 Announced

APS is excited to announce the November 2022 APS All Stars, selected out of several hundred outstanding staff nominees! These individuals demonstrate excellence in collaboration, equity, inclusivity, integrity, innovation and stewardship. They are members of the APS team who are the first to pitch in, bring a positive attitude to their work and go above and beyond to serve students. Congratulations to these individuals!

Veronica Perez Perea, Teacher, Arlington Traditional Elementary School
Caring, artistic, professional, knowledgeable and creative
Ms. Perez is an incredibly valued and admired member of the ATS community. Classroom teachers across the school remark on how inclusive and thoughtful Ms. Perez is in how she seeks to understand what is being taught in the classroom and then works to include these themes in her art classes.  Ms. Perez’s work has also been a model for developing a culturally diverse curriculum for ATS students inclusive of all the amazing cultures and communities that make up the fabric of the ATS student body. Anyone who walks into Ms. Perez’s classroom will see how she masterfully brings the vibrant world of art into her classroom while maintaining a safe and welcoming space for all learners. We are lucky to have her at ATS.

Charlotte Hoffer, Teacher, Ashlawn Elementary School
Dream Team Colleague!
Ms. Hoffer is what any teacher would want on a Dream Team. Putting student learning first, Charlotte always strives to dig deep into the curriculum to teach rigorously. She understands the needs of all the students in her class and finds ways to adjust small-group instruction. Her leadership role in CLTs helps build others on her team.  Teachers don’t just need to know the curriculum inside and out and deliver it in a way that students understand, but they must also possess the art of teaching. Ms. Hoffer not only has all of that but finds time to equally balance raising a toddler and a pre-schooler at home.

Teresa Smiroldo, Administrative Assistant, Arlington Science Focus School
Dedicated, hard-working, and invaluable to ASFS
Ms. Smiroldo has been an invaluable member of the ASFS team for the last 12 years. I have been fortunate to work with her for the last 10 years both as a parent, PTA President, and now as part of the front office team. She is incredibly dedicated to supporting the entire ASFS community and always goes above and beyond to keep our school running smoothly every day.  She works seamlessly with school administration, teachers and staff, as well as the PTA and members of the community to provide support for our school. Ms. Smiroldo is incredibly hard-working and organized and manages such a long list of duties. She is one of the first staff members in the building every day, greets everyone with a smile and is always very kind and supportive in all of her daily interactions.

I have been fortunate to get to know Ms. Smiroldo as a parent and PTA lead – we have worked together closely for the last four years while I was PTA President.  She is a wonderful role model and has played an important role in building community with our PTA, parents, and staff. This year, I am lucky to work with her in the ASFS office, where she is an incredible role model, and I learn something new daily from her.  She brings positivity and joy to the ASFS community, and we would love to recognize her for all the amazing qualities that she has.  Thank you for considering Ms. Smiroldo as an APS All Star!

Alexis Robinson, Teacher, Long Branch Elementary School
Dedicated, kind, student-centered, BRIGHT and patient
Ms. Robinson is an all-star in every way because she keeps her students at the center of everything she does and her students love and trust her. She is calm and caring and has the trust and respect of her students, both past and present. My son had challenges with attention and could not sit still, and she took him under her wing, took him on walks around the school and let him stand when others sat because that’s how he learned best. She befriended him and the other kids in the class. She checked on him even after he left her class and moved up to another grade. She remembers his birthday and reaches out.

Ms. Robinson makes every kid in the class feel special and finds a way to bring out their gifts, help them read, and to engage them in their learning. She is an amazing teacher with many gifts that touch the lives of her students and their families.

Ann Irby
Professional!Excels! Wonderful personality!

I love Ms. Irby!  I never get any complaints about Ann, everyone loves her.  She knows her stuff, no matter what you ask her, she has the answer; even if the question is outside of her specialties, say retirement or workers’ comp, she will help.   Although it is highly discouraged for an employee just to drop in without an appointment, it happens frequently.  I call Ms. Irby and she answers, “I’ll be right out!”

She makes the employees feel that APS appreciates their service and loyalty to Arlington Public Schools.  She will be a HUGE loss to APS when she retires at the end of this year.