Bethany Noviello is an excellent candidate for the Service Impact Award.  She is currently a Teach for America Corps Member, serving as a Resource Specialist at a San Jose high school.  She has always had a strong commitment to national and community service, but has done so full time since graduating from the University of Washington in 2007.  From August 2007 to June 2009, she served in AmeriCorps through CalSERVES at Wright Elementary School in Santa Rosa, CA.  Immediately after completing her 2^nd and final AmeriCorps term, she began her service with Teach For America. 

In her first AmeriCorps term, her role was in a direct service capacity, where she tutored 5-6 students and co-led an after school classroom of 25 4^th grade students.  She was a model for the other AmeriCorps members at her site, striving to be the best tutor and after school mentor.  Program staff recognized her passion and dedication, and she was selected to return for a 2^nd year as a leader of the tutoring program.  In this capacity, she coordinated the tutoring program at Wright Elementary.  It was because of her strong passion for improving the academic abilities of the students that her tutors were successful.  She had high expectations for her tutors, and it showed in the progress that the students made.

After completing 2 AmeriCorps terms, she was accepted by Teach for America.  As a current Corps Member, she is a special education teacher in a San Jose high school.  She works diligently to ensure that the needs of every student are met in their regular classrooms.  In addition, she stays after school to tutor students who need extra guidance.  She came into this position with little experience in the field of Special Education, but has become a valued and admired teacher in just 2 short years. 

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Bethany also leads two service focused student organizations at her high school: the Jefferson Awards and the Big Bone Alliance.  The Jefferson Awards is a group of students who commit to doing various community service projects in San Jose.  Through her leadership, this student organization has volunteered at many organizations in San Jose, as well as held fundraising events for local charities.  The Big Bone Alliance is a partnership between 2 high schools in San Jose.  This group of 15 students holds an annual service trip to New Orleans to rebuild homes and coastal wetlands.  Students are selected for the trip based on their commitment to community service, not on their ability to pay for the trip expenses.  Under Bethany’s leadership, the BBA students fundraise for the entire trip.   Through both of these projects, students learn the value of helping others and how to make a positive impact on the community.

Bethany’s strong commitment and passion for community service is shown in her past and present actions.  She is an example for others in the community service world, and is an excellent candidate for the Service Impact Award.