Bob Burton Spirit Award

The Bob Burton Spirit Award is presented to a person who makes SPIRIT WORK, who makes a positive difference and who emphasizes inclusion with all students and members. The nominee must be a CADA member, individual or vendor. The award is given through the area in which the nominee maintains business or membership. The nominee cannot be a current council member and will be given to one person, not to teams, partners or groups

2019 Bob Burton Award Recipients

AREA A: Stacie Martin, Paradise High School

This year has been an incredibly challenging one for the students and staff of Paradise High School. The towns of Paradise and Magalia were ravaged by the Campfire in November of 2018. The Paradise High School activities director, Stacie Martin saw a calling to keep the students connected and supported in the aftermath of this tragedy. Stacie created many opportunities for students and staff to come together to begin the healing process. She started Tuesday night activities the very first Tuesday after the fire with many students traveling long distances to attend to connect with the classmates and teachers and find solace in each other. Although the PHS site was spared, the high school had to be re-located to an office building in Chico. Stacie has worked hard to continue all regular activities including rallies, dances, kindness week and a blood drive. And she has coordinated large scale fundraising, including securing two grants which will fund free yearbooks and free prom for all students this year.

AREA B: Ben Breazeale, Mission san jose High School

Ben Breazeale has ran the student leadership program at Mission San Jose High for 31 years. He has been to 28 CADA conferences and numerous area B conference trainings. His program has been recognized as an outstanding leadership Program. He started the Leadership 1, Leadership 2 classes and they are still going strong after 28 years. With the help of his leadership students, he also started the first Charity Fashion show, Mutli-cultural week, student store, Family Festival, Senior cruise, and senior Water World trip. He has planned and been part of 30 graduations. One of his biggest passions is the "Teenage Driving Awareness week." This week long campaign highlights the dangers of teens driving and puts a spotlight on how teens can be more safe. His biggest love is working with the awesome Mission San Jose high student leaders and teaching them life-long leadership skills. He is honored to be part of the incredible area B, CADA and to receive the area B award.

AREA C: Larry Armstrong, computech middle School

Larry Armstrong has spent thirty-eight years as an elementary and middle school teacher. The past fourteen of those years he has been the Campus Culture Director at Computech Middle School. In the beginning, he knew little about organizing a Leadership program or building schoolwide culture throughout a campus, but Larry did have a passion to make connections and blessed with the talent to make every student feel important and part of the school. As a part of his personal growth and desire to do what is best for ALL students, Larry actively sought ideas and programs to help in the cause. In 2006, at the CADA Area C Youth Leadership Conference, he met Bob Burton at a presentation he was delivering. Mr. Burton inspired Larry to make a dynamic Leadership program that includes reaching out to all student groups and individuals on campus.That first class of 24 unsure volunteers fourteen years ago has grown to be a high energy set of 62 student leaders in two Leadership classes. Today, they put on two lunchtime events per week, quarterly rallies and dances, lunchtime pep rallies, Red Ribbon Week activities, three annual service leadership projects, celebrations of staff and students, lawn chair lunches, hours of school and community service and Wow Day start to the school year. Leadership is always changing, a perpetual work in progress and CADA has consistently been a source of many great ideas that Larry has brought back to Computech. Larry is always working to make Computech a school where students and staff feel connected and is a true representation of “One Tiger, Many Stripes.”

AREA D: Nyssa Baca, Harden middle School

Nyssa is in her 8th year of teaching, 7th at Harden Middle School. She has taught English, Drama, Journalism, Yearbook, Leadership, and Reading Intervention. She has been the Activity Director at Harden for the past 3 years, and enjoys working with her students to create fun and safe activities for their peers. Her 10 years of experience in Parks and Recreation and her enthusiasm for planning helped her thrive as an Activity Director. She's thrilled to have had this opportunity and is excited to announce that she was just accepted to a graduate program at USF for Student Affairs. She can't wait to start this next chapter, working with activities at a college level!

AREA E: Michelle chiotti, chino hills high School

Michelle Chiotti got involved with CADA attending the CADA conference with her school as a class advisor. Michelle then became Activities Director at Chino Hills High School in 2016. She has continued to be involved in CADA by attending Area E conferences, CASL State Conferences and CADA Summer Leadership Camps. Michelle is passionate about growing her student leadership program to include Link Crew, Peer Leadership, Renaissance and Video Leadership. Michelle and her husband Mark will be celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary this summer and she is most proud of her role of Mom to her two kids, Megan 13 and Michael 11.

AREA F: erin andrade, great oak high School

Erin Andrade has been teaching for 26 years. She was the student council advisor at the elementary school level before finding her way up to the Great Oak High School leadership program in Temecula. She quickly became the Renaissance advisor with 10-12th graders and found success recognizing Academic Success and Staff Recognition with programs that acknowledged successes however small or broad. For the past 7 years, she has taught strictly Freshman ASB leadership Classes that has helped establish a Leadership Program Pathway at Great Oak High School. She has been honored as a Hall of Fame advisor for the Jostens CARE Renaissance program, and recognized for her high level of teamwork and involvement at her school. She has presented many times at CADA conferences, and attended CASL conferences and CAMPS with students every other year. The camaraderie and consistency of CADA and its resources has helped form her program significantly. Winning the Bob Burton SPIRIT award has been a highlight of her career! She has thoroughly enjoyed working with her Leadership team at GOHS--Don Skaggs, Alicia Brennan, Lisa Balka, and Lois Gorbacz all share this achievement with her!

AREA G: deana garcia, el capitan high School

Deana Garcia has been a Social Science teacher at El Capitan High School for 16 years and the ASB advisor and CADA member for 10 years. She has been a part of the freshman orientation team for 16 years. Three years ago, she, along with the Link Crew coordinator, worked to get a leadership program started at her school site. Her schools Leadership Program currently consists of 4 classes that meet the same class period, each with a different focus (freshmen transitions, climate and culture, spirit, and community service) while all working toward a common goal. She is also the ASB representative to the athletic council in her district. Deana has been married to her husband, Anthony, for 9 years and has 4 children (Miles 7, Lane 6, Chase 5, and Cadence 2).

AREA H: al hopgood, springvalley middle School

Al Hopgood began his leadership journey by attending his first CADA conference 10 years ago. Since then, he has served on the Summer Camp staff, and the Area H Council. During his career. He has been involved on district committees that include social justice, and leadership. He is currently on the Provincial Board of Student leadership and has co-planned 2 Provincial leadership conferences. He has organized with his teaching partner Ryan a district leadership development day for the last two years. Al is currently working as a Student Support Services Teacher working with at-risk youth and works with leadership students. He likes to combine the two as magic happens when these two worlds come together. We build a strong school culture and community. In his spare time, Al is currently a captain with the West Kelowna Fire dept. as a POC and has been in the service for the last 25 years. He is married to his wife Sue and has one daughter Karah.

Past Bob Burton Award Recipients