Prestigious Award for PCC Adult Educator

November 2, 2012

Tucson, AZ – Pima Community College educator Laura Porfirio has been honored by the Arizona Association of Lifelong Learning for fostering ongoing education in the community.

Ms. Porfirio is an Advanced Program Coordinator in PCC Adult Education Services who has been involved in Adult Ed for more than 17 years. She received the Arizona Association for Lifelong Learning’s Award of Excellence in Honor of Gary P. Tang at an awards luncheon today at Rio Salado College in Tempe.

Ms. Porfirio is a recognized leader in civics education in Arizona. She coordinated PCCAE’s civics program when it became an Arizona Department of Education Civics Model Program in 2002, and participated in statewide development of civics standards.

“Laura’s professionalism, passion for Adult Education and work ethic make her a most deserving recipient of the award,” PCC Adult Education Dean Deborah Gaddy says. “She brings the community into Adult Education and takes Adult Education out into the community.”

PCC’s Adult Education serves some 8,000 students annually through Adult Basic Education; GED preparation and testing; English Language Acquisition for Adults; programs on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, civics and family literacy; and programs for refugees and the developmentally disabled.

PCCAE’s 2011-12 annual report to the Pima County Board of Supervisors showed that PCCAE students’ test scores met or exceeded standards set by the Arizona Department of Education, based on significant gains made by the students on a state- and federally-approved standardized test. Interim Chancellor Dr. Suzanne Miles noted PCCAE’s superior performance in her October Interim Chancellor’s Report.