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INSPIRING SIERRA STUDENT
Steele earns ACSA chapter recognition
steele
Isabella Steele was joined by her family, Eva, Amelia and Mark Steele, during the Every Student Succeeding Award ceremony.

Isabella (Bella) Steele serves as an inspiration in more ways than one.

Since the second grade, she’s been with the Manteca Unified/San Joaquin County Office of Education Deaf & Hard of Hearing Program.

Now a senior at Sierra High, Steele – she’s the daughter of Mark and Eva Steele – was recognized Wednesday as Association of California School Administrator- San Joaquin Chapter’s prestigious Every Student Succeeding Award.

“She’s an amazing student,” said SHS Principal Steve Clark. “She’s a big part of our campus – academically and outside of it in her extracurricular activities – we’re honored to be part of this award.”

Vice Principal Anne Marie Shaw had the honor of making the presentation during the special morning ceremony held in the school library. In attendance were MUSD Superintendent Clark Burke, Trustee Marie Freitas, and Senior Director of Secondary Education Clara Schmiedt, to name a few.

ACSA is a driving force for an equitable, world-class education system, developing and supporting educational leaders in meeting the diverse needs of all California students. Every Student Succeeding program honors those students exceeding expectations along with the educators who have helped along the way.

For Steele, there was no one more so than Rachel Hernandez, who is SJCOE’s Deaf & Hard of Hearing teacher on campus. “She’s her second mom,” said Eva Steele, who used to be the resource officer at SHS.

Hernandez, who was also celebrating a birthday on this day, has worked with Isabella Steele since she was a second grader at Stella Brockman Elementary School.

Over the years, she watched Steele grow along the way.                                        

“I’m very proud of Bella,” Hernandez said. “She’s mature, smart and is an athlete.”

A table spread during the ACSA event at SHS featured some of Steele’s accomplishments – photos of running a recent 5K race, participating in the annual powder puff game, and alongside her equestrian horse Loma.

“She’s a credit to herself, family and her class,” said Burkes, pointing out that Steele is the epitome of Every Student Succeeding.