District 204 BMO Harris Bank Volunteer of the Month: Susana Payan
Submitted March 7, 2013 5:22PM
Susana Payan is a volunteer at Granger Middle School and is being recognized as the District 204 BMO Harris Bank Volunteer of the Month. | Submitted
Updated: April 11, 2013 6:29AM
Dedicated, exemplary and extraordinary are just a few of the words that describe Susana Payan, a volunteer at Granger Middle School who is being recognized as the District 204 BMO Harris Bank Volunteer of the Month.
Payan was nominated for her work as a member of the Granger PTSA, where she serves as first vice president, and chairs several PTSA events, including the Reflections Art program. She has dedicated herself to the Latino community at Granger and has made it her mission to ensure that all Latino parents feel like an integral part of the school.
She initiated the Latino Grizzlies group at Granger; coordinated a trip to a Lewis University college fair for eighth-grade Latino students; and helped organize the first weekend culture trip for students, parents and teachers to the National Mexican Art Museum. She serves as a translator for parents during parent-teacher conferences and, for several hours each week, she is available to translate for any parent who needs help in any area.
Payan is originally from Mexico City, where she was a doctor of internal medicine. In 2002, her family moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she began volunteering at her children’s schools and became a member of the PTA.
Because of her involvement, she received the President’s Award for Volunteer Service in 2008, the Texas PTA Life Membership Award in 2009, and the National PTA Life Achievement Award in 2010.
In 2010, her family moved to Aurora, and Payan once again volunteered at her children’s schools.
“One of my goals is to help Latino parents get involved at school with their kids. No matter the age, no matter the school, the kids need their parents’ involvement to succeed,” Payan said. “There is no greater satisfaction than knowing that my time served helps kids and parents. I am honored to be selected as volunteer of the month and that encourages me to work harder every day.”
BMO Harris Bank is helping District 204 recognize one volunteer each month who has generously given his or her time to support District 204’s students and schools. To celebrate these outstanding volunteers, BMO Harris Bank is donating $1,000 to the volunteer’s school. To nominate an outstanding volunteer, visit http://ipsdweb.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx/Volunteer
Courtesy of School District 204.
