SCHOOL AIDES

	ARIELLA GARCIA 11th Grade Aide As a school aide at UAMA, Ariella Garcia is one of the cornerstones of its administrative and academic staff. In addition to assisting in outreach to parents, she also supports teachers and students to provide a successful learning environment. A product of Brooklyn's Fort Hamilton High School, Ms. Garcia understands the obstacles facing youth, and works tirelessly to ensure students' achievement.
	VALERIE MARRERO 10th Grade Aide Valerie Marrero brings her own love of children to her position as a student aide. She has two boys and a girl, and before coming to UAMA was a stay-at-home mom. A graduate of John Browne High School, she has also worked in a photography store and traveled extensively. She was born in New York City but is of Puerto Rican descent. When not hard at work providing essential support for UAMA students and teachers, she enjoys working out and spending time with her husband and kids.
	LUISA SPADAFINO 9th Grade Aide Luisa "LuLu" Spadafino's students sometimes refer to her as the "#1 School Aide," because of her love of kids and willingness to always lend a listening ear to them, as well as her overall positivity. Luisa gravitates toward anything creative. Outside of her work at UAMA, she is a spoken word artist and singer. She writes plays and designs drama sets and flyers for her church. She has brought this creative flair to her work as a UAMA student aide during the past three years--she has been known to hold dance competitions in the lunchroom. She is excited to see the current 11th graders, her original group of freshmen, graduate next year.