Larry Bridges Honored with Distinguished Educator Award

Graphic of Teacher Larry Bridges

In June, two educators from Athlos schools in Utah and Louisiana were chosen as recipients of the Athlos Distinguished Educator Award. Each was chosen based on their excellence in exemplifying the three Pillars of Performance at Athlos Academy: Prepared Mind, Healthy Body, and Performance Character. The two educators are: Stacy Tonozzi, Athlos Academy of Utah, Herriman, UT and Larry Bridges, Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish, Terrytown, LA.

Mr. Bridges, who teaches sixth-grade math, is known for his patience, guidance and role modeling for students and colleagues alike.  His motto is, “Every Student Matters,” and he encourages all students live to their full potential and be successful in and out of the classroom.  He takes time to assist his colleagues in setting up technology in their classrooms, often arriving early and staying late to make sure his team has all the necessary materials to be successful.

Group photo bridges

From left to right: Dr. William Bressler, Chief Executive Officer, Athlos Academies, Larry Bridges, educator, Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish, Cheryl Martin, Principal of Lower School, Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish

Mr. Bridges graduated from William Carey University, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. There he earned a degree in elementary education with a concentration in math and science. Mr. Bridges spent one year in the Moss Point School District in Moss Point, Mississippi. Additionally, he spent six years with the Jackson County School District in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, teaching seventh-grade math before coming to Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish teaching sixth-grade math. He is also a veteran of the United States Army.

One of his nominators, a parent at Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish, said, “When it came time for state testing, he provided multiple opportunities to prepare students. If one of my children had difficulty in class, he reached out immediately to let me know and he helped in getting them where they needed to be in understanding the material in class.”

Mr. Bridges favorite Performance Character Trait is humility. “The Performance Character trait that most resonates with me is humility,” he said. “To me, humility is one of the most important and powerful Performance Character traits that we have in life. It is an attribute of growth in everything that we do in life. It helps us to build trust, and it is a key aspect of leadership development.”

Athlos Academy provides a unique approach to teaching and learning. Its mission is to provide high-quality educational opportunities for the whole child built on the three foundational pillars: Prepared Mind, Healthy Body, and Performance Character. Students participate in four scientifically developed physical activity sessions each week, Performance Character is integrated into the culture of the school, and high academic achievement is an expectation for all students.

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