Texas Teacher of the Year - Texas Association of School

Celebrating True Texas Heroes
Texas Teacher of the Year
2013 Awards Ceremony
October 19, 2012
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
Austin, Texas
I Am a Teacher
By Daniel Leija
2011 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year • 2011 State Teacher of the Year
I am a teacher. I have answered my nation’s call to redefine the future. I have been
entrusted to nurture and develop our country’s most precious resource…our
children.
I am a coach, mentor, counselor and friend, fully prepared to take the necessary steps to
make each student’s dream become a reality. I will never waver from my course.
I am a professional, the descendant of a proud and honorable heritage. I hold myself
to a higher standard because I am accountable to our nation, my community, the
students, and myself. I will always conduct myself in a manner that will bring
credit to my field. I actively seek ways to sharpen my skills through continuing
education and collaboration with my colleagues.
I am a partner. I work together with the community, business organizations, support
agencies, administration, and parents to ensure each student receives the quality
education that many seek and relatively few realize. My classroom door is always
open for my students and all who wish to catch a glimpse of how tomorrow’s
leaders are being prepared.
I am a shepherd. I openly reach out to and guide each student who passes through
my door; rich, poor, privileged, or disadvantaged. I nurture and encourage each
student to achieve their full potential. My students will overcome life’s obstacles
to become successful.
I am an advocate. I encourage my students to take risks, think outside the box, and
always dream big. I help my students learn to be humble winners, gracious losers,
and work together as a team to achieve their goals.
I am a confidant. I offer counsel to students who have nowhere else to turn in times
of personal crisis. I offer the support, guidance, and encouragement my students
need to pilot them through their hour of darkness. I will never jeopardize that
bond of trust. I gladly take on each of these roles to ensure my students have the
tools they need to be successful in an ever-changing world.
I am a teacher. I have answered the call. I cannot and will not fail.
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Texas Teacher of the Year 2013 Awards Ceremony
String Ensemble
Westwood High School CHAMPS Ensemble n Round Rock ISD
Luncheon
Welcome and Introductions
Johnny L. Veselka
Executive Director n Texas Association of School Administrators
Greetings
Michael Williams
Commissioner of Education n Texas Education Agency
Remarks
Stephanie Stoebe n 2012 Secondary Teacher of the Year
Karen Morman n 2012 Texas Teacher of the Year
Presentation of Awards
Regional Teachers of the Year
Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalists
Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalists
Remarks
2013 Texas Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year
Closing
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State of Texas
Office of the Governor
Greetings:
As Governor of Texas I am pleased to welcome everyone gathered to honor
excellence at the 2012-2013 Teacher of the Year awards ceremony.
Our future is defined by the actions we take today. As such, one of our state’s
most important missions is ensuring young Texans are prepared to excel in the
workforce of the 21st century.
Across our great state, educators inspire our children to achieve, helping them
see that their opportunities are limitless if they will dream, dare and do. Today
I join my fellow Texans in saluting the role you play in the success of our
children, who are our next generation of leaders and brightest promise for the
future.
First Lady Anita Perry joins me in sending best wishes on this special occasion.
Sincerely,
Rick Perry
Governor
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From Michael Williams
Texas Commissioner of Education
Teachers, Superintendents, Administrators, and Special Guests:
As Texas Commissioner of Education, my favorite part of the job is
praising the great things happening in our schools and classrooms every
day. Today’s recognition and celebration of these 40 teachers gives me
just that opportunity. This remarkable group of educators shines as an
example as we work together to ensure all Texas children excel.
I’d like to offer my personal congratulations and gratitude for their hard
work inspiring youngsters to do their best and inspiring all of us to
do our best as we set about educating Texas’ future artists, engineers,
mathematicians, scientists, writers, and leaders in every walk of life.
Every child’s needs are different. These teachers not only understand
this important concept, but embrace it. They embrace this challenge and
seek to help all children realize their full potential. There are few greater
gifts a child can receive than the self-confidence that accompanies
success in the classroom. These educators give that gift to their students
every day.
Again, it is my sincere privilege to congratulate you on a job well done.
I’m overjoyed to be with you today as we recognize the good you do to
educate the students of today and strengthen the Texas of tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Michael L. Williams
Texas Commissioner of Education
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Elementary Finalists
Ronelle Howell
Art Teacher • Cathelene Thomas Elementary School
Slaton ISD • Region 17
“There is no formula for “teaching” creativity,
but I have observed that with practice and
opportunity, students amaze even themselves
with the thoughts and observations they express,
verbally or visually…The key to the continued
success of my program and student achievement
is that I bind every art experience to a particular
goal. Projects originate with art history, but
connect with current events, science projects and
social studies…”
Jami Lupold
Music Teacher • Pearl Hall Elementary School
Pasadena ISD • Region 4
“In order to know what every child needs
one must look inside the heart and soul of
each student to help her reach her potential.
Sensitivity is essential when evaluating students
to discover what they truly understand. Finding
their strengths and building on those helps me
to discover where I can most impact their lives
by developing their skills to become life-long
learners.”
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Irene Salom
Special Education Teacher • Josefa L. Sambrano Elementary School
San Elizario ISD • Region 19
“Teaching isn’t about content instruction; it is about
encouraging kids and enlightening them to seek
out knowledge as we prepare them to be lifelong
learners. That can only happen when kids are given
an environment that promotes free thinking and risk
taking…I think students need teachers that can see
past their mistakes, disabilities, and circumstances
and nourish the potential that lies beneath, even
when that potential is hard to see. It is our job as
educators to not only find it, but proliferate it to
every area of that child’s life.”
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Secondary Finalists
Cody Hayes
Culinary Arts Teacher • Rockwall High School
Rockwall ISD • Region 1
“I believe one of the greatest things a teacher can
instill in their students is the value of and ability to
practice respect… One of the ways in which I respect
my students is by learning all that I can about each of
them and their learning style. I understand that the
way in which one student learns is not the same as
how the student sitting next to him or her is going to
learn. Knowing this, and respecting their differences, I
tailor my class times, my teaching style and my lessons
to each and every individual need. This understanding
is the contributing factor to my teaching philosophy.”
Theresa Heim
Reading Teacher • Connally Middle School
Northside ISD • Region 20
“Outstanding teachers provide a structured, safe
environment where students feel they can experiment
without the threat of ridicule or disappointment.
I believe that students feel safest when they can
trust their teacher. I take the time to get to know
my students by building lessons that allow them to
share openly and freely. The secret to cracking even
the hardest nut is to listen—truly listen—when they
open up and share. I empathize with my students,
build trust and tackle any obstacle they face with
fierce tenacity. When they realize that you are their
advocate, they lay barriers aside and true learning can
begin.”
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Jeremy Wagner
Science Teacher • Heritage Middle School
Frenship ISD • Region 17
“Teaching is both a combination of science and
art. On the one hand, teaching requires a deep
understanding of content. On the other, teaching
requires a special feel for the needs of students, how
to deliver instruction using researched strategies, and
how to create an environment in which all students
can succeed.”
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Regional Teachers of the Year
Education Service Center Region 1
Iliana Hinojosa
Dr. William Long Elementary School
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Yvette Nevarez
Alton Memorial Jr. High School
Mission CISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
10
Education Service Center Region 2
Danny Jackson
Flour Bluff Elementary School
Flour Bluff ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Elizabeth Taylor-Payne
Mary Carroll High School
Corpus Christi ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
11
Education Service Center Region 3
Shelly Riddle
Industrial Elementary East
Industrial ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Christy Deyton
Industrial High School
Industrial ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
12
Education Service Center Region 4
Jami Lupold
Pearl Hall Elementary School
Pasadena ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Pepper Smith
Friendswood High School
Friendswood ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
13
Education Service Center Region 5
Sommer Reynolds
Little Cypress Intermediate School
Little Cypress Mauriceville CISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Carol Jan Tekell
Vincent Middle School
Beaumont ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
14
Education Service Center Region 6
Kristi Hancock
Johnson Elementary School
Bryan ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Holly Ray
Magnolia West High School
Magnolia ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
15
Education Service Center Region 7
Sharone Woolen
Robert E. Lee Elementary School
Marshall ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Cynthia Kling
Athens High School
Athens ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
16
Education Service Center Region 8
Corena Lavender
C. K. Bender Elementary School
Liberty-Eylau ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Jo Duncan
Jefferson High School
Jefferson ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
17
Education Service Center Region 9
Audrey Ash
John Tower Elementary School
Burkburnett ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Micky Miller
Joe B. McNiel Jr. High School
Wichita Falls ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
18
Education Service Center Region 10
Ronnie Cantu
Forman Elementary School
Plano ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Cody Hayes
Rockwall High School
Rockwall ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
19
Education Service Center Region 11
Michelle Yates
Coder Elementary School
Aledo ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Erin Griffith
McCarroll Middle School
Decatur ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
20
Education Service Center Region 12
Sherrie Berry
Hanna Springs Elementary School
Lampasas ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Jennifer Faulknor
Hillsboro High School
Hillsboro ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
21
Education Service Center Region 13
Natalie Mahany
Rooster Springs Elementary School
Dripping Springs ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Marisa Maher
Dripping Springs High School
Dripping Springs ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
22
Education Service Center Region 14
Renee Carey
Sweetwater Intermediate School
Sweetwater ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Clare Nickel
Clyde High School
Clyde CISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
23
Education Service Center Region 15
Patricia Villarreal
Lamar Elementary School
San Felipe Del Rio CISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Judy Reed
Early High School
Early ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
24
Education Service Center Region 16
Pamela Garrett
South Georgia Elementary School
Amarillo ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Russell Pennington
Caprock High School
Amarillo ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
25
Education Service Center Region 17
Ronelle Howell
Cathelene Thomas Elementary School
Slaton ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Jeremy Wagner
Heritage Middle School
Frenship ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
26
Education Service Center Region 18
Sara Burleson
Carver Center School
Midland ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Mary Helen Carrasco
Pecos High School
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
27
Education Service Center Region 19
Irene Salom
Josefa L. Sambrano Elementary School
San Elizario ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Jennifer Wilhite
Chapin High School
El Paso ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
28
Education Service Center Region 20
Barbara Purkhiser
Clarence Galm Elementary School
Northside ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Theresa Heim
Connally Middle School
Northside ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year
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30
Year Teacher
School District
Level
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
McKinney ISD
Round Rock ISD
Northside ISD
Flour Bluff ISD
Wichita Falls ISD
El Paso ISD
McAllen ISD
Fabens ISD
Keller ISD
Ysleta ISD
Ysleta ISD
Keller ISD
Amarillo ISD
Plano ISD
Richardson ISD
Wichita Falls ISD
Canutillo ISD
Longview ISD
Lewisville ISD
Friendswood ISD
San Felipe Del Rio CISD
Dallas ISD
Alamo Heights ISD
Spring Branch ISD
Corpus Christi ISD
Graham ISD
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
Pine Tree ISD
Midland ISD
Austin ISD
Socorro ISD
Lewisville ISD
Burleson ISD
Weslaco ISD
Ysleta ISD
Deer Park ISD
La Vega ISD
Newton ISD
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Karen Morman
Stephanie Stoebe
Daniel Leija
Beth Huckabee
Donna Patrick
Yushica T. Walker
Dora A. Newell
Christine Gleason
Grant Simpson
Paul Cain
Dana K. Boyd
Nika Maples
Cynthia M. Lewis
Karen Shepherd
Gloria Voutos
Sheryl Lindemann
Kyann McMillie
Ellen Herbert
Brenda McCuin
Denise Tanner
Marta Galindo
Barbara Dorff
Linda DeMino
Dr. Lorraine Maneen
Mary Beth Tierce
Jack Cody
Norma Jackson
Miriam Lancaster
W. W. “Bear” Mills
Joe Farley
Antonio Fierro
Bonnie Leech
Ann Brock
Visalam Subram
Miguel Ignacio Tinajero
Sallie Ann Langseth
Karla Davis
Mary Elizabeth Fortenberry
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
Kathy Hogan
Leo Ramirez
Rosa Lujan
Mary McFarland
Evelyn Nevins
Sandra Gifford
Ann R. Weiss
Mercedes Bonner
Barbara Walker
Joyce Roberta Miller-Alper
Jimmie Driver
Margurette Troutman
Humble ISD
McAllen ISD
Ysleta ISD
Amarillo ISD
Flour Bluff ISD
Paris ISD
Spring ISD
Fort Bend ISD
Katy ISD
Spring Branch ISD
Agua Dulce ISD
Highland Park ISD
Year Teacher
School District
(Levels not distinguished prior to 1988)
1987
James E. Stones
1986
Mary Long
1985
Meliane Wells Christie
1984
Jack Porter
1983
Dr. Patricia Taylor
1982
Rita Harlien
1981
Judy McCaleb Matney
1980
Peggy Carnahan
1979
Kathryn Ledbetter
1978
Gailya Riley
1977
Marie Haines
1974
Edna Cox
1973
Mary Elizabeth C. Brown
1972
Ben H. Standifer
1971
Bettye Mischan
1970
Clarence K. Stark
1969
Ruth Spear
1968
Mabel Wyatt
1967
Lola Fay Wilson
1966
Elaine Ledbetter
1965
Keene C. Van Ordan
1964
Elsie Guthrie
1963
Marjorie Behringer
1961
Ruth Lee
1957
Eugene G. Bizzell★
Spring Branch ISD
Austin ISD
Spring Branch ISD
Austin ISD
Spring Branch ISD
Ysleta ISD
Fort Bend ISD
Northside ISD
Austin ISD
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD
Fort Worth ISD
Tulia ISD
Houston ISD
Fort Worth ISD
Plano ISD
El Paso ISD
San Marcos ISD
Bloomington ISD
Longview ISD
Pampa ISD
San Angelo ISD
Memphis ISD
Alamo Heights ISD
Teague ISD
Austin ISD
★National Teacher of the Year
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
Elementary
Secondary
31
Platinum Sponsor
TASA
Silver Sponsors
32
Bronze Sponsors
Professional Association Sponsors
Association of Texas Professional Educators
Texas American Federation of Teachers
Texas Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development
Texas Association of School Boards
Texas Association of School Business Officials
Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators
Texas Association of Secondary School Principals
Texas Classroom Teachers Association
Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers
Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association
Texas State Teachers Association
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State Board of Education
Barbara Cargill
Chair
Carlos “Charlie” Garza
District 1
Bob Craig
Vice Chair
Mary Helen Berlanga
District 2
Mary Helen Berlanga
Secretary
Michael Soto
District 3
Lawrence Allen
District 4
Ken Mercer
District 5
Terri Leo
District 6
David Bradley
District 7
Barbara Cargill
District 8
Thomas Ratliff
District 9
Marsha Farney
District 10
Patricia Hardy
District 11
George Clayton
District 12
Mavis Knight
District 13
Gail Lowe
District 14
Bob Craig
District 15
34
National Teacher of the Year Program History
The National Teacher of the Year program, sponsored by the Council of Chief
State School Officers, is the oldest, most prestigious national program that
recognizes and honors excellence in teaching.
The program was established in 1952 by Otis Wiese, editor and publisher of
McCall’s magazine, who wanted to raise the public esteem of the teaching
profession. “The project is designed to honor the teachers who are doing
their jobs in an outstanding way, and through them to salute the teaching
profession and to restore to all teachers the respect that should be theirs,”
wrote Wiese.
In 1957, Texas teacher Eugene G. Bizzell, who taught speech, English, and
debate at McCallum High School in the Austin Independent School District,
was named the National Teacher of the Year.
The National Teacher of the Year is chosen from among the state Teachers of
the Year by a national selection committee composed of representatives from
14 national education organizations.
Each year, two teachers from each of the 20 regional Education Service
Centers become eligible for two titles: Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year
and Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. To achieve recognition through this
program, a teacher must be chosen as a campus and a district Teacher of the
Year, and ultimately a regional honoree.
From this group of 40 teachers, six finalists are chosen and interviewed by
an independent panel of judges. The state’s top elementary and secondary
teachers are chosen from these six exemplary educators.
The Texas Teacher of the Year, a dedicated and highly skilled candidate who
is capable of inspiring students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn,
becomes a candidate for National Teacher of the Year honors. Each April, the
National Teacher of the Year is introduced to the American people by the
President of the United States.
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Texas Teacher of the Year Program
In Creating a New Vision for Public Education in Texas, published in 2008, the Texas
Association of School Administrators stated that, “The teacher’s most important role
is to be a designer of engaging experiences for students…” We are proud to honor 40
outstanding teachers from throughout Texas who exemplify excellence in teaching and
have demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering innovation, creativity, and a thirst
for learning in their students.
We are grateful to the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), Texas
American Federation of Teachers (Texas AFT), Texas Classroom Teachers Association
(TCTA), and Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) for their assistance in reviewing
the 40 applications and selecting finalists for Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the
Year honors.
We appreciate the commitment of each of the regional education service centers, their
executive director and staffs, for facilitating the Teacher of the Year awards program
throughout the state.
Finally, we appreciate the continuing support of Commissioner Michael Williams and his
staff of the Texas Education Agency for recognizing our outstanding teachers.