Celebrating True Texas Heroes

Texas Teacher of the Year 2014 Awards Ceremony October 4, 2013 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 2014 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 Darrell Floyd President n TASA Remarks

Irene Salom n 2013 Elementary Teacher of the Year Jeremy Wagner n 2013 Texas Teacher of the Year Presentation of Awards

Regional Teachers of the Year Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalists Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalists Remarks

2014 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 2013-2014 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 Jillian Howard Elementary Education C. D. Landolt Elementary School Clear Creek ISD • Region 4

Julie Woodard Social Studies/Language Arts D. S. Pullen Elementary School Rockwall ISD • Region 10

Connie Bagley Elementary Education Crockett Elementary School San Marcos CISD • Region 13

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Secondary Finalists Monica Washington English Teacher Texas High School Texarkana ISD • Region 8

Carlos Briano Communication Studies Teacher El Dorado High School Socorro ISD • Region 19

Christian DeBerry Specialized Support/Applied Learning Environment Teacher William P. Hobby Middle School Northside ISD • Region 20

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Regional Teachers of the Year Education Service Center Region 1

Katherine Moore Ben Milam Elementary School McAllen ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Rosbel Pena Alton Memorial Junior High School Mission CISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 2

Christina McAnally Little Bay Primary School Aransas County ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Ibet Vargas Caro Richard King High School Corpus Christi ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 3

Donna Baxter John C. French Elementary School Cuero ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Cynthia Slovacek Meyersville School Meyersville ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 4

Jillian Howard C. D. Landolt Elementary School Clear Creek ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Janie Spies Katy Jr. High School Katy ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 5

Rebecca Dougharty Parnell Elementary School Jasper ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Dianne Pace Jasper Junior High School Jasper ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 6

Alyssa Johnson Forest Ridge Elementary School College Station ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Kristie Vick Anderson-Shiro Jr./Sr. High School Anderson-Shiro CISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 7

Stacey Perkins Hallsville East Elementary School Hallsville ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Jennifer Roberts Hallsville High School Hallsville ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 8

Amy Frierson Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics & Engineering Elementary School Texarkana ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Monica Washington Texas High School Texarkana ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 9

Lori Pitts West Foundation Elementary Wichita Falls ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Elizabeth Spears Jacksboro High School Jacksboro ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 10

Julie Woodard D. S. Pullen Elementary School Rockwall ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Kimberly Pope Coppell Middle School North Coppell ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 11

Lou Hitt Rann Elementary School Decatur ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Sheryl Sides Dawson Middle School Carroll ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 12

Amanda Morris Hanna Springs Elementary School Lampasas ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Gina Goldman China Spring DAEP/TAG China Spring ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 13

Connie Bagley Crockett Elementary School San Marcos CISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Dana Schrader Hudson Bend Middle School Lake Travis ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 14

Jimmy Bennett East Ridge Elementary School Sweetwater ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Alison Alvarez Colorado Middle School Colorado ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 15

Lorraine Campos Bonham Elementary School San Angelo ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Trudy Simpson Miles Junior High School Miles ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 16

Karla Flowers Gus Birdwell Elementary School Spearman ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Bruce Howard Clarendon High School Clarendon CISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 17

Melode Watson Ralls Elementary School Ralls ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Kristen Campbell J. T. Hutchinson Middle School Lubbock ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 18

Vidal Torres Ben Milam Elementary School Midland ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Justin Walker Midland High School Midland ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 19

Amanda Bowser Colin Powell Elementary School El Paso ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Carlos Briano El Dorado High School Socorro ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Education Service Center Region 20

Charlotte Dolat Woodridge Elementary School Alamo Heights ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Christian DeBerry William P. Hobby Middle School Northside ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Year Teacher

School District

Level

2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994

San Elizario ISD Frenship ISD 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 Elementary Secondary

Irene Salom Jeremy Wagner 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



Elementary Secondary Elementary Secondary Elementary Secondary Elementary Secondary Elementary Secondary Elementary Secondary

★National Teacher of the Year

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Platinum Sponsors

TASA Because Perspective Matters

Gold Sponsors

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Because Perspective Matters

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 School Public Relations Association Texas State Teachers Association

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State Board of Education Barbara Cargill Chair

Martha M. Dominguez District 1

Thomas Ratliff Vice Chair

Ruben Cortez, Jr. District 2

Mavis B. Knight Secretary

Marisa B. Perez District 3 Lawrence A. Allen, Jr. District 4 Ken Mercer District 5 Donna Bahorich District 6 David Bradley District 7 Barbara Cargill District 8 Thomas Ratliff District 9 Tom Maynard District 10 Patricia Hardy District 11 Geraldine Miller District 12 Mavis B. Knight District 13 Sue Melton-Malone District 14 Marty Rowley District 15

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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. 33

Education Service Centers Executive Directors

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Region 1 – Edinburg Dr. Cornelio Gonzalez

Region 11 – Fort Worth Dr. Clyde Steelman

Region 2 – Corpus Christi Dr. Rick Alvarado

Region 12 – Waco Dr. Jerry Maze

Region 3 – Victoria Dr. Julius D. Cano

Region 13 – Austin Dr. Terry Smith

Region 4 – Houston Dr. Pam Wells

Region 14 – Abilene Mr. Ronnie Kincaid

Region 5 – Beaumont Dr. Danny Lovett

Region 15 – San Angelo Mr. Scot Goen

Region 6 – Huntsville Mr. Thomas Poe

Region 16 – Amarillo Mr. John Bass

Region 7 – Kilgore Mrs. Elizabeth Abernethy

Region 17 – Lubbock Dr. Kyle Wargo

Region 8 – Mount Pleasant Dr. Ray Glynn

Region 18 – Midland Mr. John Thomas

Region 9 – Wichita Falls Ms. Anne Poplin

Region 19 – El Paso Dr. James R. Vasquez

Region 10 – Richardson Mr. Wilburn O. “Buddy” Echols, Jr.

Region 20 – San Antonio Dr. Ronald L. Beard

Education Service Centers

Coordinators, Texas Teacher of the Year Region 1 – Edinburg Melissa Ramirez

Region 11 – Fort Worth Lori Burton

Region 2 – Corpus Christi Melissa Morin

Region 12 – Waco Charlene Simpson

Region 3 – Victoria Gayle Parencia

Region 13 – Austin Karla Moyer

Region 4 – Houston Caye Quigley

Region 14 – Abilene Susan Graham

Region 5 – Beaumont Jim Baxter Region 6 – Huntsville Dorothy Yawn Region 7 – Kilgore Katie Chenoweth Region 8 – Mount Pleasant Karla Coker Region 9 – Wichita Falls Debbie Cummings Region 10 – Richardson Ron Simpson

John Stevens Region 15 – San Angelo Laura Strube Region 16 – Amarillo Gwen Hicks Region 17 – Lubbock Janie Johnson Region 18 – Midland John Petree Region 19 – El Paso Socorro Rodriguez Region 20 – San Antonio Dee Ann Drummond Estlack

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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 at the Texas Education Agency for recognizing our outstanding teachers.

Johnny Veselka Executive Director TASA

Darrell G. Floyd President TASA