NANCY TAYLOR-CARAWAY

TUESDAY BANQUET | EDUCATOR HONORS

Tyler ISD will honor all Campus Teachers of the Year and announce its 2019 District Teachers of the Year at the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Green Acres Baptist Church Cross Walk Conference Center. Cooperative Teachers Credit Union is the title sponsor for the event.

Administrators and staff at each TISD campus select the teacher of the year for that campus. This honor is awarded to teachers who exemplify extraordinary models of leadership and excellence in teaching that ultimately help create successful student outcomes.

Campus Teachers of the Year and their thoughts about what they do are:

ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES

T.J. Austin Elementary School, Alejandro Zapico — Math

“My parents taught me the beauty of this profession, its importance and what a difference it makes. If I ever am half as good as they were I’d be happy.”

Bell Elementary School, Elizabeth Gomez — Bilingual Self-Contained

“Teachers pour their hearts into this profession every single day. And what greater gift to the world than to pass on knowledge!”

Birdwell Elementary School, Karina Renteria — Dual Language Teacher Self Contained

“With every student that walks through your door, they become “your kid” forever, even after they’ve left your classroom. The biggest reward is to see them reaching their milestones and fullest potential.”

Bonner Elementary School, Margarita Duran Garcia — Science Bilingual

“We contribute to the growth of nations by providing a strong base of individuals who can take humanity to its next stage of evolution. We all have that one teacher who made us grow and contributed to who we are in a big way.”

Wayne D. Boshears Center for Exceptional Programs, Melodie Washburn — Education

“Being a teacher means that I have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of children. To not only help them reach their highest academic potential, but to teach them important life skills along the way. It is so rewarding to see what each student is capable of achieving.”

Caldwell Arts Academy, Dana Sepko — Dance

“One day an adventure, the next a challenge, but always a gift. I enjoy giving students a challenge and the dance steps to overcome it. Teaching allows me to change a student’s life one dance step at a time.”

Clarkston Elementary School, Sandra Thompson — Second Grade

“I believe that teaching is the ultimate privilege of encouraging and guiding children to reach their fullest potential. I’m fueled from the joy on a student’s face when they discover their excitement in learning.”

Dixie Elementary School, Kristin Kervin — Team Leader Self Contained

“My children compel me to be a voice for those who cannot speak, to be instrumental in creating a better world of acceptance and inclusion, and to give students the versatility they need to create a brighter future.”

Douglas Elementary School, Francisca Perdomo — Bilingual Math

“Teaching means I get to pay it forward as I help develop life-long learners with a growth mindset as well as perseverance.”

Griffin Elementary School, Barbara Caoili — Writing and Science

“Teachers are advocates of children, and help them realize they are stronger and more resilient than they ever thought possible.”

Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary School, Samantha Hughes — Self Contained Teacher

“Teaching means being a caregiver; creating a safe learning environment to build meaningful relationships. Teaching means inspiring; motivating students to become lifelong learners and pushing them to become the best they can be. Finally, teaching means leading; we set expectations and model constant examples to be honest, kind, and positive members of society.”

Jones Elementary School, Shelby Beasley — First Grade

“We change, educate, mold and grow children in so many ways; we do something wonderful every day, even when it seems impossible.”

A.W. Orr Elementary School, Lauren Priestner — Dyslexia Designee

“As a teacher, I feel that it is an honor to lead each student in finding their pathway to discovery. This means giving them the tools to learn not only about the world around them, but to find their place in it.”

Owens Elementary School, Christine Villavisencio — Fifth Grade Math

“My students inspire me to bring my best every day!”

W. A. Peete Elementary School, LaToya Wofford — Second Grade Teacher

“Teachers are role models to our students, and their community. Teachers of good quality practice morals and ethics. Teachers are selfless at times, we work hard on days off to make sure our students are successful.”

Ramey Elementary School, Allisa Daniels — Self Contained Teacher

“Teaching is a noble profession because it is truly a

mission based job. It is one of the hardest yet most rewarding professions out there. We can directly see the outcome of the hard work come out in our student’s success.”

Rice Elementary School, Brittany Mathis — Kindergarten

“Being a teacher means I get to be a part of preparing young minds for a bright future. Teachers not only provide knowledge, but help build character and provide essential life skills to their students. We help to create a new generation of critical thinkers, future leaders and contributing members of society in order to make a positive impact on the world.”

Woods Elementary School, Angie Henderson — Fourth Grade Math

“Being a teacher means I am able to enrich the lives of my students both academically and personally. I love sharing my passion for learning with them, and knowing that I am playing a vital role in their development, as they learn and grow each day.”

SECONDARY CAMPUSES

Boulter Middle School, Clarice Bledsoe — Science

“We get to touch a student’s life directly, help them develop their passions and help to shape the future of everyone!”

Career and Technology Center, Dr. Courtney Walls, Dual Credit — Anatomy and Physiology

“The teaching profession contributes as much to the future of our society as any other group or individual. A teacher passes their own knowledge and experience to shape individuals during their most curious and impressionable time.”

Early College High School, Nic Starkweather — 9th Grade/Pre-AP Algebra I and College Transitions

“I view teaching as an opportunity to build character and instill honorable principles in our youth. In order to foster these virtues you must be a model of them yourself. What makes this a noble pursuit is the fact that teachers rarely get to see the fruition of their efforts.”

James S. Hogg Middle School, Steven Barb — Special Education — English Language Arts

“This is the noble profession because each day I get to shape the world one classroom, one lesson, one conversation filled with love at a time.”

Hubbard Middle School, Sarah Hancock — English Language Arts and Reading

“Teaching is a profession that gives my life a greater purpose. Each day, I work with our future generation and am able to impact their lives in small ways. These collective changes seem insignificant individually, but when put together, can change our community, state, country and world.”

Robert E. Lee High School, Melinda Tefteller — Art, Pre AP Art 1 & 2, Art History

“I want my students to think critically about their world and I work to foster an environment of philanthropy in my classroom. I challenge my students to look at the world through different eyes, and at the same time, encourage students to make their own meaning, draw upon their own backgrounds, and bring into the classroom their own ideas.”

Moore MST Magnet School, Nick Smith — Algebra and Coach

“Being a teacher is about helping students not only be successful in the classroom, but also to help them become successful young adults in society. There is no greater feeling than knowing that you had an impact on a student’s life and helped mold them into who they are as adults.”

RISE Academy, Kathy Ford — U.S. History, Government, Economics, World Geography, World History

“For me, teaching is having the privilege to share not just knowledge, but a passion for learning as well as unconditional love into the lives of students. I must be intentional with these things, as I may be the only positivity in students’ lives on a given day.”

Three Lakes Middle School, Sara Loredo — Functional Life Skills

“What being a teacher means to me is doing everything that I can to make sure my students become everything they can.”

John Tyler High School, Nancy Taylor-Caraway — English Language Arts and Reading, Choral Music and Cheer

“Being a teacher is being someone that is willing to give of themselves to benefit others. A teacher gives their time and talent to guide children along a path to success.”