See Pictures From the 2015 Teachers of the Year Event

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Again, congratulations to all the educators honored at the [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]2015 Teachers of the Year Breakfast.

The Selection Committee had a difficult task in naming the top winners. David Villarreal, director of professional standards with the district’s HR Department. He headed the committee while Dr. Robin Williams served as co-chair. Williams is also a director in HR. The following members represented each area of the district and central administration:

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Dr. Emily Bartley from Aldine High School & [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]2014 Secondary Teacher of the Year

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Cynthia Knowles from Davis Ninth Grade School

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David Kitchel from Eisenhower High School

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Christina Egbuna from MacArthur High School

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Tina Perry from Lane School & [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]2014 Elementary/Intermediate Teacher of the Year

Community Representative
Karem Maldonado

Central Office Administration Representative
Dr. Keena Bradley from HR

The committee chose six finalists from a group of 75 Campus Teachers of the Year. The selection process included observing video footage of each of the finalists in the classroom as well as an interview session with each one.

“There are so many wonderful teachers in Aldine,” Villarreal said. “They all give so much to students and to the profession. We also discovered how respected they are by their colleagues. It just shows how committed these teachers are to their craft, their colleagues and the students. Every year, we have the difficult job of narrowing the field to six finalists and then selecting the two top winners.“

Six Finalists for Teacher of the Year

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Mark Faulkner, music teacher @ Odom Elementary School[/li] [li]Tiffany Grant-Scott, science teacher @ Marcella Intermediate School[/li][/ul] [ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Ronshon Jefffery, chemistry teacher @ Victory Early College High School[/li] [li]Jabari Collins, theater technical director @ Carver High School[/li][/ul] [ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Gay Lynn Pierce, deaf education teacher @ de Santiago EC/PK Center[/li] [li]Christopher Ceaser, physical education instructor and basketball coach @ Nimitz High School [/li][/ul]

In the end, they did choose two winners. According to Williams, the committee was brought near tears.

“All six finalists are amazing, dedicated educators,” Williams said. “Two did stand out. And it is funny. Both of the top winners had no intentions in pursuing teaching as their career option. But they found their niche, their passion and what drives them in the field of teaching. They each discovered they wanted to help children be successful.“

Two Top Winners

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Elementary/Intermediate Teacher of the Year — Gay Lynn Pierce[/li] [li]Secondary Teacher of the Year — Christopher Ceaser [/li][/ul]

Superintendent Dr. Wanda Bamberg lauded all the teachers for their dedication and commitment to excellence in the classroom.

“I thank each one of you,” Bamberg said. “You commit yourselves every day to helping students fulfill their potential. And you set the bar for others to follow. Again, thank you for all you do and for producing the nation’s best.“

The district thanks all the local businesses that provided generous gifts and prizes. District leaders also greatly appreciate the Aldine Education Foundation. The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Aldine Education Foundation provided generous $5,000 checks to each top winner and $1,000 to each of the four finalists. The Foundation also provided $200 to the 69 Campus Teachers of the Year listed below. The Foundation began the tradition of awarding cash prizes to the district’s top teachers in 2014.

Campus Teachers of the Year

Aldine Middle School — Mercedes Pérez
Aldine Ninth Grade School — P. Leanne Dry
Aldine High School — Denise Stanley-VanGils
Anderson Academy — Tammy Malhiot
Bethune Academy — Clara Randolph
Black Elementary School — Gabriela Vallejo
Bussey Elementary School — Emily Hautala
Calvert Elementary School — Elia Alveranga
Caraway Intermediate School — Danica Cooper
Carmichael Elementary School — Sandra Medeles
Carroll Academy — Candice Washington
Carter Academy — Juan Carrillo
COMPASS — Paula Osisami
Conley Elementary School — Kristina Jackson
Davis Ninth Grade School — Amber Srock
Davis High School — Latasha Mack
Drew Academy — Marilyn Alexander
Dunn Elementary School — Nicole Robbins
Eckert Intermediate School — Damion Allen
Eisenhower Ninth Grade School — Phyllis Woods
Eisenhower High School — Kaileigh Rosplohowski
Ermel Elementary School — Billie Davis
Escamilla Intermediate School — Laura Brady
Francis Elementary School — Demonica Jefferson
García-Leza EC/PK Center — Mónica Sánchez
Goodman Elementary School — B. Rachel Velotas
Grantham Academy — Megan Loflin
Gray Elementary School — Laura Schlup
Hall Center for Education — Nicole Theunissen
Hambrick Middle School — Clara Guerra
Harris Academy — Shawn Santiago-Dixon
Hill Intermediate School — Shelia Bell Longoria
Hinojosa EC/PK Center — Melissa Valencia-Pérez
Hoffman Middle School — Flenda Whitney
Houston Academy — Gregory Castille
Johnson Elementary School — Alicia Olson
Jones EC/PK/K Center — Felicite Piper
Jones Elementary School — Judarrah Hawkins
Keeble EC/PK Center — Ana Pérez
Kujawa EC/PK Center — Ridgette ‘”Jetty” Holman
Kujawa Elementary School — Debra Lindner
Lane School — Julie Grutzmacher
Lewis Middle School — Jacqueline Luplow
MacArthur Ninth Grade School — Kenny Canady
MacArthur High School — Cristina Sizemore
Magrill Elementary School — Ashley Callis
Mendel Elementary School — Craig Godfrey
Nimitz High School — Chad Bleess
Oleson Elementary School — Marcy Jackson
Orange Grove Elementary School — Meliza Dueñez
Parker Intermediate School — Nicole Loftin
Plummer Middle School — Jessica Jenkins
Rayford Intermediate School — Deborah Lawson
Raymond Academy — Verónica Muñiz Rodríguez
Reece Academy — Liseth Vásquez
Reed Academy — Stephanie Spry
Sammons Elementary School — Fizza Butt
Shotwell Middle School — Regina Hence
Smith Academy — Kristine Rinaldi
Spence Elementary School — Natasha McDaniel
Stehlik Intermediate School — Joann Rupertus
Stephens Elementary School — Tomi Dodson
Stovall Academy — Shawn Singleton
Stovall Middle School — Stevin Buie
Teague Middle School — Ashley Morris
Thompson Elementary School — Patricia Randle
Vines EC/PK Center — Lisa Rogers
Wilson Intermediate School — Tapati Sarkar
Worsham Elementary School — Reveca Flores

Congratulations!

View images from the event.