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June 2009
Congratulations to: Ms. Althea Menard
Subject: K-5, Science Lab
Principal: Ms. Barbara Jones
School: Lewis Elementary
District: Spring ISD
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Ms. Menard's efforts have enhanced our school’s science program as well as our reputation in the Houston community. She has a long and distinguished career as a classroom teacher (over 20 years!), museum education program planner and national consultant for Consistency Management. Ms. Menard is very enthusiastic, focused on success and respectful of her students. She reinforces respect, personal responsibility, courtesy, and striving for excellence in her classroom. Ms. Menard sponsored a Robotics team that won an award for its PowerPoint presentation and participated in an event at Discovery Green. In addition, she sponsored and organized our first fifth grade Science Fair. Her enthusiasm for science is infectious.
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May 2009
Congratulations to: Ms. Meshelle Smith
Subject: 5th Grade, Science
Principal: Ms. Pat Buttermore
School: Woodland Hills Elementary
District: Humble ISD
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Ms. Smith encourages ALL students and always looks for the best in EVERY child. She has turned our science program into a complete hands-on course where students now pick science as their favorite course. She also brought our science scores from a "recognized" to "exemplary" rating. She is not afraid to do new projects with her kids, promoting some risk taking in her students when it comes to learning. She started the "Eco-club: where our 5th graders started recycling paper, plastics and aluminum. Then they started collecting cafeteria scraps for their compost pile where they have planted a garden and are using compost and all natural materials. Ms. Smith started several special projects which have had an impact on building student self-esteem. She had a "Girls Club" for 5th grade girls that met every Saturday to help build character and confidence. She also has a "Runner's Club" which meets every Friday after school and there is a group of 40-50 students (parents and staff, too) that run a couple of miles each Friday. She is a gem and has made our science program the best in the district. She is a huge resource not only for her students and our school, but also the district by serving on district level committees to share her expertise. Meshelle is the "complete" package when it comes to teaching.
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February 2009
Congratulations to: Ms. Nicole Betts-Holdman
Subject: 3rd Grade, All Core Subjects
Principal: Ms. Diane Blakely
School: Nat. Q. Henderson Elementary
District: Houston ISD
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Nicole has gone far and beyond with not just her students but the school community by getting multiple programs both academic and enrichment focused on her campus. She doesn't just use the district curriculum provided, she provides additional resources for her students whether it is a speaker, field trip of some kind, hands-on materials and supplies, etc. Nicole is an inspiration because she is a leader is so many ways. Besides having the qualities of being extremely knowledgeable, free spirited, and encouraging, she exhibits the characteristics of a leader by being a motivator, a full time certified teacher, CASE After-School Program Coordinator, mentor, sponsor, great mom and wife, an AmeriCorps Alumni and a member of many community organizations. Nicole's dedication is pure and it shows in everything that she does. She is an integral part, not just in her students' lives, but in the community and to her family and friends. Nicole gives that extra percent and always goes the extra mile in everything that she does and that's why she deserves to be recognized as a teacher and a role model for her outstanding service to our children and the community.
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January 2009
Congratulations to: Ms. Michelle Cottle
Subject: Math/Science
Principal: Ms. Kathy Morrison
School: Anderson Elementary
District: Spring ISD
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Mrs. Cottle is dedicated to sparking student engagement in Math & Science, by utilizing varieties of technological tools in her lessons. It is vital to her students' education that they learn skills they will need in the business world, and Mrs. Cottle introduces such skills at the elementary level. Students are becoming efficient, not only in the core subjects, but at typing, using Microsoft Office programs, and programming. Her students are motivated to discover and learn in groups, as well as individually, and are proud when presenting completed work from her assignments. In addition, her classroom management is solid in the fact that students efficiently work in stations around her room and regularly complete work to be able to perform extension activities. As a graceful leader, she motivates not only her students to discover new tools for learning, but her colleagues alike. Mrs. Cottle has been teaching for almost 30 years, and believes that teachers should never stop learning, since that is what is expected from her students. She is helpful and loves to share her strategies. She is a magnet for learners; it's hard to resist her gadgets in the classroom. In addition to being technologically talented, she is a mentor and a powerfully engaging educator.
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December 2008
Congratulations to: Ms. Rebecca Potter
Subject: K-3rd, All Core Subjects
Principal: Ms. Marty Bragg
School: Oak Forest Elementary
District: Humble ISD
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Ms. Potter is committed to forming open and trusting relationships with her special education students. She brings educational experience and her whole heart to her teaching. Ms. Potter encourages her students to become independent individuals and focuses on the skills in which they have shown self-sufficiency. She further encourages the students to try new things independently. She works diligently to discover what they are interested in and uses that knowledge in various ways to help them grasp new concepts. She exhibits pure joy when a student succeeds and she is always ready with new ideas to assist a student when they are struggling. Through her encouragement and enthusiasm the children become inspired to continue to learn and grow. Special education students often have a "sixth sense" about how others feel about them...Ms. Potter truly shows how much she cares, and the children know it...without a doubt. |
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November 2008
Congratulations to: Ms. Patricia Kuskos
Subject: Pre-K
Principal: Ms. Wanda Vinson
School: Coolwood Head Start
District: Harris County Department of Education
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Mrs. Kuskos loves her job and demonstrates it in every interaction and on every occasion. She is exceptionally committed to maximizing the impact of early learning on a child and family by ensuring that her classroom and presence are encouraging, welcoming and broadening for all who enter. She introduces children to new experiences, ideas and challenges. She has a good classroom management system that allows children to make choices and be self sufficient. Mrs. Kuskos regularly goes above and beyond to ensure that children are exposed to a variety of extra-curricular activities including science fairs, special parent-child projects and weekend field trips. Children and families transition from their time with Mrs. Kuskos into a different world, one full of possibility and wonder where each person can learn, grow and find joy. School-readiness is truly life-readiness for her students. |
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October 2008
Congratulations to: Ms. Allison Merrell
Subject: US History
Principal: Mr. Joe Cammarata
School: Morton Ranch High School
District: Katy ISD
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Mrs. Merrell "walks the walk," she demonstrates commitment to family, high expectations, fair treatment of students, compassion in times of need and instructional integrity. She has worked as a special education teacher and case manager as well as a US History teacher. In special education she provided individual attention to each case she managed, offering meaningful and frequent feedback to parents. She and her team of US History teachers were committed to high expectations in TAKS and the entire class of juniors passed at a 100% passing rate! Mrs. Merrell uses "History Alive" training to make instruction meaningful to the students. She has also been promoted to the head volleyball coach at Morton Ranch High School. Mrs. Merrell is aware of the issues and pressures surrounding teenagers. She is available and often serves students in a counseling role. She values differences among students and recognizes talents in all. During a devastating time in one of her student’s life, the Merrell Family accepted this student into their home as family, provided loving support and stability. Now, as guardians, they are committed to caring and supporting her through college. They have exhibited cultural sensitivity and appreciation of religious beliefs different from their own. All of this happened as a result of being a student in Mrs. Merrell's US History class. |
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April 2008
Congratulations to: Ms. Brenda Pinchbeck
Subject: Science
Principal: Mr. Christopher Moran
School:
Clear
Lake
High School
District: Clear Creek ISD
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Ms. Pinchbeck strives to keep the students actively engaged. She tries to build a relationship with each student. There is no down time with Ms. Pinchbeck. She constantly asks the kids to think beyond just Science and Physics, and to connect with the outside world. She encourages the kids to be responsible, and to take charge of their own learning. Her classroom is a safe place for kids to be themselves and learn. She keeps current with all the new classroom technology, and is a great resource for the teachers around her. No science teacher in CCISD that deserves more recognition than her. Brenda Pinchbeck is the perfect example of what a teacher should be. She loves her job, and the kids she is involved with. |
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March 2008
Congratulations to: Mr. Greg Morgan
Subject: Music, Grades 6-8
Principal: Mr. David Sablatura
School: Spring Oaks Middle School
District: Spring Branch ISD
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Mr. Morgan loves music and that love of music is so obvious to his students. Being in his choir class changes from a required fine arts credit to an exploration of how music is a part of our being. Upon meeting him, it doesn't take long before he makes you laugh. And through the humor the students immediately sense that they are cared about and that they matter. Who else could get middle school boys to wear grass skirts, coconut bras and sing The Lion Sleeps Tonight! As the kids would say, "Mr. Morgan's class is sweet!" He knows what they watch on TV, who's ahead on American Idol, the funniest quotes from sitcoms, the latest pop music, the goriest movie and is wicked on Guitar Hero. Mr. Morgan has been Musical Director for Spring Oaks MS theater arts productions for the last 17 years. Four years in a row, former Spring Oaks choir members have made the All-State choir, one of whom received the Bill and Melinda Gates scholarship and still visits regularly. Numerous former students are pursuing careers involving musical performance. A 19-year member of Texas Music Educators Association, Mr. Morgan is also a member of the Texas Choral Directors Association as well as the Texas Music Adjudicators Association and is currently serving on the state sight-reading committee. |
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February 2008
Congratulations to: Ms. Sarah McDonald
Subject: Chemistry - Physics
Principal: Ms. Linda Wright
School: Sterling High School
District: Houston ISD
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Sarah McDonald’s greatest strength is that she never says never. If there’s one spark of hope in a kid’s eyes, she will take it and run with it. In that she has more than impacted test scores, but also students’ lives as well. Ms. McDonald is very diligent about student success, and she spends most of her time in tutorials or enrichment activities. She comes to work early and stays late on many nights (including Saturdays) in order to promote confidence and pride in struggling students. Sara brings to life the relationship between science and the real world. She has a way of connecting Jell-O, ice cream, cereals and Kool-Aid (amongst other things) with chemistry that all students understand and get excited about. She is wonderful in bridging the gap for students in order for them to cross over successfully, not only in her classroom, but also in life. Ms. McDonald goes over and beyond the call of duty when it come to rebuilding the science program at Sterling HS. Her NASA Robotics Team, Summer Bridge Science Program, and her BP Physics Team keeps her busy and her students actively engaged in area science projects and competitions. Ms. McDonald is a fighter. She fights for her students’ success, even when they’ve given up! She has a way of rekindling that fire and sparking their interest back into science so that they may feel confident. Ms. McDonald has a passion for science and learning and she is well deserving of being honored Teacher of the Month for her continuous efforts toward science and excellence! |
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January 2008
Congratulations to: Ms. Susan LaForet
Subject: Science
Principal: Mr. Rudy Trevino
School: John J. Herrera Elementary School
District: Houston ISD
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Ms. LaForet has created a culture of creative learning by setting higher order thinking activities as the norm. Her focus is to educate and prepare our students for the 21st Century. She consistently incorporates technology to ensure that we are providing our students with the technology skills they will need to succeed in a future we can't even begin to describe. This teacher requires her students to document their learning through podcasting activities. After they have acquired new learning, the students document their new knowledge and participate in assessment for learning activities by BLOGGING! Ms. LaForet is an astronomical person as well as a phenomenal instructional leader. She uses hands-on activities, higher level thinking, project-based and field-based activities as well as a daily cooperative engaging structure. She has mastered the ability to build relationships with the students that make her nurturing forte an art. Her ability to work with English Language Learners and with transitional English students is truly remarkable. Her legacy extends well into the school's Robotics team and at-risk student interventions that occur during tutorials and after-school programs.
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January 2007 |
Jenny McGown
from Klein Collins
High School, Klein ISD
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| February 2007 |
Terrie Cardwell and JoAnn Arlitt
from Spring Forest Middle School, Spring Branch ISD |
| March 2007 |
James Boyce
from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston ISD |
| April 2007 |
Esperanza Briones
from Frazier Elementary, Pasadena ISD
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| May 2007 |
Stephanie Witherspoon
from Hamilton Middle School, Houston ISD |
| June 2007 |
Melanie Thomas
from
McDonald Junior High School, Katy ISD |
| July 2007 |
Ms. Fatyn Khawaja
from KIPP SHARP |
| August 2007 |
Abigail Okeadu
from ABC East, Harris County Department of Education |
| September 2007 |
Jane Taylor
from Hartman Middle School, Houston ISD |
| October 2007 |
Roger Thompson
from Sterling High School, Houston ISD |
| November 2007 |
Iva Huff
from Harvard Elementary , Houston ISD
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| December 2007 |
Debra Parker
from Baytown Junior High, Goose Creek ISD |
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January 2006 |
Thelma Johnson
from John Marshall Middle School, Houston ISD |
February 2006 |
Jaime Romero
from Amigos Por Vida Charter School |
March 2006 |
Deetrice Wallace
of Sharpstown Middle School, Houston ISD |
April 2006 |
Eduardo Gallegos
from Mae Smythe Elementary, Pasadena ISD |
May 2006 |
Dottie Price
from River Oaks Elementary, Houston ISD |
September 2006 |
Melissa Wallis
from Elm Grove Elementary, Humble ISD |
October 2006 |
Jennifer Jones
from Strack Intermediate, Klein ISD |
November 2006 |
Beverly Hurd
from Lakeland Elementary, Humble ISD |
December 2006 |
Lopamudra Gupta
from Highpoint North, Harris County Department of Education |
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January 2005 |
Beth Jordan
from Love Elementary, Houston ISD |
February 2005 |
Patricia Whiteside
from Keahey Intermediate School, North Forest ISD |
March 2005 |
Erika Koenig
from Helms Community Learning Center, Houston ISD |
April 2005 |
James Blaylock
from Pugh Elementary, Houston ISD |
May 2005 |
Ofelia Ontiveros
from South Shaver Elementary, Pasadena ISD |
June 2005 |
Martin Sanchez
from Sam Rayburn High School, Pasadena ISD |
August 2005 |
Inge’ Garibaldi
from M.C. Williams Middle School, Houston ISD |
September 2005 |
Jean Rhodes
from Spring Forest Middle School, Spring Branch ISD |
October 2005 |
Glenda Rice
from Kingwood Ninth Grade Campus, Humble ISD |
November 2005 |
Jorge Rodriquez
from Barrick Elementary, Houston ISD |
December 2005 |
Kim Echols
from B.C. Elmore Middle School, North Forest ISD |
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