Fort Worth ISD Honors 2012-13 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence

Fort Worth, Texas – The Fort Worth ISD honored 15 teachers as the 2012-2013 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence. The selected teachers received the title of Chair for Teaching Excellence as well as a $5,000 honorarium.

The new Chairs for Teaching Excellence were feted during a December 6 luncheon at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel.  

The Chairs for Teaching Excellence program was established in the Fort Worth ISD in 1994. It is modeled after the university-level Chair program and is designed to recognize and reward exemplary teachers. This program is unique because of its role in a public secondary school setting and for its rigorous selection process.

Teachers may be nominated by parents, principals or colleagues but each nominee must complete a lengthy application and collect written recommendations. If selected for further consideration, the teacher will be interviewed and then must present a teaching demonstration to the selection committee. There are separate selection committees for each Chair.

Many more teachers apply for this honor than are selected. Since its inception, generous sponsors have awarded more than $650,000 to teachers. Teachers selected as Chairs are encouraged to pursue further education and training and to share their knowledge and expertise with colleagues.  

Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Math

Kimberly Greer, Lowery Road Elementary 

Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Science

Deborah Stewart, Como Elementary School 

Angela D. Paulos Chair for Teaching Excellence in Visual Arts

Phyllis King, South Hills High School

Bayard H. Friedman Chair for Teaching Excellence in Performing Arts (selected last spring)

Sara Montañez, J.T. Stevens Elementary  

Target Chair for Teaching Excellence in Library Science

Courtney Butler, Sam Rosen Elementary 

RadioShack Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Science

Iris Betancourt, Success High School

Sewell Lexus of Fort Worth Chair for Teaching Excellence in Humanities

Bethanne Chimbel, Arlington Heights High School 

 
Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Chair for Teaching Excellence in Health & Physical Education

Natalie Ayala, Daggett Montessori 

Quicksilver Resources Chair for Teaching Excellence in Acquisition of Language

Cara Kuhl, McLean Middle School 

 
Crescent Real Estate Chair for Teaching Excellence in Career and Technology Education

Darcy Deupree, Southwest High School 

 
Freese and Nichols Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Mathematics

Jennifer Nicholson, North Side High School 

XTO Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Early Childhood Education

Gillian Nash, Sunrise McMillan Elementary School

Kroger Chair for Teaching Excellence in Special Education

Jimmie Nealey, West Handley Elementary 

 Chase Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary English

Renee Peters, North Side High School

Outreach Communications Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Reading

Rhonda McGuire, L. Clifford Davis Elementary School