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FWISD Honors Campus Teachers of the Year, Announces District Teacher of the Year Finalists

Fort Worth ISD (FWISD) recognized Campus Teachers of the Year honorees at a special evening reception Wednesday, March 29, 2023, supported by community partners. This event honored 130 teachers from across the District and featured a live student-orchestra performance, hors d'oeuvres, and prizes.

This reception was held at the FWISD Teaching and Learning Center, with entertainment provided by the I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM & VPA Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Hunter Lewis and Veronica Schramm.

Beautiful centerpieces were created for all tables by 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade students in Mr. David Orona's art classes at Manuel Jara Elementary. The collaboration by the students resulted in unique painted vases that teachers could not wait to own. As one student was painting, he explained the design and said, "This will be a memory of 2023 for the teachers." Watch the students during the creation process below:

The event finale was the announcement of the 10 finalists for District Teacher of the Year. Of the 130 Campus Teachers of the Year, 90 submitted applications for District Teacher of the Year. A selection committee of retired and current educators reviewed and evaluated the applications and selected 10 finalists. These finalists will advance to the next phase of the District Teacher of the Year selection process, which includes a panel interview in mid-April.

The 10 finalists for District Teacher of the Year are:

Elementary

Carlee Byrd Overton Park Elem

Nelson Cedillo George C. Clarke Elem

Alexandra Flores M.H. Moore Elem

Amanda Dawn Inay Rufino Mendoza Elem

Natalie Reyna Westcliff Elem

Secondary

Erin Blythe Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences

Timothy Brendler I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM/VPA

Aimee Hatch Daggett Montessori

Mikki McCoy Benbrook Middle-High

Erick Perez Dunbar High School

The District Teacher of the Year panel interviews will determine the two winners. The two winners will be announced at a special dinner at the Fort Worth Zoo May 4. The next step for the two winners will be to apply to Region 11 for consideration in the State Teacher of the Year competition.

This year's Campus Teachers of the Year are:

A.M. Pate Elementary	Martha McGuin
Alice Carlson Applied Learning Center	Madeline Miller
Alice D. Contreras Elementary	Ana Salas
Amon Carter-Riverside High School	Derrick Franklin
Applied Learning Academy	Kailee Reed
Arlington Heights High School	Misty Peek
Atwood McDonald Elementary	Tonja Mosby
Benbrook Elementary	Ellyn Shepherd
Benbrook Middle-High School	Mikki McCoy
Bill J. Elliott Elementary	Kirchanda Johnson
Bonnie Brae Elementary	Danielle Hunt
Boulevard Heights Elementary	Ashleigh Powell
Edward J. Briscoe Elementary	Kendall Ladner
Bruce Shulkey Elementary	Stephanie Mihalik
Burton Hill Elementary	Marvin Hazen
Carroll Peak Elementary	Maxine Jackson
Carter Park Elementary	Leah Polk
Cesar Chavez Elementary	Michelle Glessing
Charles E. Nash Elementary	Jeannie Sisk
Christene C. Moss Elementary	Erica Mayo
Clifford Davis Elementary	LaTonya Green
D. McRae Elementary	Rosa Tarin
Daggett Elementary	Patty Gill
Daggett Middle School	Edwin Harris, Jr.
Daggett Montessori	Aimee Hatch
David K. Sellars Elementary	Sheene Campbell
De Zavala Elementary	Pamela Campos-Flores
Diamond Hill Elementary	Tina Culp-McDonald
Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School	Amberly Wright
Dolores Huerta Elementary	Jana Gomez
Dunbar High School	Erick Perez
East Handley Elementary	Rebekah Nunez
Eastern Hills Elementary	Maria Le
Eastern Hills High School	Marcia Brumley
George C. Clarke Elementary	Nelson Cedillo
Glen Park Elementary	Lillian Johnson
Greenbriar Elementary	Cristina Padilla
H. V. Helbing Elementary	Angelica Baldwin
Harlean Beal Elementary	Brittany Wilson
Hazel Harvey Peace Elementary	Johnneatta Beard Washington
Hubbard Heights Elementary	Bridgette Blize
I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM/VPA	Timothy Brendler
Insights	Lanita Jackson-Palmer
International Newcomer Academy	J Mata
J. Martin Jacquet Middle School	Jacqueline London
J. P Elder Middle School	Crystal Zeiler
J.T. Stevens Elementary	Claudia Nuñez
Jean McClung Middle School	Sharma Ellis
JJAEP	Deanna Johnson
Jo Kelly School	Darrell Sessums
Kirkpatrick Elementary	Maria Argote
Kirkpatrick Middle School	Jose Garcia
Leadership Academy at Como Elementary	Donelle Bratton
Leadership Academy at Forest Oak 6th Grade	Mariah Hollie
Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Middle	Euricka White
Leadership Academy at John T. White Elementary	L. Shantè Leonard
Leadership Academy at Maude I. Logan Elementary	Angela Newton
Leadership Academy at Mitchell Boulevard Elementary	Krista King
Leonard Middle School	Sarahy Cruz
Lily B. Clayton Elementary	McCall Sanderson
Lowery Road Elementary	Ms. Jessica Davis
Luella Merrett Elementary	Irma Young
M. H. Moore Elementary	Alexandra Flores
M. L. Phillips Elementary	Kathryn Martinez
M. M. Walton Elementary	Stephanie Ibarra
Manuel Jara Elementary	Adriana Sanchez
Marine Creek Collegiate	Melanie Grubbs
McLean 6th Grade	April Sowder
McLean Middle School	James Hall
Meacham Middle School	Jessica Newcomer
Meadowbrook Elementary	Kathryn Cottrell
Meadowbrook Middle School	Chief Darrell Lard
Middle Level Learning/Metro Opportunity High School	Paul Garrison
Morningside Elementary	Toni Hayes
Morningside Middle School	Sherea Williams
Natha Howell Elementary	Lucia Campos
North Hi Mount Elementary	Jennifer Castillo
North Side High School	Major Raul Padilla
O. D. Wyatt High School	Gerlynn Germain
Oakhurst Elementary	Arash Noori
Oaklawn Elementary	Guadalupe Perea Sanchez
Overton Park Elementary	Carlee Byrd
Paschal High School	January Shannon
Polytechnic High School	Alanna James
Pre-K Satellite Centers	Marilyn Alvarez
Richard J. Wilson Elementary	Viviana Rodriguez
Ridglea Hills Elementary	Halie Poe
Riverside Applied Learning Center	Misty Piniecki-Sanchez
Riverside Middle School	Sara Barnebee
Rosemont Middle School	Jesus Aguirre
Rufino Mendoza Elementary	Amanda Inay
S. S. Dillow Elementary	Kathryn Rhodes
Sagamore Hill Elementary	Evelyn Lewis
Sam Rosen Elementary	Liliana Vargas
Seminary Hills Park Elementary	Gee Jung
South Hi Mount Elementary	Marissa Black
South Hills Elementary	Shelbie Guerra
South Hills High School	Rachel Huckaby
Southwest High School	Christina Stroud
Springdale Elementary	M. Andy Chase
Stripling Middle School	Floyd Slay
Success High School	Diane Phan
Sunrise-McMillan Elementary	Victoria Walker
T. A. Sims Elementary	Grecia Friedson
Tanglewood Elementary	Brooke Fitch
TCC South/FWISD Collegiate High School	Stephen Coll
Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences	Erin Blythe
Transition Center	Rebecca Stanley
Green B. Trimble Technical High School	Hilary Velasquez
Van Zandt-Guinn Elementary	Cynthia Copeland
Versia L. Williams Elementary	Diana Barron
W. M. Green Elementary	Kaylor Massington
W.J. Turner Elementary	Desiree Martinez
Washington Heights Elementary	Kay Rosenfield
Waverly Park Elementary	Olivia Ramirez
Wedgwood 6th Grade	Joe Perez
Wedgwood Middle School	Devon McGrew
West Handley Elementary	Mattie Mahan
Westcliff Elementary	Natalie Reyna
Westcreek Elementary	Sara Clinton
Western Hills Elementary	Nikki Grimes
Western Hills High School	Belinda Halicki
Westpark Elementary	Erin Farr
William James Middle School	Lucia Arcos
William Monnig Middle School	Lexa Richmond
Woodway Elementary	Terra Brown
World Languages Institute	Rosie Christine Hernández
Worth Heights Elementary	Ivette Robledo
Young Men's Leadership Academy	Reuben Vaughn
Young Women's Leadership Academy	Rose Ramirez

Wedgwood 6th Grade

FWISD Honors Campus Teachers of the Year, Announces District Teacher of the Year Finalists