Top Teachers Announced

The Irving ISD Teachers of the Year for 2009-2010 were announced at the Board of Trustees meeting Monday. Honorees will be formally recognized at a reception and board meeting September 15 at Irving High School. Isela Russell, bilingual fifth grade teacher at John Haley Elementary School, is the IISD Elementary Teacher of the Year. Carey Christenberry, gifted and talented/advanced placement English teacher at Nimitz High School, is the IISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Trustees also recognized Campus Teachers of the Year. High school honorees are: Tim Weinrich, history, Irving High School; Miral Kawasmi, science, MacArthur High School; Carey Christenberry, AP English, Nimitz High School; Becky Kerner, special education, Jack E. Singley Academy; and Maria Martinez, science, Union Bower Center for Learning.

Middle School Honorees are: Theresa Spencer, eighth grade English, Austin Middle School; Ginger Curtis, algebra and geometry, Bowie Middle School; Brenda Garcia, sixth-eighth grade ESL, Crockett Middle School; David Seright, seventh grade social studies, de Zavala Middle School; Melissa Karp, seventh grade English, Houston Middle School; Stephanie Miles, eighth grade math, Lamar Middle School; Larry Lanier, eighth grade English, Travis Middle School; and Laura Sichi, reassignment teacher, Secondary Reassignment Center.

Elementary honorees are: Toni Kayser-Boyd, second grade dual language, Barton Elementary School; Todd Smith, fourth grade bilingual gifted and talented (GT), Brandenburg Elementary School; Jorge Capella, fifth grade science, Britain Elementary School; Sandra Benavidez, bilingual second grade, Brown Elementary School; Kristina Geddes, first grade, Davis Elementary School; Gabriela Lopez-Smith, bilingual kindergarten, Elliott Elementary School; Ana Hanna, third grade bilingual GT, Farine Elementary School; Kesha Valtierra, second grade ESL, Gilbert Elementary School; Holley Nasky, fourth grade GT, Good Elementary School; Isela Russell, bilingual fifth grade math, John Haley Elementary School; Angela Snyder, physical education, Thomas Haley Elementary School; Dorothy Ugwu, special education, Hanes Elementary School; Katherine Young, special education, Johnston Elementary School; Lori Lee, fifth grade science, Keyes Elementary School; Patricia Rojas, bilingual fourth grade, Lee Elementary School; Bryan Esstman, fourth grade GT, Lively Elementary School; Amie McGugan, instructional coach, Schulze Elementary School; Elisa Edgar, art, Stipes Elementary School; Sam Manning, fifth grade, Townley Elementary School; Harmony Lokash, third grade, Townsell Elementary School; and Sandra Walton, fourth/fifth grade teacher, Wheeler Transitional & Development Center.

Early childhood school honorees are: Patty Vaughan, prekindergarten, Clifton Early Childhood School; Cathy Center, special education, Kinkeade Early Childhood School; and Patricia Frausto, bilingual prekindergarten, Pierce Early Childhood School.