Teacher of the Year Nominees
Honored at Plano ISD's May 8 Gala

Plano ISD's Teacher of the Year nominees were honored at the school district's annual Teacher of the Year Gala - "String of Pearls" - held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, at Plano Centre, 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway. Nearly 1,400 educators, PTA leaders, school and city dignitaries and corporate sponsors were on hand to celebrate teaching excellence.

• Photos - Gala / Breakfast
• Nominees
• Selection Process
• About the Gala
• Sponsorships
• Contact
• 2007 Winners

Teacher of the Year Nominees

Experienced Teachers of the Year

Kim Skipper - Aldridge Hilary Atkinson - Andrews Damaso Martinez - Armstrong Kelly Durrett - Barksdale Nicole Cone - Barron Cindy Kellogg - Beaty Melissa Bailey - Bethany Stacey McAlister - Beverly Samantha Iliff - Bird Special Programs Center Stacey Overbey - Boggess Sarah Fischer - Bowman Kris Hinds - Brinker Sara Cyr - Carlisle Rita Crow - Carpenter Jeannie Morrison - Centennial Janet Langford - Christie Nicole Vickerman - Clark Kathrine Ann Prentice - Daffron Julie Seymour - Davis David J. Houk - Dooley Martha Preston - Forman Cort Haynes - Frankford Mary Louise Easter - Gulledge Floy Rorie - Haggard Donna Lam - Harrington Louann Dunkle - Haun Leslie Cotto - Head Start Dawn Inman - Hedgcoxe Katie Brittain - Hendrick Melissa Patton - Hickey Hilary Lamb - Hightower Jennifer Schmitz - Huffman Benjamin Pirillo - Hughston Jessica Wilkinson - Hunt

Kelly L. Musgrave - Jackson Debra Nockels - Jasper Juanita Hall - Mathews Margie Flores - McCall Monica McCaffrey - Meadows Seema B. Shah - Memorial Pat Archer - Mendenhall Janet S. Hahs White - Miller Sherri Browning - Mitchell Ginger Williams - Murphy Molly Twist - Pearson Jennifer Bernabo - PESH Derrick D. Brookins - PSHS Norval Lee Sykes - PWSH Shelley Crowder - Rasor Elizabeth Cunningham - Renner Caryn Crawshaw - Rice Andrew Diewald - Robinson Natalie Schellman - Rose Haggar Adelaide Rowden - Saigling Kendall Allen, Jr. - Schell Laura Glenn - Schimelpfenig Raquel Dixon - Shepard Creed Hansen - Shepton Amber Alane Smith - Shiloh Center Kelli Van Winkle - Sigler Janet Napoli - Skaggs Rebecca Schucany - Stinson Kellie Leehy - Thomas Trevor Dean - Vines Diana McMillan - Weatherford Vicki Prouty - Wells Amber Evans - Williams Yvonne Bone - Wilson Tammy McCrary - Wyatt

Beginning Teachers of the Year

Gena Garrison - Aldridge Heidi Kendle - Andrews Jamie Bell - Armstrong Tat-Yu Sophia Si - Barksdale Holly Elizabeth Mohrmann - Barron Isabel Marquez - Beaty Hue Truong - Beverly Pamela Tatum Hudson - Boggess Juan Fernandez - Bowman Marisa Petrucci - Brinker Kaycee Lockyer - Carlisle Joseph Elgie deLarios - Carpenter Michelle R. Smith - Centennial Jennifer R. Altman - Christie Lauren Reeves - Clark Teri M. Miró - Daffron Katee Brockhagen - Davis Tanji Johnson - Dooley Karin Leiva-Otzoy - Forman Allison Atchley - Frankford Emily Hollingsworth - Gulledge Lori Greenho - Haggard Linda Westenhiser - Harrington Tiffany Marie Alexander - Hendrick Katie Bryan - Hickey Kayla Kiser - Hightower Linda Aviles - Huffman Laura Young - Hughston Jennifer Barron - Hunt Laurie F. Wallace - Jackson Lisa Ricketts - Jasper

Monica Alvarez - McCall Gina K. Duncan - Meadows Mayra Trejo - Memorial Maria Del Pilar Arora - Mendenhall Alison Staples - Miller Amber Colberg - Mitchell Mark Fowler - Murphy Lynette Vanhorn - Pearson Jennifer Thorn - PESH Catherine Maggard - PSHS Melissa Collett - PWSH Lizzy Johnson - Rasor Christa Pezoulas - Renner Rob Chilton - Rice Kayla Gassiott - Robinson Alisa Williams - Saigling Laura Crook - Schell Yahaira Rodriguez - Schimelpfenig Kylee Burwinkel - Shepard Mia Biase - Shepton Kari Tolle - Sigler Catherine Taylor - Skaggs Hillary Brandise Leverton - Stinson Brian L. Pratt - Thomas Mark Rudd - Vines Leah Williams - Weatherford Kathrin Basham - Wells Sara McCarroll - Williams Donald Reaves - Wilson Natalie Pullaro - Wyatt

Selection Process

The experienced teacher candidates for Plano ISD’s Teacher of the Year are nominated and elected by their peers at their schools. The Beginning Teachers of the Year are also nominated by their peers; however, they are not eligible for the Plano ISD Teacher of the Year.

Each teacher nominee completed an essay question and were interviewed by a selection panel comprising administrators, teachers, parents and business and civic leaders, who made the final selections for Plano ISD’s Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year. The winning candidates are recommended for participation in the Texas Teacher of the Year competition.

Another panel of experts reviewed the written essays for the beginning teachers of the year and made recommendations for the elementary and secondary beginning teachers of the year.

Selection Criteria

• Going beyond the expected teaching requirements to a degree that students positively adjust their life goals.
• Consistently receiving a high quality of work from students that can be exemplified by their higher than expected scores on diagnostic and/or achievement tests.
• Involving the parent in the child’s educational program as a member of the teaching team.
• Attending programs outside the school day which assist in developing a more meaningful relationship with students. (Attendance at events where students perform, etc.)
• Demonstrating educational leadership among the staff and continuing to strive for excellence in teaching.
• If a first year teacher, displaying maturity, leadership and instructional ability that demonstrates an outstanding potential for the future.

About the Gala

On Thursday, May 8, 2008,at Plano Centre, Plano ISD honored approximately 70 Teacher of the Year nominees and approximately 60 Beginning Teacher of the Year nominees, who were selected by their school peers in January. Nearly 1,400 educators, PTA leaders, school and city dignitaries and corporate sponsors were on hand to celebrate. Loreta Hickey, retired Plano ISD teacher/administrator, served as gala honorary chair.

"The Teacher of the Year Gala is one of Plano ISD's most exciting and rewarding events," noted Karla Oliver, executive director for government and community relations, who joined a group of district and community leaders to interview experienced Teacher of the Year nominees and make selections for Plano ISD's Teachers of the Year (elementary and secondary) and several top "Excellence in Teaching" award winners who were announced at the gala.

Teacher of the Year Sponsors

• Contributor Letter
• Contributor Agreement

Plano ISD sincerely appreciates the businesses, organizations and individuals who contributed financially and with gifts to make the Teacher of the Year Gala so special for the nominees each year. The generosity demonstrated by the Plano ISD community exemplifies the partnership for excellence in education. Look for "Proud Sponsor of the Plano ISD Teacher of the Year Program" decals in these fine places of business.

Monetary Gifts

Doctorate Degree- $10,000

Gay, McCall, Isaacks, Gordon & Roberts, P.C. (named sponsor)

Bachelor's Degree - $5,000
EDS Credit Union (breakfast sponsor)
M&A Technology

Associate's Degree - $2,500
Blunck's Photography
GCA Services Group, Inc.
Plano ISD Education Foundation
SHW Group

Dean's List- $1,000
Atmos Energy
Dr. and Mrs. Kendall Brown
Diversified Maintenance
Don Painter Photography
EDS
Educational Products, Inc.
Engineered Air Balance Co., Inc.
Presbyterian Hospital of Plano
Starling Richardson Construction, Inc.
Texas Instruments
Wal-Mart, Plano (Park & Tollway)
W.R.A. Architects, Inc.

Friends- $500
Berger Engineering Company
Drs. Michael and Michele Cavenee
Corgan Associates, Inc.
Huntington Learning Center
Junior League of Plano
Northside at Legacy Village Apartments
Warner Group, Inc./ Brooks Farm Estates

Table Sponsor's- $450

Able Electric Service Co. Aldridge Elementary PTA Andrews Elementary PTA (two tables) Barksdale Elementary PTA Beaty Early Childhood School PTA  (two tables) Bethany Elementary PTA Beverly Elementary School Beverly Elementary PTA Boggess Elementary PTA Bowman Middle School PTA Brinker Elementary PTA Carlisle Elementary School Carlisle Elementary PTA Centennial Elementary School Centennial Elementary PTA Clark High School Daffron Elementary PTA Davis Elementary PTA Dooley Elementary School Dooley Elementary PTA Frankford Middle School PTA (two tables) Gulledge Elementary PTA Haggard Middle School PTA Harrington Elementary PTA  (two tables) Haun Elementary PTA Hedgcoxe Elementary PTA Hendrick Middle School PTA Hickey Elementary PTA Hightower Elementary School   Hightower Elementary PTA Huffman Elementary PTA (two tables) Hughston Elementary PTA Jackson Elementary PTA		Jasper High School PTSA Mary Alice Skaggs Elementary School Mary Alice Skaggs Elementary PTA Mathews Elementary PTA Memorial Elementary (two tables) Miller Elementary School Miller Elementary PTA Mitchell Elementary PTA Plano Senior High School PTSA PWSH Wolf Den PTSA Rasor Elementary PTA Renner Middle School PTA (two tables) Rice Middle School PTA Robinson Middle School Robinson Middle School PTA Rose Mary Haggar Elementary PTA Schell Elementary PTA Schimelpfenig Middle School PTA Shepard Elementary PTA Shepton High School PTSA (two tables) Sigler Elementary PTA (two tables) Stinson Elementary School Vines High School Vines High School PTSA Weatherford Elementary PTA Wells Elementary PTA Williams High School PTSA Willson Middle School Wilson Middle School PTA Wyatt Elementary School Wyatt Elementary PTA

Monetary Gifts - Up to $499

Affiliated Distributors, Inc.		Jean and Glen Parmer
Beaty Early Childhood School		Pearson
Diane Davey		Rodenbaugh's Inc.
Goldreich Orthodontics		Saigling Elementary PTA
Martha J. Hunt		Schimelpfenig Middle School
Marshall V. Johnson, DDS, MS, PA		Shaddock Development Company
Lisa and Kurt Kern		Sigma Builders, LTD
James and Diane Lutz		Benny and Glenda Smith
Cara and Barry Mendelsohn		Dave and Gail Stelter
Mendenhall Elementary PTA		Robyn and David Tatman
Mendenhall Elementary School		Wal-Mart #2086
Murphy Middle School PTA

Gifts In-Kind

Summer in a Lexus
Park Place Lexus Plano will provide two "Summer in a Lexus" packages, including the use of luxury vehicles, for the Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year.

Contact

For information about the Teacher of the Year program or sponsorship, please contact:

Plano ISD Communications Department
2700 W. 15th Street
Plano, TX 75075
PH: (469) 752-8150
Fax: (469) 752-8096
E -mail: askpisd@pisd.edu