TWO MIDWAY ISD EDUCATORS NAMED REGION 12 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

WACO, TEXAS — The Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 is pleased to announce that Deborah Moore Dibrell of Spring Valley Elementary, Midway ISD, will be honored as the 2006 Region 12 Elementary Teacher of the Year and Gail Wood of Midway High School, Midway ISD, will be honored as the 2006 Region 12 Secondary Teacher of the Year.

“We are very proud to have both of these remarkable educators serving the Region 12 area,” said Dr. Tom Norris, Executive Director of Region 12. “The time and energy they dedicate to their students, their peers, and the profession is truly an inspiration for others to follow.” Both teachers will be honored locally with the Honor School Board of the Year—Belton ISD School Board of Trustees at a reception on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at ESC Region 12.

The two teachers along with the other regional Teachers of the Year will also be honored at a luncheon on Oct. 29 at the Marriott at the Capitol, in Austin.
A panel of representatives from local teacher and administrator organizations chose Dibrell and Wood on the basis of their responses to several essay questions on topics, such as their philosophy of teaching, education issues and trends, and community involvement. As Region 12 Teachers of the Year, they will serve as ambassadors for public education in Texas through speeches, workshops and other presentations.

Elementary teacher Dibrell has been teaching for 12 years and has been at Spring Valley Elementary since 2000. Before coming to Midway ISD, she taught 1st grade at San Saba Elementary in San Saba and Dyess Elementary in Abilene. Dibrell also taught 2nd grade at Hommel Elementary in Everman. Since arriving at Spring Valley Elementary, she has taught Title I reading and math for two years and now teaches 2nd grade. Dibrell earned her bachelor’s of science degree in elementary education from Tarleton State University. She attended Abilene Christian University for Economics for Educators and received Master Reading Teacher Certification from ESC Region 12.

In addition to receiving the Region 12 honor, Dibrell earned Elementary Teacher of the Year for Spring Valley Elementary and for Midway ISD for 2005-2006. Besides teaching, Dibrell stays busy in her community. She and her students have been involved in fundraising for the Diabetes Walk, Jump Rope for Heart, and she volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. During the holidays, she works on projects such as food drives and donates needed items to the abuse shelter or other causes. Teaching was embedded in Dibrell’s family. Both of her parents were educators, and often shared stories with her about their profession. This helped her to finalize her career choice.
Dibrell says, “My contributions can be summed up in two words – time and effort.” Knowing her day’s work doesn’t end when the last bell ring s, Dibrell often attends workshops to learn new methods of teaching. One heart-warming occurrence for Dibrell is receiving letters from students who tell her how much they have enjoyed her class. Her goal is to continue to be an inspiration for her students.

Wood says any reputation she has for being an outstanding teacher is due to her lasting relationship with her students. Wood has taught for more than 17 years, 15 of which have been for Midway ISD. From 1989 to 2002, Wood taught 7th grade Leadership Development, where she was a Peer Assistance & Leadership (PALs) teacher and sponsor. She currently teaches 9th grade career studies and 11th and 12th grades PALs. The high school teacher initiated the program for middle school students in 1989, which was later expanded for high school students. Wood earned her bachelor’s of science degree from Baylor University. Wood has received several awards prior to the Region 12 honor. She recently was selected as a Secondary Teacher of the Year for her campus and for Midway ISD for 2005-2006. She was also honored to be in Who’s Who Among American Teachers for 2004-2005. Wood is also an active member of her community. She creates, plans, and often facilitates events for PALs and volunteers her time to Keep Waco Beautiful and the Relay for Life cancer walk.

Wood said two influences impacted her decision to become a teacher – her childhood and the enjoyment of working with people. She considers it a mission to influence young people to become citizens who will make our world better and enjoys watching them experience the satisfaction and joy of accomplishment. Wood says, “Even though the politics of education can sometimes overshadow the teaching profession, Wood realizes the significance of what she does is a “career of honor and long-lasting consequence.”

For more information or photos of the individuals, contact Jennifer Marshall-Higgins at 254.297.1198. For more information about the teachers, please contact Julie Henry in Midway ISD at 254.761.5610, ext. 1112.

Read recent Waco Tribune-Herald article about the two winners...

About the Texas Teacher of the Year Program (TOTY)
Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor that the State of Texas can bestow upon a teacher. Conducted by the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Teacher of the Year Program annually recognizes and rewards teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching. Forty teachers - two from each of the 20 regions - are eligible for two titles, Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. Additional program information is available at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/awards/toy/.

# # #