Regional Teachers of the Year,
Retiring Superintendents to be Honored at Oct.
22 Awards Ceremony in Waco
View Event Photos
WACO, TEXAS — Education Service
Center (ESC) Region 12 will honor regional teachers
of the year as well as recently retired superintendents
at a special awards ceremony. The awards ceremony
and reception will be held at 5:30 p.m., Monday,
Oct. 22 at 2101 W. Loop 340 in Waco. The Hon. Kip
Averitt, State Senator and the Hon. Charles ‘Doc’ Anderson,
State Representative will be present to give recognition
and awards.
The 2007 Region 12 Teachers of the
Year are Corrie Hail (pictured on right) with Belton ISD in the primary
division and Linda Jean King (pictured on the left), f
ormerly with Fairfield
ISD in the secondary division.
“We are very proud to recognize
the remarkable educators serving the Central Texas
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.”
The ceremony also will honor the following
retired superintendents who have served more than
24 to 42 years in the field of education:
- Jim Kirby, Blum ISD, 43 years
of service
- Polly Boyd, Bynum ISD, 21 years
of service
- Linda Kelley, Cedar Crest Charter,
35 years of service
- Ray Freeman, Itasca ISD,
36 years of service
- Randy Savage, Jonesboro
ISD, 33 years of service
- Harley Johnson, Penelope
ISD, 42 years of service
- Reggie Whalen, Westphalia
ISD, 24 years of service
Elementary Teacher of the Year Corrie Hail has been
a teacher for 28 years and has served the last five
in Belton ISD. She is currently the 3rd - 5th grade
intermediate Title I reading instructor at Sparta
Elementary. In this position, Hail works with all
struggling readers in a small group setting. Prior
to working for Belton ISD, she taught many elementary
grade levels in San Angelo ISD for 14 years and nine
years at St. Luke's Preschool/Kindergarten in San
Angelo, Texas. Hail earned her Bachelor's of Science
in Elementary Education with Kindergarten Endorsement
from Angelo State University. She earned her master
reading certification through ESC Region 12 in 2006.
Hail graduated from San Angelo Central High School
In addition to the Region 12 honor, Hail was nominated
by her peers for 2007 and 2005 Teacher of the Year
at Sparta Elementary. She has served as a lead teacher
for Sparta Elementary and as a member of the Site-Based
Decision Making Team since 2003. Some of Hail's leadership
activities include: creating a literacy lab to enhance
a Guided Reading Program for the last two years;
creating a "study hall" for grades three
to five to help struggling students; leading an “Essential
55" group of at-risk students; creating and
developing curriculum and curriculum standards for
numerous subjects.
Hail has also served as a mentor teacher through
ESC Region 12 and Mary-Hardin Baylor, led development
sessions to share best practices through a literacy
conference and initiated and trained teachers to
integrate fluency and phonics into reading programs.
During her time with San Angelo ISD, she initiated
curriculum changes that helped the campus to reach
an exemplary rating, led district-wide in-services
to implement new math and reading programs and attained
both ESL and Gifted/Talented Certifications. Hail
has been a member of the Texas Classroom Teachers
Association (TCTA) since 1988.
"Throughout my life, I have received numerous
honors, but none can compare with the way I feel
about being selected as Region 12 Teacher of the
Year. I am so humbled to have been selected, first,
from such a wide field of excellent teachers in Belton,
and then to be selected from the entire region is
unbelievable! I am humbled by this honor because
I am surrounded by passionate, caring educators and
administrators, and I know only too well the dedication
and drive that goes into becoming a notable teacher.
I cannot imagine being honored for doing something
that has brought so much joy to my life. I hope that
I have made even half as much difference in the lives
of my students as they have made in mine."
During her free time, Hail often spends time mentoring
new campus teachers. She has also worked on various
community and church programs to help area students
and families in need and chaired fall festivals for
the elementary school Parent Teacher Association
(PTA) and countless fundraisers. Hail and her husband
Steve have three children and five grandchildren.
The couple lives in Belton, Texas.
Secondary Teacher of the Year Linda Jean King has
been teaching for 22 years. She has taught dual credit
English 4, Pre-Ap English I, journalism, yearbook,
newspaper and UIL debate and journalism writing during
the last four years at Fairfield High School. Prior
to joining Fairfield ISD, King taught many levels
of English, newspaper, yearbook and debate for Leon
ISD and Teague ISD. She also taught English 2, debate
and led a one act play for Allen ISD.
During her teaching career, King has taught a developmental
reading class to Nepalese students at Navarro College
and initiated and developed a winning debate program
at Leon High School. King began her career teaching
eighth grade reading and English at St. Pius Catholic
School. During the last several years, she has served
as a best practices presenter at a regional education
conference, delivered in-service to fellow teachers
and taught a children's literature class for Texas
A&M University-Commerce.
King has most recently moved into a position with
Rockdale High School in Rockdale ISD. She graduated
from Deer Park High School in Deer Park, Texas. King
earned a master's degree in English from Sam Houston
State University and a bachelor's degree in English/History
from Stephen F. Austin State University. She earned
her teaching certification in English, history and
journalism and she also earned a reading endorsement
from the University of North Texas.
In addition to receiving the Region 12 honor, King
was chosen as the 2007 Teacher of the Year for Fairfield
ISD. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2000, 1995
and 1992 for Teague High School. When asked about
the award, King said,
"This is a tremendous honor, but I am somewhat
embarrassed because I know so many teachers who are
daily going above and beyond their job description.
Still, it is always gratifying to get a pat on the
back. Teaching is much like parenting—a profoundly
important task that people seem to notice most when
it is done poorly. For me, it is a thrill to be recognized
for doing something I love!"
King is a member of the National Council of Teachers
of English (NCTE) and the Association of Texas Professional
Educators (ATPE). When she is not teaching, she often
assists with school, community and church-related
projects and fundraisers. King and her husband Todd
have four boys and two grandchildren. They now reside
in Rockdale, Texas.
About the Region 12 Teachers of the Year
A panel of representatives from local teacher and
administrator organizations chose Hail and King 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.
Retired Superintendent Honorees
- Jim Kirby, Blum ISD, 43 years of service
- Polly
Boyd, Bynum ISD, 21 years of service
- Linda
Kelley, Cedar Crest Charter, 35 years of service
- Ray
Freeman, Itasca ISD, 36 years of service
- Randy
Savage, Jonesboro ISD, 33 years of service
- Harley
Johnson, Penelope ISD, 39 years of service
- Reggie
Whalen, Westphalia ISD, 24 years of service
The event is being sponsored by ESC Region 12 and
AT&T. Debbie Keel, with AT&T will also be
present to deliver plaques to the teachers.
For more information, interview arrangements or
photos of the honorees, please contact Jennifer Marshall-Higgins
at 254-297-1198 or at jhiggins@esc12.net.
About ESC Region 12
One of 20 centers throughout Texas, the Education
Service Center (ESC) Region 12 provides professional
training and technical assistance for the purpose
of improving student performance for all students.
Based in Waco, with offices in Corsicana, Goldthwaite,
Hillsboro, Nolanville and Teague, the ESC Region
12’s service area includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell,
Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone,
Mills, McLennan and Navarro counties.
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