WACO, TEXAS -- Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 will honor Regional Teachers of the Year (TOTY), a state TOTY finalist, and recently retired superintendents at a special awards ceremony. The awards ceremony and reception will be held at 6 pm, Wednesday Oct 22nd at ESC Region 12 at 2101 W. Loop 340 in Waco. The Region 12 Elementary Teacher of the Year is Gayla Reid with Waco ISD and the Region 12 Secondary Teacher of the Year is Pat Schronk with Hubbard ISD.  Debbie Perry, a state finalist who now teaches in Midway ISD will also be honored.  Senator Kip Averitt of the 22nd District of Texas will be in attendance to honor these outstanding educators.

 “We are very proud to have these remarkable educators serving the Central Texas area,” said Dr. Tom Norris, Executive Director of ESC Region 12.  “The time and energy they dedicate to their students, their peers, and the profession is truly an inspiration for others to follow.”

Elementary TOTY recipient Reid has been a teacher for the past 13 years. She has taught kindergarten with English as Second Language (ESL) students at Sul Ross Elementary for the last two years. Prior to that, she taught kindergarten, first and second grade dual language and third grade levels.

In addition to this award, Reid has been named the Twentieth Teacher to Achieve National Board Certification in Texas and included in the Cambridge list of Who’s Who. She has served as a writer of the Professional Development Training of the TEKS Refinements in Mathematics for the Texas Education Agency (TEA), has published an article in the Association for Childhood Education International titled, “Strategies for Writing in the Middle School Mathematics Classroom” and was featured in an article of Fiscal Notes from the state comptroller over the topic of “Teaching Teachers.”

Reid believes in passing her learning on to her colleagues. She has taught numerous classes for the Alternative Teacher Certification Program at ESC Region 12 and presented staff development topics about literacy, numerical fluency, technology integration and student centered classrooms at state and national conferences. She’s also been active in the life of future teachers by acting as a mentor to student teachers and Baylor interns.

It was encouragement and support that she received from her family and community that enabled Reid to overcome her own educational obstacles.  She struggled through mathematics, speech and self confidence issues.  After tutorials began to break problems down to its most simplistic terms, Reid was able to master these subjects and gain confidence in her ability to learn and her overall self esteem.  This transformation and inspiration lead her to teaching.  Reid is focused on teaching students to think independently and focus on problem solving skills.  She continually refines her teaching techniques and always has a sensitivity and understanding for special needs.   

Secondary TOTY recipient Schronk has been teaching at Hubbard ISD her entire career of 34 years.  She began teaching middle school language arts/reading, and now currently teaches high school family and consumer science education (homemaking), trades/work program classes,  and speech.  She also serves as secondary library coordinator. 

Schronk has also been named as the Hubbard Secondary School Teacher of the Year for the 2007-2008 school year.  She is listed in Who’s Who of American Women in 2008 and Who’s Who in American Education and has been included numerous times in the past.  She has also served as a member of Delta Kappa Gamma.  Schronk participates in the ESC Region 12 Teacher Mentoring Program and has mentored several new teachers.  Schronk demonstrates a continued willingness and helpfulness to assist as many new and prospective teachers as she can.  One of Schronk's great teaching passions is her work with the Adult Education/GED program.  She has been involved with this area of education for 33 years and finds it to be a wonderful and very rewarding experience. 

Born and raised in rural Hubbard, Schronk was lead and inspired by a strong group of faculty educators who not only taught in schools, but lead by example for their community.  These educators cared about each individual and knew the families of their students.  It was this loving concern that motivated Schronk to emulate these highly respected teachers.  It is the ultimate honor for Schronk to be recognized by the same women who were her initial inspiration into teaching.  Her philosophy of teaching is to educate each unique individual in his or her own way and to develop these students into life-long, universal learners.  Her most significant accomplishments include: her loyalty and dedication to the teaching profession, her flexibility on teaching multiple disciplines and her accountability and responsibility to the students and residents of the Hubbard community.

State Teacher of the Year Finalist, Debbie Perry, has been an educator for 24 years, serving 9 of those years in Texas.  She began her career in Georgia as an elementary mathematics teacher and has taught in Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi, before heading to Texas.  Prior to coming to Midway, Mrs. Perry taught eighth-grade mathematics at Travis Jr. High School in Paris, Texas.  Perry was selected as the Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year, Paris ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year and Travis Junior High Teacher of the Year.  Perry has exhibited extraordinary teaching during her career. 

She is a Star Grant recipient, the 2008 Region 8 Gifted Teacher of the Year, and was selected by the University of North Carolina to write in Substituting in the Gifted Classroom.  She was also named to the Top Ten Mathematics Teachers in Florida by the President’s Council for Excellence in Mathematics. 

Perry believes that integrity, wit, dedication, and wisdom are necessary traits for all teachers. It was her parents’ spirituality and commitment to serving others that influenced their daughter to enter the education system.  Perry has worked with students with advanced skills to those who were “at risk”.  She understands what different students needs are, and does whatever is necessary to meet them.  Perry has spearheaded a district wide disciplinary program to target consistently appropriate behavior.  She implemented a peer-tutoring program that not only increased learning for both the learner and the tutor, but helped foster respectful relationships despite many differences.  Her founding and promotion of an after school math club challenged students to prepare for TAKS testing while fostering an intellectual fellowship that would allow the group to compete and triumph in competitions across the state.  Her dedication for service is seen through her participation in Meals on Wheels, Sunday school and bible studies, meal deliveries for senior citizens on Christmas Eve, Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome, the Cancer Walk and fundraising for Young Life and Pregnancy Centers.   

The two Regional TOTYS, state TOTY finalist and retiring superintendents: Rick Copp (Gatesville ISD), Len Williams (Mart ISD), Roger Hashem (Star ISD), Lee Coffman (Whitney ISD) will be recognized.  In addition, the teachers will be honored by TEA.    

For more information or a photo of the honorees, contact TOTY Coordinator Jack Crain at (254) 297-1102 or jcrain@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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