Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 hosted a luncheon honoring regional nominees and 2016 Teacher, Superintendent and School Board of the Year winners Wednesday, Sept. 28.
For the first time, two of the regional award winners from Region 12 will also compete at the state level. Mrs. LaGay Pittenger, Belton ISD, is nominated for State Elementary Teacher of the Year and Dr. Robin Battershell, Temple ISD, is nominated for State Superintendent of the Year.
“It’s an honor to represent Lakewood Elementary and Belton ISD as the Elementary Teacher of the Year for Region 12,” said Pittenger. “I’ll tell you [teaching is] worth the challenge each day because it’s about the kids and I love the job. It’s really nice to have recognition for doing something I love to do.”
Other honorees include Mr. Michael Chirhart, Hillsboro ISD, the Region 12 Secondary Teacher of the Year and Waco and Aquilla ISD’s Board of Trustees for School Board of the Year.
For full bios on the award winners, go to www.esc12.net/page/lead_oty.
Superintendent of the Year
Joe Burns Copperas Cove ISD
Sharon Shields LaVega ISD
Michael Novotny Salado ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalists
Megan Elisher Connally Elementary, Connally ISD
Cynthia Johnson James Bowie Elementary, Corsicana ISD
Elizabeth J. Rogers Harmony Science Academy
Rosalyn Holmes Clifton Park Elementary, Killeen ISD
Deana Headrick Hillsboro Intermediate, Hillsboro ISD
Jonna Langford Hanna Springs Elementary, Lampasas ISD
Marla Jaynes Spring Valley Elementary, Midway ISD
Cinda Keane Robinson Intermediate, Robinson ISD
Nidia Cadavid Meridith-Dunbar Early Childhood Academy, Temple ISD
Kristen Rauch Edna Bigham Mays Elementary, Troy ISD
Nichole Jaimes Valley Mills Elementary, Valley Mills ISD
Elisha Oliver Bell’s Hill PDS Elementary, Waco ISD
Michelle Holecek West Elementary, West ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalists
Fernando Hernandez Killeen High School, Killeen ISD
Barbara Boykin Epperson Belton High School, Belton ISD
Ashley Golden Blooming Grove Junior High, Blooming Grove ISD
Brittany Riley Connally Junior High, Connally ISD
Cristina Parker Collins Middle School, Corsicana ISD
Kathleen Gossman Harmony Science Academy
Heather Scherr Lorena High School, Lorena ISD
Brady Gibson Midway High School, Midway ISD
Brandy Gonzales Robinson Junior High, Robinson ISD
Patti Turk Salado High School, Salado ISD
Terri McMurty Raymond Mays Middle School, Troy ISD
Nick Davoust University High School, Waco ISD
Melanie Urbis Brookhaven Youth Ranch, West ISD
School Boards of the Year
Waco ISD Board of Trustees (More than 1,000 students)
Aquilla ISD Board of Trustees (Less than 1,000 students)
