Mission, Texas- Mission Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) officials spent part of Wednesday and Thursday of this week as a mini prize-patrol. They dropped in, unannounced, to surprise the two District Teachers of the Year with the news they had earned the district honors.
The Mission CISD Elementary Teacher of the Year is Joanna Guel from Escobar/Rios Elementary Project Based Learning Academy. She is in her first year at her current position, but has seven years of teaching experience.
The Mission CISD Secondary Teacher of the Year is Sonia Rodriguez from K. White Jr. High School STEAM Academy. She brings 10 years of experience to her classroom.
These two teachers were selected by a panel of judges consisting of a cross-section of the Mission CISD area communities. Guel and Rodriguez will now represent Mission CISD as Teachers of the Year during the next school year. They will also be entered into the Region One Teacher of the Year contest, which is affiliated with the state and national programs. The applications used by Mission CISD are the same ones used in those programs. They include information on the teachers, including: professional background, educational history, and several questions that delve into their teaching approaches, and thoughts on issues impacting the teaching profession. In addition to their awards, the two district teachers were given a $500 check from the Education Foundation of Mission CISD.
The other teachers selected by their schools as Campus Teachers of the Year are: Isaac Rocha, Alton Elementary School; Veronica Martinez, Bryan Elementary School; Myling Landez, Cantu Elementary School; Nelly M. Castillo, Capt. J. Castro Elementary School; Amanda Gonzalez, Cavazos Elementary School Health Science Academy; Bertha A. Torres, Leal Elementary School of Technology and Engineering; Marla M. Garcia, Marcell Elementary Global Leadership Academy; Christine Montemayor, Midkiff Elementary School; Claudia Alaniz-Sanchez, Mims Elementary School; Irma Gonzalez, O’Grady Elementary School of Humanities and Social Sciences; Elizandro Flores, Pearson Elementary Sports/Health Academy; Hortencia Morales, Salinas Elementary School Fine Arts Academy; Armandina J. Garcia, Waitz Elementary Media and Communications Academy; Monica Alafa, Alton Memorial Jr. High School; Jennifer Condes, Mission Jr. High School; Olga L. Escobedo, R. Cantu Jr. High School STEAM and World Language Academy; Margarita Longoria, Mission High School; Ivonne Villa, Mission Collegiate High School; Ruben Amaro, Veterans Memorial High School; Laura Mari Vargas, Roosevelt Alternative School.
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