Trinity University

Susie P. Gonzalez
susie.gonzalez@trinity.edu
210-999-8445
Mar. 7, 2012

Trinity University to Honor Exceptional Teachers in the Region

SAN ANTONIO - Twenty exceptional teachers in the San Antonio area have been chosen as distinguished educators and finalists for the 2011-2012 Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching that recognizes outstanding performance in public education.

The distinguished educators will be honored at a reception at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, in the Holt Center near the Trinity University campus. Trinity sponsors the award along with the H-E-B Grocery Co. and the San Antonio Express-News.

The distinguished educators were nominated by area school districts for their commitment and passion to education. Among the criteria for inclusion on the list is outstanding classroom performance, leadership in the school and school district, leadership in the education profession, and outstanding community service.

The finalists are:

Alamo Heights Independent School District
Linda Neville
Reading specialist
Woodridge Elementary School

 

Boerne Independent School District
Judith Gonzales
Algebra 1 and Algebra 1 lab teacher
Boerne High School

 

Comal Independent School District
Jennifer White
5th grade English and language arts teacher
Timberwood Park Elementary School

 

East Central Independent School District
Brenda Miller
Biology and aquatic science teacher
East Central High School

 

Edgewood Independent School District
Jisela Ferdin Moreno
Spanish I and II teacher
Gus Garcia Middle School

 

Fort Sam Houston Independent School District
Nora Gonzalez
English as a Second Language teacher
Fort Sam Houston Elementary School

 

Harlandale Independent School District
Jobie Campos
3rd grade reading teacher
Morrill Elementary School

 

Judson Independent School District
Keith Witt
Band teacher
Wagner High School

 

Lackland Independent School District
Jill DeGiampaolo
4th grade teacher
Lackland Elementary School

 

North East Independent School District
Joseph M. Dungan III, PhD
Pre AP and AP chemistry teacher
James Madison High School

 

Northside Independent School District
Melinda Valdez
Kindergarten teacher
Henry Steubing Elementary School

 

Pleasanton Independent School District
Melinda Priadka
5th grade language arts teacher
Pleasanton Intermediate School

Randolph Field Independent School District
Mikel Haug
Mathematics teacher
Randolph High School

 

San Antonio Independent School District
James Hammond
AP English literature
Thomas Jefferson High School

 

Schertz - Cibolo - Universal
City Independent School District
Amy Malone
Reading specialist
Schertz Elementary School

Somerset Independent School District
Kelli L. Taylor
8th grade U.S. history teacher
Somerset Junior High School

 

South San Antonio Independent School District
Cordelia Uribe Gonzalez
7th grade English and language arts teacher
Robert C. Zamora Middle School

 

Southside Independent School District
Lisa Rizo
Science teacher
Southside High School

 

Southwest Independent School District
Arthur Celestin
Computer technology educator
Southwest High School

 

The Winston School San Antonio
Rhonda Green
5th grade teacher
The Winston School San Antonio

 

Since 1982, Trinity's department of education has honored public school teachers in the greater San Antonio area with the Trinity Prize. Recipients of the Prize will each receive $2,500 and a crystal apple. A panel of San Antonio business and community leaders will select the winners.

The winners of the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching will be recognized at a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 13, in the Ruth Taylor Recital Hall on the Trinity campus. Also during the April 13 ceremony, the 2011 National Teacher of the Year, Michelle Shearer will deliver the Kappa Delta Pi lecture for outstanding educators. Shearer is a high school chemistry teacher in Ijamsville, Md.

For more information, contact Trinity's department of education at 210-999-7501.