Trinity University

Susie P. Gonzalez
susie.gonzalez@trinity.edu
210-999-8445
Apr. 13, 2012

Winners of the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching are Announced

Recipients are Spanish and mathematics educators from Edgewood and Randolph Field schools

SAN ANTONIO - Two San Antonio secondary school educators have been named winners of the 2012 Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching. The recipients are Jisela Ferdin Moreno, a Spanish I and II teacher at Gus Garcia Middle School in the Edgewood Independent School District, and Mikel Haug, a mathematics teacher at Randolph Field High School in the Randolph Field Independent School District.

They were chosen from 20 distinguished educators who were nominated by their school districts in recognition of outstanding performance in public education. All were honored Friday, April 13, in a ceremony held on the campus of Trinity University.

For the past 12 years, Moreno has taught Spanish using student-centered lessons that transform her classroom into a restaurant or Loteria parlor and draw upon novels, plays, technology, field trips, and more to impart her love for the Hispanic culture. "I set the structure and high expectation in my classroom each and every day," she says, sharing three basic rules: "Take Care of Yourself," "Take Care of Your Neighbor," and "Take Care of Our Classroom." She is the school's electives team leader, backup to the nurse, and translator for many parents who do not speak English. A graduate of Edgewood schools who was thrilled to return as an educator, her superintendent calls her "inspiring."

Earning a "D" in 9^th grade algebra did not stop Haug from ending 13 years of employment with the U.S. Postal Service to pursue a mathematics degree and teaching credentials. Since 1993, he has worked hard to develop projects and lessons that illustrate how math is interwoven into all disciplines of life and how math can be used to build thinking skills and solve problems. He specializes in applying math to "real world" questions, such as assigning students to collect data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to argue whether the high school should or should not close during the recent swine flu epidemic. He says, "I can't imagine not teaching."

The greater San Antonio area's oldest and most prestigious teaching award, the Trinity Prize was launched in 1982 to honor public school teachers who distinguish their teaching practice through outstanding classroom performance, leadership in the school and school district, leadership in the education profession, and outstanding community service.

Recipients of the Prize - which is sponsored by Trinity's education department, with the H-E-B Grocery Co. and the San Antonio Express-News - each received $2,500 and a crystal apple. A panel of San Antonio business and community leaders selected the winners.

During Friday's ceremony, the 2011 National Teacher of the Year, Michelle Shearer, delivered the Kappa Delta Pi lecture for outstanding educators. Shearer is a high school chemistry teacher in Frederick County, Md.  

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