Caroline Sweet Named Austin ISD Teacher of the Year!
Salute - the Annual Celebration of Excellence in Austin ISD was hosted by Austin Partners in Education May 18th at the Long Center. Longtime APIE friend and supporter, Police Chief Art Acevedo graciously agreed to lead the event as master of ceremonies. The City of Austin was the Signature Sponsor.
The event included the Teacher of the Year awards, inductions into the Hall of Fame, Chair’s and Partner of the Year awards, a Student of the Year, and other District awards.
Austin ISD Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen, the AISD Board of Trustees, and APIE Chair and Wells Fargo Community Bank President Mark Curry recognized the following:
The 2011 Teacher of the Year was awarded to Caroline Sweet, a fourth grade bilingual teacher at Metz Elementary. A former TV news reporter, she chose a career in bilingual teaching after volunteering at a center for Latino immigrants. Her acceptance speech thanked her principals and mentors, and referenced the strong influence her teacher parents had on her life. She urged the audience to support bilingual and Dual Language programs, and urged all teachers to work to empower their students to become agents of social change.
The other two remarkable finalists are Kim Ross – Middle School Teacher of the Year. He teaches Language Arts at Dobie Middle School, and David Bellesen, the Audio and Video Production teacher at Travis High who was named High School Teacher of the Year. All three provide inspirational examples of teaching excellence.
College Readiness Student of the Year:
Gamaliel Altamirano
Partner of the Year:
The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation
Chair’s Award:
Dr. Leonard N. Moore, Professor of History and an Associate Vice-President in the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at UT Austin.
Hall of Fame:
Mark Williams, AISD Board of Trustees President and APIE Board Member; and,
Bernardo Martinez, Parent Support Specialist and PIE Coordinator at Wooten Elementary.
College Readiness Student of the Year:
Gamaliel Altamirano
Classified Staff of the Year:
Dee Gonzales – Kealing Middle School
Finalists: Luz Camacho - Dawson Elementary, Sarah Osborn - Travis Heights, Jose Rodriguez - Menchaca Elementary, and Ivan Tovar - Sanchez Elementary
Thanks to Education Austin Dee Gonzales was presented with a $500 award as Classified Staff of the Year winner.
Primary Principal of the Year:
Douglas Hall - Davis Elementary
Finalists: Gilbert Hicks - Overton Elementary; and,
Lori Schneider - Kiker Elementary
Secondary Principal of the Year:
Anabel Garza – Reagan High School
Finalists: Carol Chapman - J. Frank Dobie Middle School; and,
Donna Houser - Anderson High School
PIE Coordinator of the Year:
Faye Terrell – Gus Garcia Middle School
Finalists: Bernardo Martinez - Wooten Elementary; and,
Nick Noy - Reilly Elementary
PTA of the Year:
Paredes Middle School
Finalists: Anderson High School, J.J.Pickle Elementary, and Williams Elementary
APIE thanks all who attended and made the evening memorable, with special gratitude to our sponsors (listed on right of page), the talented students from Reagan High School, the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, and McCallum High School.
