ROUND ROCK LEADER
May 31, 2008
LAURI ZACHRY
Education Reporter
Sandra Husty of Berkman Elementary and Peggy Mica of Round Rock High School were surprised recently as they were selected as Round Rock ISD's Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year May 6 at the annual Teacher Excellence Awards reception.
Husty has taught third-grade English as a Second Language at Berkman for three years. Before teaching at Berkman, Husty taught fifth-grade reading, math and bilingual classes in Georgetown ISD for six years.
Husty attended the Sawyer College of Business in California and worked in the Silicon Valley in the marketing field. Because of her passion for life-long learning, Husty returned to school and received a bachelor of arts in English and history at the University of Texas in Austin. She later went on to complete her master of education in multicultural special education at UT.
"Teaching seemed to be it for me, so I changed careers," Husty said. "It's been a great experience and quite fulfilling. It's great to be able to share my love of learning with the students. I have such great students and work with such great teachers. This award was so gracious and kind and I'm proud to represent Round Rock ISD."
Husty and her husband, Cameron, have two daughters and one granddaughter and have lived in Round Rock for 14 years.
Mica's teaching career began 21 years ago at Round Rock High School.
While at Round Rock High, Mica has taught math, Advanced Placement computer science, technology classes and education academy classes. She has also conducted technology trainings for Round Rock High teachers and worked as a technology coordinator for the school.
"I hope the kids see you always have to learn new things, but I also hope they realize we don't want to ever give up on them," Mica said. "This has been a great 21 years."
Mica's former students, on occasion, make surprise visits to her classroom such as former student and Austin Community College sophomore Alex Speasmaker. Mica taught Speasmaker in his Introduction to Information Technology class. Because of her class, his first job in high school was working at a computer repair shop.
"I've learned many things from her class that I'm going to use for life," Speasmaker said.
Mica grew up in Flatonia, near Houston, and received her bachelor of math and computer science from the University of Houston and then education certification from the same school. Mica and her husband, Darrell, have one daughter, Natalie, who will attend McNeil High School as a freshman in the fall.
This year's Teacher Excellence Awards reception was held on National Teacher Appreciation Day during Teacher Appreciation Week. The RRISD Education Foundation and State Farm Insurance Companies sponsored the reception. The foundation provides cash prizes of $100 for each campus Teacher of the Year, and $500 for each of the district's Teachers of the Year.
All schools in Round Rock ISD selected a Teacher of the Year. Round Rock ISD's Teacher of the Year program is affiliated with the state and national Teacher of the Year programs.
RRISD campus
winners include:
Anderson Mill Elementary - Lisa Adams
Berkman Elementary - Sandra Husty
Blackland Prairie Elementary - Kristi Haskins
Bluebonnet Elementary - Magui Laredo
Brushy Creek Elementary - Katie Maybaum
Cactus Ranch Elementary - Jessica St. John
Caldwell Heights Elementary - April Sweet
Canyon Creek Elementary - Laurie Neuman
Canyon Vista Middle School - Cindy Fleming
Caraway Elementary - Carla Naylor
CD Fulkes Middle School - Robin Mounts
Cedar Valley Middle School - Julie Johnson
Chisholm Trail Middle School - Tim Lowke
Deep Wood Elementary- Kelly Tuxhorn
Deerpark Middle School - Catherine Gutierrez
Double File Trail Elementary - Joanne Sanford
Fern Bluff Elementary - Deidra Floyd
Forest Creek Elementary - Sandy Harper
Forest North Elementary - Casey Koester
Gattis Elementary - Johanna Friedel
Great Oaks Elementary - Nancy Valdez
Grisham Middle School --Kasandra Hughes
Hopewell Middle School - Ron Goins
Jollyville Elementary - Dina Mensing
Laurel Mountain Elementary - Jessica Trejo
Live Oak Elementary - Lorita Beeler
McNeil High School - Larry Vinklarek
Old Town Elementary - Monica Baldini
Pond Springs Elementary - Michelle Peter
Purple Sage Elementary - Katie Balagia
Ridgeview Middle School - Jennifer Ricks
Robertson Elementary - Marnie Rundquist
Round Rock High School - Peggy Mica
Round Rock Opportunity Center - JoAnn Nash
Spicewood Elementary - Eunice Marrero
Stony Point 9th Grade Center - Marie Douglass
Stony Point High School - David Hailes
Union Hill Elementary - Jeff Telle
Voigt Elementary - Esther Benedetto
Wells Branch Elementary - Jaime Castillo
Westwood High School - Mickey White
In addition to the campus and district Teachers of the Year, RRISD teachers who have received grants and/or other state or national recognition were recognized during the May 6 ceremony.
Contact Lauri Zachry at 255-5827 or by e-mail at education@rrleader.com .
http://rrleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=18895&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&S=1
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
NEWS: Fern Bluff family gathers to remember educators
ROUND ROCK LEADER
May 27, 2008
LAURI ZACHRY
Education Reporter
The theme of butterflies and the three tiers of a newly constructed fountain in the Fern Bluff Elementary courtyard symbolized the celebration of life for three former educators.
The Fern Bluff Elementary community celebrated the lives of three educators - Debbie Picha, Susan Blount and Pat Matheny - May 18 during a memorial fountain dedication in the school's courtyard.
Picha, Blount and Matheny died in June 2007 in a car accident west on U.S. Highway 71 during rainy conditions while traveling to Fredricksburg for a day trip.
Picha taught first-grade at the school while Blount served as the school's speech therapist.
Matheny worked at Fern Bluff from 1992 until 2006 as a school counselor before moving to Lakeway Elementary in Lake Travis ISD that year.
Teachers, staff, the PTA and other community volunteers began planning for this memorial celebration in January, said Fern Bluff PTA president Shelly Compton.
"We wanted to use a symbol that would bring joy and comfort and symbolize new life," Compton said. "This symbol inspires us and helps us to celebrate."
Preparation for the event
Months before the May 18 memorial, Fern Bluff teachers and staff planted seeds around the campus to attract butterflies just in case a few of them wanted to pop up in and around the courtyard for the festivities.
Guests attending the memorial and fountain dedication received packages of seeds while extra seeds will be distributed at the campus until the end of the school year.
Weeks before the memorial, each grade level conducted a butterfly release in the courtyard, Compton said.
Special guests such as Lynda Carter, the first Fern Bluff principal from 1992 to 2003, and Dale Mitchell, former Fern Bluff assistant principal from 2003 to 2007, shared their memories of the three educators.
Along with sharing memories in person, members of the Fern Bluff community also pre-recorded interviews in which they shared memories of the trio.
People could also write messages to members of the Picha, Blount and Matheny families on green, pink and yellow pieces of butterfly-shaped paper.
Fern Bluff secretaries Dieanna Kierschnick and Barbara Ewing worked with Picha, Blount and Matheny from the time the school opened in 1992 until their deaths in 2007. They both remember the three educators as being special in their unique ways.
Kierschnick remembers the little things the educators did to make a lasting impact - in the lives of students and in their lives.
She recalled Picha being the "perfect dresser" and always having her shoes match her purse, but constantly encouraging her students. One of her favorite memories of Picha was when Picha would play on the playground with her students in the winter while wearing a mink coat.
Kierschnick also recalls the times Blount spent with her when Kierschnick's mother was staying at the Hearthstone Nursing Center in Round Rock after a hospital stint.
"This fountain will be a lasting tribute to three wonderful ladies who left big shoes to fill," Kierschnick said.
Ewing remembers the teachers as loving their students and their families.
"I look forward to eating lunch, enjoying the sound of the water and remembering them," Ewing said. "These teachers all left footprints on our hearts and the memorial committee worked hard on making this such a beautiful tribute for the families and the school community."
The Fern Bluff faculty and community will give members of the Picha, Blount and Matheny families DVD copies of the May 18 memorial as a keepsake, Compton said.
http://rrleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=18843&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&S=1
May 27, 2008
LAURI ZACHRY
Education Reporter
The theme of butterflies and the three tiers of a newly constructed fountain in the Fern Bluff Elementary courtyard symbolized the celebration of life for three former educators.
The Fern Bluff Elementary community celebrated the lives of three educators - Debbie Picha, Susan Blount and Pat Matheny - May 18 during a memorial fountain dedication in the school's courtyard.
Picha, Blount and Matheny died in June 2007 in a car accident west on U.S. Highway 71 during rainy conditions while traveling to Fredricksburg for a day trip.
Picha taught first-grade at the school while Blount served as the school's speech therapist.
Matheny worked at Fern Bluff from 1992 until 2006 as a school counselor before moving to Lakeway Elementary in Lake Travis ISD that year.
Teachers, staff, the PTA and other community volunteers began planning for this memorial celebration in January, said Fern Bluff PTA president Shelly Compton.
"We wanted to use a symbol that would bring joy and comfort and symbolize new life," Compton said. "This symbol inspires us and helps us to celebrate."
Preparation for the event
Months before the May 18 memorial, Fern Bluff teachers and staff planted seeds around the campus to attract butterflies just in case a few of them wanted to pop up in and around the courtyard for the festivities.
Guests attending the memorial and fountain dedication received packages of seeds while extra seeds will be distributed at the campus until the end of the school year.
Weeks before the memorial, each grade level conducted a butterfly release in the courtyard, Compton said.
Special guests such as Lynda Carter, the first Fern Bluff principal from 1992 to 2003, and Dale Mitchell, former Fern Bluff assistant principal from 2003 to 2007, shared their memories of the three educators.
Along with sharing memories in person, members of the Fern Bluff community also pre-recorded interviews in which they shared memories of the trio.
People could also write messages to members of the Picha, Blount and Matheny families on green, pink and yellow pieces of butterfly-shaped paper.
Fern Bluff secretaries Dieanna Kierschnick and Barbara Ewing worked with Picha, Blount and Matheny from the time the school opened in 1992 until their deaths in 2007. They both remember the three educators as being special in their unique ways.
Kierschnick remembers the little things the educators did to make a lasting impact - in the lives of students and in their lives.
She recalled Picha being the "perfect dresser" and always having her shoes match her purse, but constantly encouraging her students. One of her favorite memories of Picha was when Picha would play on the playground with her students in the winter while wearing a mink coat.
Kierschnick also recalls the times Blount spent with her when Kierschnick's mother was staying at the Hearthstone Nursing Center in Round Rock after a hospital stint.
"This fountain will be a lasting tribute to three wonderful ladies who left big shoes to fill," Kierschnick said.
Ewing remembers the teachers as loving their students and their families.
"I look forward to eating lunch, enjoying the sound of the water and remembering them," Ewing said. "These teachers all left footprints on our hearts and the memorial committee worked hard on making this such a beautiful tribute for the families and the school community."
The Fern Bluff faculty and community will give members of the Picha, Blount and Matheny families DVD copies of the May 18 memorial as a keepsake, Compton said.
http://rrleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=18843&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&S=1
Saturday, April 5, 2008
NEWS: PTA to create memorial for teachers in wreck
ROUND ROCK LEADER
April 5, 2008
LAURI ZACHRY
Education Reporter
Fern Bluff Elementary PTA members plan to create a lasting fountain memorial to remember three Fern Bluff teachers killed in 2007.
First-grade teacher Debbie Picha, speech therapist Susan Blount and Patricia Matheny, former Fern Bluff school counselor, were killed in a car accident in June 2007, which happened in the 17600 block of U.S. Highway 71 West, near Bee Creek Road in Austin.
The official dedication of the Fern Bluff memorial is Sunday, May 18 in the school's cafeteria. Speakers and special guests confirmed to attend so far are: Linda Carter, first-ever Fern Bluff principal; Rosena Malone, Fern Bluff principal until 2006; and Dale Mitchell, assistant principal.
The PTA will also show pre-recorded messages and videos from people whose lives the three women touched, said Fern Bluff PTA president Shelly Compton.
"We want people to feel comfortable and speak from the heart," Compton said. "We want this to be a time to celebrate the lives of these women and their families."
During the weeks before and after the memorial, individual grade levels at Fern Bluff will release butterflies from the school's courtyard near the area where the memorial fountain will rest.
In a couple of weeks, Fern Bluff students will receive butterfly habitat kits to create butterflies. So far, Fern Bluff has received approximately 15 donated kits from Brushy Creek Elementary and other families in the Fern Bluff and Brushy Creek communities, Compton said.
During the May 18 event, the school will show video footage of the grade-level butterfly releases. To further expand on the butterfly theme, students, families and community members will receive seeds at the event for plants and/or flowers that naturally attract butterflies.
Currently, the Fern Bluff PTA has raised $6,800 for the memorial and fountain project since February, Compton said. The cost of the entire memorial project is between $8,000 and $10,000. Three Round Rock contractors, Tony Jacobs, Joshua Cerda and David Botz, will volunteer their time to construct the fountain to reduce construction costs, Compton said.
If the PTA raises more than $10,000 for the project, the organization will donate the extra funds to the Fern Bluff Literacy Library - a project dear to Picha, Blount and Matheny's hearts.
To further raise money for the Fern Bluff memorial project, the organization will sponsor a book fair at the La Frontera location of Barnes & Noble until Sunday, April 6.
For those Round Rock Barnes & Noble customers who mention the Fern Bluff memorial, 10 percent of their purchases will go toward the memorial, Compton said. Along with shopping for books, the public is welcome to listen to guest readers (Fern Bluff teachers and administrators) over the weekend during storytime events.
The weekend storytime events are Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
To print a copy of a voucher, which will ensure Fern Bluff PTA will receive 10 percent of Barnes and Noble purchase prices, go to roundrockisd.org/fernbluff/.
As of Tuesday, the Fern Bluff PTA had received approximately $184 from book sales at Barnes & Noble, said La Frontera Barnes & Noble Community Relations Manager Frank Campbell. Campbell said the funds will increase considerably because of the upcoming weekend storytime events.
"I wanted to contribute in anyway I could," Campbell said. "It was a matter of identifying a need and the book fair was a perfect fit."
The Fern Bluff PTA is still accepting donations for the memorial.
For more information, contact Compton at shelly_compton@roundrockisd.org.
http://rrleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=18452&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&S=1
April 5, 2008
LAURI ZACHRY
Education Reporter
Fern Bluff Elementary PTA members plan to create a lasting fountain memorial to remember three Fern Bluff teachers killed in 2007.
First-grade teacher Debbie Picha, speech therapist Susan Blount and Patricia Matheny, former Fern Bluff school counselor, were killed in a car accident in June 2007, which happened in the 17600 block of U.S. Highway 71 West, near Bee Creek Road in Austin.
The official dedication of the Fern Bluff memorial is Sunday, May 18 in the school's cafeteria. Speakers and special guests confirmed to attend so far are: Linda Carter, first-ever Fern Bluff principal; Rosena Malone, Fern Bluff principal until 2006; and Dale Mitchell, assistant principal.
The PTA will also show pre-recorded messages and videos from people whose lives the three women touched, said Fern Bluff PTA president Shelly Compton.
"We want people to feel comfortable and speak from the heart," Compton said. "We want this to be a time to celebrate the lives of these women and their families."
During the weeks before and after the memorial, individual grade levels at Fern Bluff will release butterflies from the school's courtyard near the area where the memorial fountain will rest.
In a couple of weeks, Fern Bluff students will receive butterfly habitat kits to create butterflies. So far, Fern Bluff has received approximately 15 donated kits from Brushy Creek Elementary and other families in the Fern Bluff and Brushy Creek communities, Compton said.
During the May 18 event, the school will show video footage of the grade-level butterfly releases. To further expand on the butterfly theme, students, families and community members will receive seeds at the event for plants and/or flowers that naturally attract butterflies.
Currently, the Fern Bluff PTA has raised $6,800 for the memorial and fountain project since February, Compton said. The cost of the entire memorial project is between $8,000 and $10,000. Three Round Rock contractors, Tony Jacobs, Joshua Cerda and David Botz, will volunteer their time to construct the fountain to reduce construction costs, Compton said.
If the PTA raises more than $10,000 for the project, the organization will donate the extra funds to the Fern Bluff Literacy Library - a project dear to Picha, Blount and Matheny's hearts.
To further raise money for the Fern Bluff memorial project, the organization will sponsor a book fair at the La Frontera location of Barnes & Noble until Sunday, April 6.
For those Round Rock Barnes & Noble customers who mention the Fern Bluff memorial, 10 percent of their purchases will go toward the memorial, Compton said. Along with shopping for books, the public is welcome to listen to guest readers (Fern Bluff teachers and administrators) over the weekend during storytime events.
The weekend storytime events are Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
To print a copy of a voucher, which will ensure Fern Bluff PTA will receive 10 percent of Barnes and Noble purchase prices, go to roundrockisd.org/fernbluff/.
As of Tuesday, the Fern Bluff PTA had received approximately $184 from book sales at Barnes & Noble, said La Frontera Barnes & Noble Community Relations Manager Frank Campbell. Campbell said the funds will increase considerably because of the upcoming weekend storytime events.
"I wanted to contribute in anyway I could," Campbell said. "It was a matter of identifying a need and the book fair was a perfect fit."
The Fern Bluff PTA is still accepting donations for the memorial.
For more information, contact Compton at shelly_compton@roundrockisd.org.
http://rrleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=18452&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&S=1
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
NEWS: Book fair memorializes Fern Bluff educators
ROUND ROCK LEADER
April 2, 2008
The Fern Bluff Elementary PTA will sponsor a book fair at the La Frontera location of Barnes and Noble until Sunday, April 6, benefiting a memorial for three of its teachers killed in 2007.
For those Round Rock Barnes and Noble customers who mention the Fern Bluff memorial, 10 percent of their purchases will go toward the memorial, said Fern Bluff PTA president Shelly Compton.
As of Tuesday, the Fern Bluff PTA had received approximately $184 from book sales at Barnes and Noble.
Since February, the Fern Bluff PTA has raised $6,800 for the memorial and fountain project, Compton said.
Along with shopping for books, the public is welcome to listen to guest readers (Fern Bluff teachers and administrators) Friday evening and over the weekend during storytime events. The weekend storytime events are Saturday at 10 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. Sunday's storytime event is scheduled for 2 p.m.
The official dedication of the Fern Bluff memorial is Sunday, May 18 in the school's cafeteria.
First-grade teacher Debbie Picha, speech therapist Susan Blount and Patricia Matheny, former Fern Bluff school counselor, were killed in June 2007 in a car accident in the 17600 block of U.S. Highway 71 West, near Bee Creek Road.
http://rrleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=18431&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&S=1
April 2, 2008
The Fern Bluff Elementary PTA will sponsor a book fair at the La Frontera location of Barnes and Noble until Sunday, April 6, benefiting a memorial for three of its teachers killed in 2007.
For those Round Rock Barnes and Noble customers who mention the Fern Bluff memorial, 10 percent of their purchases will go toward the memorial, said Fern Bluff PTA president Shelly Compton.
As of Tuesday, the Fern Bluff PTA had received approximately $184 from book sales at Barnes and Noble.
Since February, the Fern Bluff PTA has raised $6,800 for the memorial and fountain project, Compton said.
Along with shopping for books, the public is welcome to listen to guest readers (Fern Bluff teachers and administrators) Friday evening and over the weekend during storytime events. The weekend storytime events are Saturday at 10 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. Sunday's storytime event is scheduled for 2 p.m.
The official dedication of the Fern Bluff memorial is Sunday, May 18 in the school's cafeteria.
First-grade teacher Debbie Picha, speech therapist Susan Blount and Patricia Matheny, former Fern Bluff school counselor, were killed in June 2007 in a car accident in the 17600 block of U.S. Highway 71 West, near Bee Creek Road.
http://rrleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=18431&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&S=1
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