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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)