NEWS: RRHS, Berkman teachers take top honors in school district

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 .

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