Grand Prairie ISD honors its teachers of the year

by Kirk Dickey of Grand Prairie TODAY

Grand Prairie Independent School District and the Chamber of Commerce took a little time to honor teachers who are making a difference in students lives, Jan. 21.

The annual GPISD Teacher of the Year reception brought together teachers from around the district to be recognized for their work. The teachers were chosen by their schools for that work. And six of them will move on to possibly be honored at the Grand Prairie Community Awards, Jan. 29 at the Ruthe Jackson Center.

Those finalists are: Elementary - Karen Benson of Florence Hill Elementary, Jean Perkins of Rayburn Elementary and John Wilson of Whitt Elementary; Secondary finalists are Brenda Fox of Grand Prairie High School, Sarah Terrace of South Grand Prairie High School and Monica Izquierdo of the SGP Ninth Grade Center.

The finalists were interviewed after the presentation and will be given tickets to the community awards dinner to learn if they have won. The winners, chosen by a panel of chamber members, will move on to regional teacher of the year competition.

But even those who did not win a spot as a finalist were treated to many kind words about their profession by both chamber and district officials.

“Every day, you do a job that most of us wish we could do and can't,” Chamber President Lynn McGinley said, then later added, “I know the impact you have on our kids every day. I know the impact you have on our community and I honor that.”

Superintendent Susan Simpson said that teachers play an important role in the development of a child, because when it is done well, they bring out the best in them.

“A master can tells you what he expects from you,” she said. “But a teacher is someone who inspires you and inspires us to reach the potential that we have inside.”

She said that teaching school is the hardest job in the world if it is done right.

“It's a calling. It's a ministry. It's a noble profession,” she said. “It's a job that you do and you never even know who you touch.”

She said that there are myriad examples of teachers who have helped children and moved on to a new class or school district and never realize how much they have done for them.

She said that while she might not have know each of them personally, she understands how much they put into their jobs.

“I know what you do,” she said. “And those of you I know personally, I know that you spend hours outside of that curriculum, sponsoring organizations, helping with fundraisers, talking to parents, praying about children at night, thinking about them when you wake up. You are building relationships with them.”

She said it was she who was honored to work with the best of the best in GPISD.

“And it just gives me chills to be in a room with this much greatness and with people who have the potential and the power to impact lives the way you do,” she said.

She said that teachers don't hear that they are important enough.

The campus teachers of the year are: Jackeline Orsini, Austin Elementary; Denisse Baldwin, Bonham Elementary; Kim Walters, Bowie Elementary; Janelice Quiroz, Bush Elementary; Warren Green, Crockett Elementary; Alma Lozada, Daniels Elementary; Rosanne Perez, Dickinson Elementary; Judy McCallister, Eisenhower Elementary; Kim Watson, Fannin Elementary; Anita Calkins, Garcia Elementary; Patricia Johnson, Garner Elementary; Monica Raye, Houston Elementary; Linda James, Johnson Elementary; Lynda Walker, Marshall Elementary; Suzeana Barrera, Milam Elementary; Amy Ware, Moore Elementary; Kim Riggle, Moseley Elementary; Stephanie Marie Carrillo, Powell Elementary; Felipe Diaz, Seguin Elementary; Beverly Olsen-Wright, Travis Elementary; Colleen Riggins, Williams Elementary; Sandy Harris, Zavala Elementary; Mario Orozco, Adams Middle School; Martina Reed-Holmes, Arnold Middle School; Maura Ayres, Jackson Middle School; LaTonya Queme, Kennedy Middle School; Crystil Adams, Lee Middle School; Mary Jane Groesch, Reagan Middle School; Ann Perez, Truman Middle School; Michael Brinkman, Grand Prairie High School Ninth Grade Center; Kristina Sanders, Crosswinds High School; and Dora Galindo, Lamar AEP.