AUSTIN, Texas—Twelve Texas school teachers who have exhibited the highest standards for competency and inspiration toward the children they teach will be rewarded with cash, computers and a bronze trophy next week by The Ex-Students’ Association at The University of Texas at Austin.
The distinguished dozen, considered among the best teachers in their field, will be among 100 teachers from across the state invited to participate in the 2001 Conference on Texas Excellence in Education on Feb. 8-9.
The conference, which begins at 10 a.m. on Feb. 8 in The Ex-Students’ Association building at 2110 San Jacinto, includes many past recipients of the Texas Excellence Award. It provides the teachers an opportunity to learn about new programs and exchange education ideas among themselves. They also can hear presentations by University faculty members and administrators, as well as state-level educators.
The Texas Excellence Award for Outstanding Teachers is presented annually by The Ex-Students’ Association in cooperation with the College of Education at UT Austin.
The high school teachers who received The Texas Excellence Awards this year were selected from a group of nearly 200 high school teachers, all nominated by their principals. The elementary teachers were nominated by their principals, UT Austin faculty and staff or students in the College of Education’s Professional Teacher Preparation Program.
The 10 high school and two elementary school teachers receiving the special awards during a private banquet on Feb. 9 each will receive $1,000, a custom-designed bronze sculpture and a personal computer donated by Compaq Computer Corp. Transportation for all 100 teachers attending the event will be provided compliments of Southwest Airlines.
UT Austin President Larry R. Faulkner and his wife, Mary Ann Faulkner, will host the presentation of the awards.
The purpose of the award is to bring credit to the teaching profession. It does this by recognizing schoolteachers who are inspiringly supportive of their students, who bring credit to the teaching profession and who are held in the highest regard by their current and former students, fellow teachers, administrators, students’ parents and the community.
The high school teachers receiving excellence awards are:
- Leslie Bishop, biology, Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Helotes
- Karla Boone, science, Junction High School in Junction
- Johnnie Eng, Spanish, Alamo Heights High School, San Antonio
- Hugh Franks, economics, Midland Senior High School, Midland
- Maria Garcia-Rameau, Spanish, Scarborough High School, Houston
- Wilma Hill, chemistry, Lamar High School, Arlington
- Dena Johnson, computer science, Cypress Falls High School, Houston
- John Martinez, band, San Marcos High School, San Marcos
- Melvin Myers, Jr.ROTC, Barbara Jordan High School for Careers, Houston
- Michael O’Hern, choral music, Lake Highlands High School, Dallas
Elementary school award winners are:
- Nelda B. Sanders, first grade, North Oaks Elementary School, Austin
- Janice R. Lowry, first grade, Metz Elementary School, Austin
For additional information, contact The Ex-Students’ Association awards coordinator, Carol Lamme, at (512) 475-6825 or 1-800-594-3939, or via email at lamme@alumni.utexas.edu
