As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, San Antonio ISD recognized its Teachers of the Year. Ninety-one teachers were honored May 11 at the Alamo Convocation Center.
The Teacher of the Year award honors teachers who have been in the profession for at least three years and who excel in academic success, school leadership, and service to the school community. Each school’s Teacher of the Year was selected by a vote of his or her peers. Honorees received a certificate, personalized glass trophy, and a yard sign to place in their front yards.
At the event, the district's Distinguished Teachers of the Year were also named. Read more below about our three Distinguished District Teachers of the Year and what motivates them to serve our students, and a full list of campus honorees at the bottom of the page.
2022-2023 Distinguished Teachers of the Year
Elementary Level: Sharon Martinez, Cotton Academy
“My personal vision as an educator is to create a safe learning environment with a positive culture, where students are not afraid to take risks and can learn from each other. As a teacher, if I see my students take care in their learning and take the responsibility of helping their peers learn, I am being successful. In all, if I can instill in my children the passion for learning, the desire to never give up, the ability to work cooperatively with others, the determination to strive for more, the desire to meet and surpass their goals and the ability to be respectful and accepting of others, I am being successful. The passion and commitment that I have for our students and the profession remain strong after serving as a classroom teacher for 27 years at Cotton Academy."
Middle School Level: Abby Ramos, Longfellow Middle School
“In my opinion, a good teacher is a person who truly sees and believes in their students. They have high expectations for all that their students can accomplish, and they see their dreams as a reality to be reached. The most fulfilling moments in my career have been watching my students find the belief in themselves and accomplish goals and dreams others never thought they would achieve. Whether it be the moment they lose themselves in a book for the first time, or when they email about being accepted into an Ivy League school, each celebration brings me back to the classroom another day. Therefore, when asked about my biggest accomplishments in education, I will have to say my students’ successes."
High School Level: Christopher Reese, Sam Houston High School
“I grew up in the projects and knew that education would be my way out. Luckily, I had great educators here in SAISD who saw my creative and academic potential and supported and nurtured my talents. Now, my most significant accomplishments are my students, past and present. Knowing that I can make a difference in the enrichment of their lives keeps me going daily and gets me out of bed during tough periods. I don’t teach to make money; I teach to change lives. The biggest keys to success in the classroom are a unique relationship with students and the creation of a safe space for them to learn and express themselves. I am rewarded by seeing my students progress. It is thrilling to see a student transform from terribly shy to confident and capable. It takes time, but the best rewards do. ”
2022-2023 Campus Teachers of the Year
Advanced Learning Academy at Euclid: Dina Toland
Advanced Learning Academy at Fox Tech: Kristin Krenz
Arnold Elementary: Sarah Marsch
Ball Elementary: Jolene Melendez
Barkley-Ruiz Elementary: Brittany Chaumont
Baskin Elementary: Amalia Cortez
Beacon Hill Academy: Jazmine Ceron
Healy-Murphy Center: Heather Lopez
Bonham Academy: Maria Rodriguez
Bowden Academy: Michael Salinas
Brackenridge High School: Mary Ann Simons
Briscoe Elementary: Darrell Johnson
Burbank High School: Brandon Bunch
Cameron Elementary: Chantee Watts
Carroll Early Childhood Education Center: Odyssey Dailey
Carvajal Elementary: Carmen Perez
CAST Med High School: Kelli Oberheu
CAST Tech High School: John Kretlow
Collins Garden Elementary: Elizabeth Chavez
Cooper Academy at Navarro: Kathleen Dillon
Cotton Academy: Sharon Martinez
Crockett Academy: Elizabeth Quintanilla
Davis Middle School: Clarice Caldwell
De Zavala Elementary: Jose Medrano
Douglass Elementary: Viola Gonzales
Edison High School: Blanca Oropez
Estrada Achievement Center: Rebecka Rendon
Fenwick Elementary: Roxanne Medellin
Forbes Elementary: Jamaal Hamilton
Foster Elementary: Denise Campos
Fox Tech High School: Jennifer Casanova
Franklin Elementary: Veronica Perea
Gates Elementary: Angel Prado
Gonzales Early Childhood Education Center: Elizabeth Saavedra
Graebner Elementary: Mayra Salazar
Green Elementary: Isabel Cepeda
Harris Middle School: Aimee Loredo
Hawthorne Academy: Susan Castro
Herff Elementary: Cordelia Gonzalez
Highland Hills Elementary: Milagros Pogue
Highland Park Elementary: Argelia Hatab
Highlands High School: Maria Ayala
Hillcrest Elementary: Angela Torres
Hirsch Elementary: Johanna Diaz
Hot Wells Middle School: Steven Garza
Sam Houston High School: Christopher Reese
Huppertz Elementary: Danielle Courchesne
Irving Dual Language Academy: Abishag Flores
Japhet Academy: Megan Mokry
Jefferson High School: Mary Garcia
JT Brackenridge Elementary: Maria Jensen Garibay
Kelly Elementary: Elliot Patterson
Knox Early Childhood Education Center: Stephany Postell
Lamar Elementary: Victor De La Cerda
Lanier High School: Edward Vincent Sanchez
Longfellow Middle School: Abby Ramos
Lowell Middle School: Claudia Ortega
M.L. King Academy: Erica Scott
Madison Elementary: Heidi Ramos
Margil Elementary: Rosa Terrazas
Maverick Elementary: Chelsea Hall
Miller Elementary: Robert Rodriguez
Mission Academy: Patricia Garcia Villarreal
Neal Elementary: Adriana Sanchez
Nelson Early Childhood Education Center: Jennifer Aguirre
Ogden Elementary: Ellison Sosa
Pershing Elementary: Celina Cantu
Poe Middle School: Augustine Ortiz
Rhodes Middle School: Crystal Rocha
Riverside Park Elementary: Mary Villarreal
Rodriguez Montessori: Patrice Byers
Rogers Middle School: Monica De Hoyos
Sarah King Elementary: Nancy Smith
Schenck Elementary: Ugonna Onyekwere
Smith Elementary: Dalysia Rojas
St. Philips's Early College High School: Ana Juarez
Steele Montessori: Jasmine Lafuente
Storm Elementary: Analecia Lopes
Tafolla Middle School: Cynthia Garza
Travis Early College High School: Arianna Moravits
Twain Dual Language Academy: Elisabeth Diaz
Tynan Early Childhood Education Center: Rosa Garza
Will Rogers Academy: Robin McNeely
Washington Elementary: Jason Leonard
Whittier Middle School: Doris Blanco
Wilson Elementary: Patricia Reyes
Woodlawn Academy: Lucia Francese
Woodlawn Hills Elementary: Rosibel Vasquez
Young Men's Leadership Academy: Jessica Avalos-Alvarez
Young Women's Leadership Academy: Joy Tuxhorn
Young Women's Leadership Academy - Primary: Zachary Chan