Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith congratulates 2019 Secondary Teacher of the Year Alaina Garza, left, of Clear Brook High and 2019 Elementary Teacher of the Year Lyzette Ruiz of Ed White Elementary during the luncheon at South Shore Harbour Resort.
The Rotary Clubs of Space Center, Seabrook and League City honored Clear Creek ISD’s 44 campus teachers of the year and announced the 2019 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year at a luncheon at South Shore Harbour Resort May 20.
Lyzette Ruiz of Ed White Elementary was chosen 2019 CCISD Elementary Teacher of the Year. The kindergarten teacher has become a leader on her campus by supporting campus and district initiatives to build stronger literacy foundations and improve personalized learning strategies.
As she explained in her Teacher of the Year application, “I have a strong desire to empower students to take ownership of their own learning and give them the opportunity to rejoice in their capabilities.”
Clear Brook High School science teacher, Alaina Garza, is the 2019 CCISD Secondary Teacher of the Year. A 12-year CCISD teacher, Garza works to cultivate a passion for science through a variety of techniques for different learning styles.
SELF ADVOCACY
Outside the classroom, she is dedicated to promoting self-advocacy in all her students by supporting student-centered platforms such as TEDxClearBrookHighSchool and Safe School Ambassadors. “By asking questions, students will generate their own ideas,” she said. “As educators, we must create platforms for them to express and exchange these ideas.”
“Thank you to the Rotary Clubs of Space Center, Seabrook and League City for their ongoing support of our outstanding teachers in Clear Creek ISD,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Greg Smith said. “Together with our Rotary Clubs, we are proud to applaud these special educators for inspiring their school communities.”
In addition to the award winners, Clear Creek ISD also congratulated the other four 2019 finalists: Ashley Hosek, Bauerschlag Elementary 1st grade teacher; Angela Sanders, Greene Elementary 3rd grade teacher; Kelly Boultinghouse, League City Intermediate science teacher; and Laura Dunham, Clear Lake High School Family and Consumer Science teacher.
NEXT STEP
Ruiz and Garza will now advance to the regional and then possibly state selection process for Texas Teacher of the Year. In addition to $1,500 from the Rotary Clubs of League City, Seabrook and Space Center, the Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year will each receive a custom commemorative ring from Balfour. Finalists received $750 each.
A total of 44 teachers were selected to represent their respective campus in the community’s search for the District’s Elementary School Teacher of the Year and the Secondary Education Teacher of the Year. They also were recognized at the luncheon.
Beyond educating students, the following teachers have also been identified as a leader on their campus, working collaboratively with co-workers to improve the school culture. The CCISD 2019 Teachers of the Year are:
Elementary
Armand Bayou Elementary
Jenifer Gilmore
Bauerschlag Elementary
Ashley Hosek
Bay Elementary
Micaela Cowan
Brookwood Elementary
Kathryn Grindstaff
Clear Lake City Elementary
Natalie Szczypien
Falcon Pass Elementary
Caitlin Turner
Ferguson Elementary
Rebecca Nations
Gilmore Elementary
Jason Gardner
Goforth Elementary
Julia Simon
Greene Elementary
Angela Sanders
Hall Elementary
Heather Weger
Hyde Elementary
Allison Etzel
Landolt Elementary
Rachel Willard
League City Elementary
Janice Green
McWhirter Elementary
Lucero Munoz Raba
Mossman Elementary
Josephine Burke
North Pointe Elementary
Melody Tanigawa
Parr Elementary
Christie Morgan
Robinson Elementary
Rhonda Koenig
Ross Elementary
Alexandra Adams
Stewart Elementary
Erika Greer
Ward Elementary
Krysta Walthall
Weber Elementary
Bao Khanh Truong
Wedgewood Elementary
Cal Hitchman
Whitcomb Elementary
Melissa Hedrick
White Elementary
Lyzette Ruiz
Secondary
Bayside Intermediate
Tiffany Levesque
Brookside Intermediate
Emily Soderdahl
Clear Creek Intermediate
Gilberto Bonet
Clear Lake Intermediate
Terri Nicolosi
Creekside Intermediate
Amy Watkins
League City Intermediate
Kelly Boultinghouse
Seabrook Intermediate
Katharine Moore
Space Center Intermediate
Crystal Delaney
Victory Lakes Intermediate
Veronica Quiballo
Westbrook Intermediate
Danielle Muesse-Caples
Clear Brook High School
Alaina Garza
Clear Creek High School
Elizabeth Radicioni
Clear Falls High School
Hany Rezk
Clear Horizons High School
Carmen Hampton
Clear Lake High School
Laura Dunham
Clear Path High School
Rafael Sepulveda
Clear Springs High School
Melody Hermes
Clear View High School
Ann Sebastian
