By Scott Thomas
The winners of the Austin ISD Teachers of the Year and other recognitions were announced Thursday at Salute: A Tribute to Excellence.
Sanford Jeames was named as the secondary teacher of the year, and Angie Baca-Ross was named as the elementary teacher of the year.
Baca-Ross is a bilingual kindergarten teacher at Joslin Elementary School. She’s been in AISD for four years and has taught for decades at the university and high school levels.
“It’s a very emotional time, it’s very exciting,” she said. “I can’t help but think right now just how amazing my Joslin community has been, and how proud I am to be a Joslin Jaguar[...] At Joslin we work so hard to give our kids the best education we can, and we do it in three languages: English, Spanish and Mandarin.”
Jeames is a health science teacher at Eastside Memorial Early College High School. He’s been in the district for eight years and has 26 years of teaching experience. He is a clinician and researcher, and he encourages students to think about options in medicine outside of the traditional nurse or doctor pathways.
“I’m really honored, humbled and surprised, and I’m really at a loss for words,” he said. “[I want] to bring something to the students that gives them an extra edge as it relates to what they want to do after high school.”
In addition to the Teachers of the Year, the distinct also announced the following award recipients,
- Principal of the Year: Elizabeth Dickey, Rosedale School
- Assistant Principal of the Year: Michael Coyle, Webb Middle School
- Classified Staff of the Year: Rae Nwosu, Kealing Middle School
- Librarian of the Year: Bradley Dusing, Sunset Valley Elementary School
- Counselor of the Year: Cristina Torres, O. Henry Middle School
- Austin Partners in Education Hall of Fame: Pat Forgione and Earl Maxwell
- PTAs of the Year: Blanton Elementary School and Austin High School
AISD also used the opportunity to commemorate campus teachers of promise, campus teachers of the year, volunteers and the event sponsors.
In her remarks, Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde thanked all Austin ISD staff, families and community members who helped the district through the year.
“And what a year it was,” she said. “Next year I hope we’ll be in the same room. Tonight, we’ve got the Zoom. We do not want to miss this important opportunity that celebrates and demonstrates the excellence that we have across AISD.”
You can watch the ceremony in its entirety on our Facebook page, or view a complete list of nominees on our website.