Salute is Austin ISD’s annual celebration to recognize some of the district’s outstanding team members for their continued dedication to student excellence and achievement in our schools.
The Salute Awards recognizes campus-based staff members in TEN categories. The winners will be celebrated at our Salute Awards ceremony, where we will also honor Teachers of Promise and Teachers of the Year.
- Campus Clerical/Office Support Staff of the Year
- Teaching Assistant of the Year
- Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year
- Transportation Staff of the Year
- Food Service/Warehouse Staff of the Year
- Campus Safety and Security Staff of the Year
- Librarian of the Year
- Counselor of the Year
- Assistant Principal of the Year (Includes Academy Directors & Academic Deans)
- Principal of the Year
Click here to check out photos from this year's event!
2025 Salute Honorees
Staff, students, and families were invited to submit open nominations across ten categories from November through January. We received over 1500 submissions! Three finalists were then chosen for each category by a committee of district stakeholders who scored in alignment to our Austin ISD mission, vision and values.
Librarian of the Year
Librarian of the Year: Teresa Grumbles, Akins HS
Finalist: Lisa Richardson, Odom ES
Finalist: Andrea Houdek, Houston ES
Counselor of the Year
Counselor of the Year: Natalie Perez, Doss Elementary
Finalist: Christina Lopez, Ridgetop Elementary
Finalist: April Giuffre, Bowie HS
Teaching Assistant of the Year
Teaching Assistant of the Year: Autumn Neal, Lamar MS
Finalist: Devonte Adamson, Akins ECHS
Finalist: François Minaux, Doss ES
Campus Clerical/Office Staff of the Year
Campus Clerical/Office Staff of the Year: Stephanie Leslie, Navarro ECHS
Finalist: Sandra Moreno, Winn Montessori
Finalist: Adriana Amador, Doss Elementary
Transportation Staff of the Year
Transportation Staff of the Year: Mark Loog, Saegert Terminal
Finalist: Larry Nelson, Nelson Terminal
Finalist: Cheryll Byrd, Southeast Terminal
Food Service/Warehouse Staff of the Year
Food Service/Warehouse Staff of the Year: Monica Iniguez-Saucedo, Food Service, Paredes MS
Finalist: Suzanne Genaw, Food Service, LBJ ECHS
Finalist: Zoila Patino De Gomez, Food Service, Kealing MS
Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year
Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year: Matthew Gonterman, Service Center
Finalist: Delfina Andrada, Central Office
Finalist: Maria Contreras, Brentwood ES
Campus Safety and Security Staff of the Year
Campus Safety and Security Staff of the Year: Alexandria Woods, Navarro ECHS
Finalist: Marisol Ornelas, General Marshall MS
Finalist: Heidi Ternes, Akins ECHS
Assistant Principal of the Year
Assistant Principal of the Year: Sara Tapia, Padron ES
Finalist: Shayna Tipton, Lively MS
Finalist: Kaylin Brett, Bowie HS
Principal of the Year
Principal of the Year: Ariel Greco, Summitt ES
Finalist: Jessica Saenz, Brentwood ES
Finalist: Michael Coyle, Webb MS
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Elementary Teacher of the Year: Pooja Mulgaonker, Kiker ES
Finalist: Jessica Collins, Langford ES
Secondary Teacher of the Year
Secondary Teacher of the Year: David Bellesen, Travis ECHS
Finalist: Jan Loewe, O. Henry MS