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

Teresa Grumbles

Librarian of the Year: Teresa Grumbles, Akins HS

 

Lisa Richardson
Finalist: Lisa Richardson, Odom ES

 

Andrea Houdek
Finalist: Andrea Houdek, Houston ES
 

Counselor of the Year

Natalie Perez
Counselor of the Year: Natalie Perez, Doss Elementary

 

Christina Lopez
Finalist: Christina Lopez, Ridgetop Elementary

 

April Giuffre
Finalist: April Giuffre, Bowie HS
 

Teaching Assistant of the Year

Autumn Neal

Teaching Assistant of the Year: Autumn Neal, Lamar MS

 

Devonte Adamson

Finalist: Devonte Adamson, Akins ECHS

 

Francois Minaux
Finalist: François Minaux, Doss ES
 

Campus Clerical/Office Staff of the Year

Stephanie Leslie

Campus Clerical/Office Staff of the Year: Stephanie Leslie, Navarro ECHS

 

Sandra Moreno
Finalist: Sandra Moreno, Winn Montessori

 

Adriana Amador

Finalist: Adriana Amador, Doss Elementary
 

Transportation Staff of the Year

Mark Loog

Transportation Staff of the Year: Mark Loog, Saegert Terminal

 

Larry Nelson

Finalist: Larry Nelson, Nelson Terminal

 

Cheryll Byrd

Finalist: Cheryll Byrd, Southeast Terminal
 

Food Service/Warehouse Staff of the Year

Monica Iniguez-Saucedo

Food Service/Warehouse Staff of the Year: Monica Iniguez-Saucedo, Food Service, Paredes MS

 

Suzanne Genaw

Finalist: Suzanne Genaw, Food Service, LBJ ECHS

 

Zoila Patino De Gomez
Finalist: Zoila Patino De Gomez, Food Service, Kealing MS
 

Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year

Matthew Gonterman

Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year: Matthew Gonterman, Service Center

 

Delfina Andrada

Finalist: Delfina Andrada, Central Office 

 

Maria Contreras
Finalist: Maria Contreras, Brentwood ES 

 

Campus Safety and Security Staff of the Year

Alexandria Woods

Campus Safety and Security Staff of the Year: Alexandria Woods, Navarro ECHS
 

Marisol Ornelas

Finalist: Marisol Ornelas, General Marshall MS
 

Heidi Ternes

Finalist: Heidi Ternes, Akins ECHS 

 

Assistant Principal of the Year

Sara Tapia

Assistant Principal of the Year: Sara Tapia, Padron ES

 

Shayna Tipton

Finalist: Shayna Tipton, Lively MS

 

Kaylin Brett

Finalist: Kaylin Brett, Bowie HS
 

Principal of the Year

Ariel Greco
Principal of the Year: Ariel Greco, Summitt ES
 

Jessica Saenz

Finalist: Jessica Saenz, Brentwood ES
 

Michael Coyle

Finalist: Michael Coyle, Webb MS

 

Elementary Teacher of the Year

 

Pooja

Elementary Teacher of the Year: Pooja Mulgaonker, Kiker ES

Jessica Collins

Finalist: Jessica Collins, Langford ES

 

Secondary Teacher of the Year
 

David Bellesen

Secondary Teacher of the Year:  David Bellesen, Travis ECHS
 

Jan Loewe

Finalist: Jan Loewe, O. Henry MS