FOR MORE INFORMATION

CONTACT: Susie P. Gonzalez

Susie.Gonzalez@Trinity.edu

March 23, 2005

Trinity University To Honor Exceptional Teachers In The Region

SAN ANTONIO - A total of 21 exceptional teachers in the San Antonio area have been chosen as distinguished educators and finalists for the 2005 Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching that recognizes outstanding performance in public education.

The winners will be named in an April 15 ceremony on the campus of Trinity University, which sponsors the award along with the H-E-B Grocery Co. and the San Antonio Express-News. The distinguished educators were honored at a reception March 23 on the Trinity campus.

The distinguished educators were nominated by area school districts for their commitment and passion to education. Among the criteria for inclusion on the list is outstanding classroom performance, leadership in the school and school district, leadership in the education profession, and outstanding community service.

The finalists are:

	Raquel Beechner, art and theatre teacher, Whittier Middle School, San Antonio Independent School District
	Susan Bolton, speech-language pathologist/assistive technology specialist, Curington Elementary School, Boerne Independent School District
	Anthony Bosworth, biology and medical microbiology teacher, MacArthur High School, North East Independent School District
	April Briggs, first grade teacher, Schertz Elementary School, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District
	Yolanda Chapa, family consumer science teacher, Judson High School Red Campus, Judson Independent School District
	Cheryl Deegan, reading specialist for grades third through fifth, Randolph Elementary School, Randolph Field Independent School District
	Maria "Doris" Hernandez, third grade bilingual teacher, Somerset Elementary School, Somerset Independent School District
	Lt. Col. (Ret.) Robert Hoffmann, senior army instructor, Junior ROTC, Robert G. Cole Junior-Senior High School, Fort Sam Houston Independent School District
	Jacqueline Jaramillo, fifth and sixth grade teacher, Winston School San Antonio
	Kevin Korpi, advanced placement math teacher, New Braunfels High School, New Braunfels Independent School District
	Laura Lopez, fifth grade teacher, Kriewald Road Elementary, Academic Academy of Math and Science, Southwest Independent School District
	Marguerite V. Lowak, first grade teacher, Pecan Valley Elementary School, East Central Independent School District
	Tricia Najera, kindergarten teacher, Patricia J. Blattman Elementary School, Northside Independent School District
	Mark Schaub, special education life skills teacher, Jewel C. Wietzel Center, Harlandale Independent School District
	Tara Simpson, ninth and eleventh grade English teacher and theater arts teacher, Stacey Junior-Senior High School, Lackland Independent School District
	Heron E. Tamez, Spanish and speech teacher, Dwight Middle School, South San Antonio Independent School District
	Melanie Taylor, seventh and eighth grade Spanish teacher, Spring Branch Middle School, Comal Independent School District
	Stephen Thorpe, history teacher, Southside High School, Southside Independent School District
	Arnulfo Vasquez, lead special education teacher, Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, Edgewood Independent School District
	Mercille Wisakowsky, algebra and pre-calculus teacher, Alamo Heights High School, Alamo Heights Independent School District
	Mary Zinda, teacher, gifted and talented program language arts, Pleasanton Elementary School, Pleasanton Independent School District

This year's event marks the 24th year of the Trinity Prize, which was instituted by the University's department of education to honor and recognize truly outstanding public school teachers in the greater San Antonio area. Two winners from the San Antonio area will each receive $2,000. A panel of San Antonio business and community leaders will select the winners.

During the April 15 awards ceremony, the 2004 National Teacher of the Year, Kathy Mellor, who teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) at Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown, R.I., will deliver the Kappa Delta Pi lecture for outstanding educators.

For more information, contact Trinity's department of education at (210) 999-7501.

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© 2006 Trinity University