Congratulations!

Superintendent of the Year Finalists

Dr. Susan Kincannon ����������������������������������������������������������������������Belton ISD Clay Tarpley �������������������������������������������������������������������������������Hamilton ISD Dr. John Craft ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Killeen ISD Dr. Michael Novotny ����������������������������������������������������������������������Salado ISD

Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalists Celebration Keri Dudley...... Sparta Elementary School, Belton ISD of the Stars Lindsay Olsen...... Blooming Grove Elementary School, Blooming Grove ISD Mandy Hoiten...... China Spring Intermediate School, China Spring ISD Kelley Gipson...... Connally Primary School, Connally ISD LuCinda Thornton.. Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary School, Copperas Cove ISD Honoring the Regional Superintendent of the Year, Sharon Powell...... Hillsboro Elementary School, Hillsboro ISD Teachers of the Year and the School Board of the Year Toni Rutherford...... Itasca Elementary School, Itasca ISD Angelica Rodriguez...... Alice W. Douse Elementary School, Killeen ISD Christi Hairston...... Kline Whitis Elementary School, Lampasas ISD Brandy Kerr...... R.Q. Sims Intermediate School, Mexia ISD Welcome, Recognition & Awards Andrea Ruiz...... Hewitt Elementary School, Midway ISD Dr. Jerry Maze Executive Director, ESC Region 12 Amanda Fielding...... Robinson Intermediate School, Robinson ISD Laura Tomlin...... Salado Intermediate School, Salado ISD Ariana Steele...... Meridith-Dunbar Early Childhood Academy, Temple ISD Kerry Baker...... Mays Elementary School, Troy ISD Superintendent of the Year Brittany Sanders...... West Avenue Elementary School, Waco ISD Dr. George Kazanas Midway ISD Kelli Grochoske...... West Elementary School, West ISD

Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalists Elementary Teacher of the Year Tanya Linex Corsicana ISD Stacey Dieterich...... Axtell High School, Axtell ISD Brad Hobbs...... Belton High School, Belton ISD Misty Abshire..... Blooming Grove Junior High/High School, Blooming Grove ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year Clint Allen...... China Spring Middle School, China Spring ISD LTC Joseph Merlo Killeen ISD Paul Stepina...... Connally High School, Connally ISD Rheann Ivie...... Corsicana Middle School, Corsicana ISD Molly Hale...... Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro ISD Teresa Faught...... Lampasas Middle School, Lampasas ISD School Board of the Year Thomas Draper...... Mexia High School, Mexia ISD West ISD Board of Trustees Laura Veselka...... Midway High School, Midway ISD Heather Perkins...... Moody High School, Moody ISD John Choins...... Robinson Junior High School, Robinson ISD Kenny Mann...... Salado High School, Salado ISD Jason Massengale...... Valley Mills High School, Valley Mills ISD Samantha Cubbage...... Cesar Chavez Middle School, Waco ISD Kim Woodard...... West High School, West ISD

7-18/CMS The winners for Region 12 are...

Dr. George Kazanas Tanya Linex Midway ISD Corsicana ISD Superintendent of the Year Elementary Teacher of the Year Dr. George Kazanas has served as Tanya Linex has taught at Navarro superintendent in Midway ISD since 2012. Elementary in Corsicana for two years. He has overseen a number of innovative She teaches second grade and focuses instructional programs and impactful on making lessons challenging, but also student support services, including the individualized to help all students feel district’s 1-to-1 technology program, successful and empowered. She involves flexible learning environments and her students in adopting weekly learning collaborative research partnerships with goals and moves them through station Baylor University. Under his guidance, the rotations, based on their needs and weekly district has seen growth in the number of distinctions based on STAAR content. scores, an increase in the number of students taking college entrance exams, and a reduction in expulsions. Linex is a role model for this type of learning and believes confident teachers, “pass their learning and confidence to their own students!” He holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Tarleton State University, and a Master of Science, among others. West ISD Board of Trustees School Board of the Year

LTC Joseph Merlo Killeen ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year LTC Joseph Merlo has taught in Killeen for 14 years and leads the Killeen ISD Army JROTC program. He is described as, “a teacher and a leader who works with students to ensure they grow emotionally as well as intellectually.” Merlo’s teaching philosophy focuses on three pillars: be approachable, be consistent and be respectful. He believes that students respond to teachers they can connect with and they, “want to learn Dr. Larry Sparks, President Mike Gerik things they can apply in real life whenever possible.” Larry Hykel, Vice President Ken Sykora His focus is motivating young people to become better citizens Leigh Crawshaw, Secretary Robin Waters through leadership development. Dr. John Crowder

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