The Golden Apple Award is presented to fi ve area teachers nominated by students and former students as examples of those who have shown excellence in teaching and unselfi sh dedicaǎ on to our young people.

Herman Ray Jeter Mindy Howard Killeen ISD Troy Independent School District Educaǎ onal Background: Bachelor in Mathemaǎ cs Educaǎ onal Background: Tarleton State University -Ouachita Bapǎ st University, Masters in Mathemat- (Bachelor Science) ics -Tarleton State University, Masters in School Number of years teaching: 15 Administraǎ on – Tarleton State University Number of years teaching: 25

Philosophy of educaǎ on: I believe every child is his students to cookies or something every once Philosophy of educaǎ on: My philosophy in edu- are taken care of and be er than they were the unique and aspires to be successful. I believe it is in awhile, spending all his own money. I can’t even caǎ on is deeply rooted in the fact that everyday day before. She has put in more hours by Tuesday vital for each child to know that someone deeply explain how great of a teacher and role model for there are students walking into my classroom that than most teachers put in all week, she gets up cares about their past, present and future. For stu- everyone, not just myself. I personally think Mr. have the ability to take something away from each early and goes to sleep late. She has put every- dents to obtain success, they need to be willing to Jeter has helped me with my college math class lesson. Students come to my classroom with diff er- thing into her job and she goes way past the call of work hard on their own behalf and make sacrifi ces like nobody’s business. He’s the greatest. Never ent learning styles, disabiliǎ es, and backgrounds. duty when it comes to teaching or coaching LDE/ or “peanut bu er today and steak tomorrow” as I once has he told me I couldn’t come to his class Nevertheless, I fi rmly believe I must treat each CDE teams. She has helped every student that tell them. I try to inspire students to gain a hunger and get help on a homework or lab for my math student with a sense of value by teaching skills has called for help. Whether it be making fl oral for learning. I try to convey to them that by gaining class. Which I greatly appreciate, there is no way that will allow them to survive in the real world. arrangements for a party or staying at the school knowledge, they gain power over their desǎ ny. To I would have understood half of the things I have My classroom is a not a tradiǎ onal classroom but with a scholarship that is due the next morning. me, the ideals that guide me are: to treat every to learn on my online college math class. Although one where agriculture is the primary focus. Teach- She has taught every subject when it comes to student as if they were my own child, to expect he does all these acǎ viǎ es and work, he never ing kids where their food source comes from and agriculture educaǎ on, especially this year since success from each child, and to love the oppor- fails to come to school and be in the best mood. how to use their hands to build something out of we had an ag teacher resign. She picked up the tunity to make a diff erence in my students’ lives. I wish everyone could have him as a teacher and nothing has always been a passion of mine. Grow- slack and buckled down to make sure all the kids Nominator Casey Duke wrote: The teacher sees how much he cares about every student, not ing up on a family farm with the main source of (in both classes) had a good educaǎ on and didn’t who should be nominated for the Golden Apple just his students. He teaches more than just math income coming from the hard work put into each worry if they were going to learn how to weld or Award should be Mr. Jeter. He is a math teacher on days we don’t have lots of work, he always sits crop season makes me thankful for all the many make a wreath. She has made every stock show for Killeen High School. I have chosen Mr. Jeter and gives us a life lesson about how to strive in blessings we have today, and I feel it is my duty that she was allowed to a end, I say “allowed” because you know in the movies like “Freedom life or to live healthy and the bad things we need to help my students understand the importance of because our Ag Department isn’t supported like Writers” and “Stand and Deliver” are the movies to avoid. Which is nothing like a regular teacher or this hard work. I believe that giving my students many departments in our district. When she’s at that come to mind for me. Those teachers went your parents giving you a lecture on how you just just a small taste of that importance for something those stock shows she does everything in her out of their way for these kids and showed the need to be be er. He has no judgment in his les- they grew in the greenhouse or built in the shop power to make sure her kids walk out with a kids themselves and everyone else the student’s sons, and he is so happy and upbeat, it feels like a helps insǎ ll a sense of pride in their work while ribbon. I’ve seen her do everything from washing potenǎ al. Those teachers remind me of Mr. Jeter good conversaǎ on and just at the end you realize teaching that importance menǎ oned above. No show ca le to helping shear a pig before a show. because he is truly in it for the kids. Not only is he you got some good advice. ma er the diff erences and uniqueness of my stu- Her job ǎ tle couldn’t hold everything that she a teacher at Killeen High School but also at Central I’m having a hard ǎ me thinking of which phrases dents, helping them understand the importance of does, there is a lot that falls under Mindy Howard’s Texas Community College at night and he gets up to put from Mr. Jeter has said to quote him on, so the role agriculture plays in our daily lives is what “Ag Teacher” name. I really hope she receives this at 4am every day to drive a bus just because KISD I’ll go with “peanut bu er today, steak tomorrow”, keeps me coming back to the classroom everyday. award, she is the most humble and loving person needs drivers. On top of that he is also the tennis which sounds really goofy, but the meaning is Nominator Nathan Standfi eld wrote: Ms. How- that I know. Also, she is the most deserving of coach and part of Upward Bound. He does all great. I means stay strong, focus today and push ard has been my ag teacher for over 8 years. She this award because of the adversity she has gone that and sǎ ll if there’s a student in need of a ride through, and then the good will come, all your has shown me what dedicaǎ on is all about, spend- through this year. or that doesn’t have money for lunch, Mr. Jeter hard work will pay off and you get what you want. ing your summers and holidays making sure kids is just up and willing to help. He brings an extra Now if that doesn’t convince you he deserves the bowl of vegetables every day to share with his Golden Apple Award, I don’t know what will. students that get hungry, as well as just treaǎ ng Alushka Driska Craig M. George Rosebud-Lo ISD Educaǎ onal Background: Tarleton State University Cameron ISD_(C.H. Yoe High School Band Director) (Bachelor Science) Educaǎ onal Background: The University of Hawaii Number of years teaching: 15 at Manoa, Master’s Degree in Music Performance, Miami University of Ohio, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Educaǎ on Number of years teaching: 16 Philosophy of educaǎ on: Educaǎ on is a calling year run of Improvement Rated status from the for me. I can’t imagine doing anything else. Texas Educaǎ on Agency to one that now Meets As a classroom teacher, my primary goal was to Standard. The job of Principal is a tough one when Philosophy of educaǎ on: As an educator, my and the State Championship in the Outstanding build a relaǎ onship with each child that came into you have but one campus to oversee, none the philosophy has always been to develop a suc- Performance Series, Concert March Compeǎ ǎ on. my classroom. Those relaǎ onships were vital to less two of them that are in separate towns. cessful pa ern predicated on hard work. My Demanding excellence from both himself and his their academic success for that year and hopefully She has established relaǎ onships with the stu- students, along with becoming be er musicians, students makes him an extraordinary teacher. conǎ nued for them each year a er that. As an dents and teachers on both campuses as well as are constantly asked to quesǎ on their social Even on days there is not a rehearsal, he stays administrator, my priority is that every teacher with parents and other members of the commu- skills, personal accountability, and self-discipline. at the band hall and allows us just to hang out creates a relaǎ onship with every one of their nity. Both campuses are now thriving academically In doing this, I have found students to be much or pracǎ ce. Mr. George has given up his per- students. and are set to move into the newly built Rosebud- be er at dealing with the daily adversity they sonal ǎ me to come watch me compete in golf I have always had a passion for learning and con- Lo Elementary School next August under her encounter in the band hall, classroom, or home- tournaments and has even played with me when sider myself a lifelong learner. As an administrator, leadership. life. Personally, being able to juxtapose creaǎ vity, my game was not up to par and I needed extra I use that passion to moǎ vate the teachers I work Having previously worked as a classroom teacher energy, and organizaǎ on has led to consistency moǎ vaǎ on to pracǎ ce. To him, his job is not just with to be conǎ nuous learners. As educators, our in Temple ISD and Cameron ISD as well as an on a day-to-day basis. While there has been a lot about making musicians, it is about helping his job is to prepare each student to be a producǎ ve elementary school counselor in Cameron ISD, of success within our band program, we use this students to become be er people. He will arrange member of society. Each student is more than she has been able to see and learn the needs of opportunity to ameliorate the student experience for older band students to tutor students that are a test score. They are each amazingly talented, students, parents, and teachers in order to build a in high school and allow the students to grow and struggling. Because of him, band students have gi ed, and worthy of the best my staff and I have thriving campus environment base on the educa- fi nd success in all aspects of their lives. opportuniǎ es to experience acǎ vites outside of to off er them everyday! ǎ onal success of the students it serves. Nominator Nikolas Keratsopoulos wrote: One our community. Just this year we marched down Nominator Kenny Driska wrote: Please accept She has mentored and trained teachers and might ask, how does the Cameron Independent Main Street at Disney World in Florida for the sec- this nominaǎ on for my wife, Alushka Driska, for made sure they have everything they need in School District have a parǎ cipaǎ on rate of over ond ǎ me. Other experiences Yoe band members the Temple Daily Telegram Golden Apple Award. order to be successful in educaǎ ng and preparing forty-eight percent of sixth through twel h have had include playing the Naǎ onal Anthem at My wife, Alushka, is the Principal of both Rose- their students for their futures. She cares about graders in our music program, as well as the Ranger Stadium and Minute Maid Park, marching bud Primary School and Lo Elementary School students and always puts their needs above second largest 3-A high school band with over in the Houston Livestock Show Parade, playing at in Rosebud-Lo ISD. These two campuses are anything else. She is a shining example of what a 150 members? The answer is easily Mr. Craig the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., located 10 miles apart and she has successfully leader in the educaǎ on realm should be. I am so George, Director of Bands. When Mr. George visiǎ ng New York City and marching at Universal administered over both of them this school year extremely proud of her and hope that you fi nd it joined the Cameron band staff in 2007 the sixth Studios in Orlando. Without the self-sacrifi ce of in only her second year in school administraǎ on. in your realm of this award to honor her with the through twel h-grade parǎ cipaǎ on rate was ap- Mr. George, the students in the band would have She was the Principal of Rosebud Primary School Temple Daily Telegram Golden Apple Award. proximately twent-three percent and fewer than never had these amazing opportuniǎ es. last school year and led the campus out of a three 70 members in the high school band. I have been Mr. George has already begun working on the a student of Mr. George for six of the past seven marching show for the 2019 compeǎ ǎ on season. years, over that ǎ me I have grown to become a He spends months preparing to make sure we be er person because of my band director. I am have the best design, music, props, and equipment Nikolas Keratsopoulos, a senior in the Yoe Band, among our 3-A compeǎ ǎ on. His summers are Kristen Anne Graham and would like to nominate Mr. George for the spent with color guard, percussion and the drum Temple Telegram’s Golden Apple Award. He majors preparing them for full band rehearsal the St. Paul’s Episcopal School exemplifi es the qualiǎ es of an educator deserving fi rst week of August. A typical band week in the Educaǎ onal Background: Bachelor of Arts in of the award, he demands excellence from himself fall is a er-school secǎ onals daily, Monday eve- Elementary Educaǎ on at the University of Mary and others, he is dedicated, compassionate and ning rehearsal ǎ ll 8:00 pm, Friday can o en last Hardin-Baylor self-sacrifi cing. ǎ ll midnight and o en includes an early acǎ vity on Number of years teaching: 7 Mr. George demands excellence from himself Saturday morning. Mr. George allows his students and his students. Beginning in junior high where to parǎ cipate in many school acǎ viǎ es even if we there are 250 students parǎ cipaǎ ng in music miss a rehearsal becuse of the other acǎ vity. This educaǎ on up to high school where we have 150 means he must spend extra ǎ me helping us to be Philosophy of educaǎ on: I believe that all ally rough ǎ me, he had died two days before my students, he holds band students to a higher ready to perform. He also realizes that we o en children can learn regardless of the presence of a birthday and she was there for me because kids standard than most other teachers. He wants us have problems outside of the band hall that we learning disability. would make fun of me for crying because I lost to be the leaders in school, to represent the Yoe may be facing. We have so much going on outside Children think and learn in diff erent ways. It is him and she helped me get past them and learn Band as students who are striving to be be er in of school that most teachers never noǎ ce, yet he important, especially for those that learn diff er- how to ignore what they said. all aspects of our lives. Mr. George gives us the knows us on a personal level and recognizes when ently, to know that, “I can do this too!” Having the She taught me so many things that I will remem- music and marching shows to compete at the we may be struggling and takes ǎ me to ask if he support from their teacher is the most important ber. She always knew what I was going through as highest levels and expects us to work hard to can help us. The dedicaǎ on to his students and of all. I use a great deal of hands-on learning in a young girl during that ǎ me. She also really cared win. If we do not work to achieve those goals, he the band program is surpassed by none. my classroom to ensure that my students retain about me, she said that I reminded her of herself is quick to pull us aside and discuss what could As a graduate from Yoe High in May, I will take the informaǎ on that is being introduced. I want to when she was young. She is my favorite teacher. be causing us not to do our best. He will moǎ vate with me many memories from the opportuniǎ es make learning fun! She worked at Western Hills but I sǎ ll nominate us to get back to the standards he expects. He and experiences I had as a member of the Yoe High Nominator Zoé Hernandez wrote: I am wriǎ ng her because any kid would be lucky to have her provides us what we need to advance to the UIL School Band. Mr. George has not only taught me this le er because of a teacher that impacted my as their teacher. She is the best teacher I’ve ever State Marching Contest. The band has made the to be a great musician but to strive for excellence, life. Mrs. Graham. She helped me through alot had in my lifeǎ me. I am very grateful that I was fi nals at UIL State Marching each ǎ me they have to be dedicated to anything I a empt, to lead by because she understood me. She had what I have one of those lucky kids that got to be in her class. competedduring his Yoe teaching career, fi nishing example and to care for others. Mr. George would when she was young as well. I have ADHD and I am happy she was the one that impacted my life. second, third, sixth and fi  h. The concert band be a very deserving recipient of the Golden Apple she explained anything I didn’t know and she took I think all teachers should be like her or take notes has also won awards on the state level including Award. it slow and helped me through a hard ǎ me when from how amazing she was. most recently AAA Honor Band second-runner up my Great Grandfather passed away. It was a re-