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2001-2002  FISD TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

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     Cheri Harrison and Donnie Bishop have been chosen as outstanding Floresville Independent School District teachers and will compete against other teachers from around the state, region, and nation for the honor of being named the National Teacher of the Year.
      For the first year in FISD history, the district is recognizing a Teacher of the Year. Faculty and staff from each campus voted for a teacher on their campus that they believed fit the bill as an outstanding teacher. Each campus then recognized the top teacher. A committee met on May 16 to evaluate each campus nominee. The committee selected Harrison as the Elementary Teacher of the Year and Bishop as the Secondary Teacher of the Year. They will now compete against other teachers at the regional level.
      Every fall, the Texas State Teacher of the Year program honors an elementary and a secondary State Teacher of the Year, as well as Regional Teachers of the Year. The selected teachers then become spokespeople for educators, traveling throughout the state giving speeches and presentations while continuing their work in the classroom.
     A state finalist selection committee will also chose one teacher to be considered for national honors. The President announces the National Teacher of the Year in the spring during a ceremony in the Rose Garden.
      Nominees in the state and national program are selected based on their performance both in and out of the classroom. Nominees should show a concern for students and the capability to inspire them. He or she should work cooperatively with colleagues and different groups in the community. Nominees should initiate activities that improve instruction for students and have implemented innovations in his or her classroom. The successful nominee should also stay informed about current educational theories and practices and make meaningful contributions to education. 
  Harrison began teaching in 1978. She has been with FISD since 1991, teaching 3rd and 5th grade as a self-contained and math teacher. She has also served as the Gifted and Talented Math Teacher. According to Harrison, the state teacher of the year is one who is knowledgeable in their field, is honest with students, respects everyone, shows compassion, can persevere in the face of adversity, is giving, keeps a sense of humor, and enjoys their job.
   Bishop began teaching in 1994. He has been at FHS since 1996. He teaches world geography and Pre-Advanced Placement world geography in addition to being a coach. Bishop said being a teacher has provided him with daily experiences that bring him true happiness, and allow him to excel.
            Harrison and Bishop are not the only outstanding teachers at FISD. The selection committee said choosing the final two was a difficult decision. Each campus was well represented by their nominees.
  Mary Silva was the Early Childhood Campus nominee. Silva began teaching at Eagle Pass ISD in 1985. She has been the pre-k bilingual educator at the ECC campus since 1989. In her application, Silva explained that teachers need to care about the student as an individual in order to help them through the entire developmental process, and not just academically.
  The Primary Campus voted for Mary Beth Austin as their nominee. Mrs.Austin is a first year teacher in the Region 20 TOPPS program.  She describes her experiences as a new teacher, using a quote from Winston Churchill, "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
  Suzie Martinez represented Floresville Middle School. Suzie began teaching in Floresville in 1997, after spending a year teaching in El Paso. Martinez, who teaching 7th grade social studies, said teachers are a “collective force” that can have “a great impact on society.”
  The Floresville Alternative Education Center representative was Ronald Goetz. Goetz began teaching in 1997 with the Alternative Center. There, he is responsible for teaching a wide range of subjects to students of all ages from five different school districts. Goetz said he believes it is his job to teach, and that teachers must “accept all children where they are, as they are, and for whom they are,” and accept no excuse for lack of success.    
 
  The nominees, throughout the process, stressed how honored they were to have been nominated by their peers. They also pointed out that their success has been a team effort, and that they are no different than every other teacher on their campus.