McKinney ISD 2007-2008 Elementary Teachers of the Year

Bennett Elementary

Elizabeth Arnold (Liz)
2nd Grade Teacher

Education
Bachelors of Science Degree in Elementary Education - Emporia State University  - Emporia, KS
Emphasis in Special Education

Experience
13 Years Teaching Experience
7 Years Teaching Experience in McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I enjoy guiding students toward their full potentials, seeing the smiles on their faces when they’ve overcome obstacles to their learning, and building positive relationships with students. But what I truly love the most is that teaching students teaches me more than I could ever learn on my own.

Burks Elementary

Rebecca Faye Powell (Beckie)
5th Grade Language Arts, Social Studies and Science Teacher

Education
Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education - Oklahoma State University

Experience
8 Years of Teaching Experience
4 Years of Teaching Experience with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
What I enjoy most about teaching is working with children. They keep life entertaining and my job a challenge; it's a privilege to be such a big part of their lives.

Caldwell Elementary

Traci Rezaie
1st Grade Teacher

Education
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education - Stephen F. Austin State University
Early Childhood (Minor) with Kindergarten Endorsement and English as a Second Language Certification.

Experience
15 Years of Teaching Experience
5 Years Teaching Experience with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I enjoy my students and the opportunity I am given to make a difference in their lives. I love motivating them and giving them opportunities to learn. I have just as much fun teaching as my students do learning. Teaching first grade has been most rewarding as we teach them how to read and instill within each of them the love of reading.

Eddins Elementary

Andrea Renee Lauper
2nd Grade Teacher

Education
University of Houston
Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Science
Certified in 1st - 8th Grade, Reading Specialization, G.T. Certification

Experience
14 Years of Teaching Experience
4 Years Teaching Experience with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
Watching children realize they have great potential, seeing children improve and rise to a challenge and sharing a love for learning with them.

Finch Elementary

Susan Clay Megert
Kindergarten Teacher

Education
Bachelor of Science - Texas Women's University

Experience
10 Years of Teaching Experience - All with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I enjoy the hours I spend with my small friends each day as their partner on this learning journey. Their deep desire to learn and succeed is an inspiration to me. I look forward to our daily celebrations of progress. Some days progress is measured in the smallest of steps, and other days we take quantum leaps! I rejoice in the daily progress but my vision is for their future. Knowing that what I teach now will enable them to build on that success as it multiplies through out the years to come.

Glen Oaks Elementary

Jolene Renee Erickson
3rd Grade Teacher

Education
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Bethel University, St. Paul MN. - K-8 Education - Minor in Communications

Experience
4 Years of Teaching Experience - All with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
The thing I enjoy most about teaching is helping students get excited about learning. When my students see me as a learner and then I see them as a learner; I get excited about the future they have of always discovering.

Johnson Elementary

Bree Dodd Bakke
3rd Grade Teacher

Education:
Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies - Texas A&M University

Experience
7 Years of Teaching Experience
4 Years of Teaching Experience in McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
The greatest reward of my profession is watching my students grow, progress, and accomplish great things. I am overwhelmed by the potential I see in my students and am humbled by the task of guiding and nurturing them to their full potential. I count my accomplishments in education in the successes of my students. I enjoy the challenge that my grade level presents, and I enjoy crafting innovative lessons that hook my learners and entice them to learn more. As a teacher I am helping to create critical thinkers and problem solvers. I am cultivating lifelong learners. It is my responsibility to ensure that all students succeed and I truly believe that all of my students can be successful and can learn. It is my job to find their strengths and build upon them. I assist them when they need a hand and guide them toward their full potential. I am passionate about making the greatest possible impact I can on my students. I am their teacher for one short year, but I hope the impact I have on them lasts a lifetime.

Malvern Elementary

JoBina Guidry Grace
2nd Grade Teacher

Education
Bachelor of Science Degree - McNeese State University
Family Child and Consumer Sciences Education with a Specialty in Family Child Studies

Experience
9 Years of Teaching Experience
7 Years of Teaching Experience with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
My greatest joy comes from being in the classroom with students and seeing their excitement, as they are actively involved in learning activities. I also enjoy having the opportunity to make life long friends with my students their families and my colleagues.

McGowen Elementary

Allyson Price
4th Grade Teacher

Education
Bachelor of Science Degree - University of North Texas - Pre K-6th Grade
Masters Degree in Educational Administration - Dallas Baptists University

Experience
16 Years of Teaching Experience - All with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
Class picture retakes in 15 minutes? We're testing when? When is the ARD? Who is stopping by to watch my guided reading group? Every day here is different, exciting and full of learning. This is why I love teaching!!! COME ON IN...We'll be ready for you!!!

McNeil Elementary

Lisa Zabasky
2nd Grade Teacher

Education
Bachelor of Science in Education - University of North Texas

Experience
5 Years of Teaching Experience - All with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
What I enjoy most about teaching is discovering and bringing out the best in each student. Watching my students grow and develop throughout the year is a privilege not a job! There is no greater joy than realizing you have made a difference today for one person's future.

Minshew Elementary

Julie Pyne
Kindergarten Teacher

Education
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Calvin College
Texas Women's University - Teaching Certification

Experience
7 Years of Teaching Experience - All with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
Teaching is the most rewarding of occupations. There is nothing more exciting than seeing the light of understanding in a child's eyes and the pride they take in knowing that they know.

Press Elementary

Jamie Thomas
5th Grade Math Teacher

Education
Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies-Specialization in Reading-East Texas State University
Masters of Education in Administration - Dallas Baptist University

Experience
12 Years of Teaching Experience
5 Years of Teaching Experience in McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
My passion for being a teacher is knowing that I am an integral part of my student’s educational experience. I enjoy getting to know my students both academically and personally, and I am passionate about inspiring them to be enthusiastic learners and helping them succeed.

Slaughter Elementary

Ashley Vickers Porter
3rd Grade Teacher

Education
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education - University of Oklahoma
Masters of Education in Reading Education - Northeastern State University

Experience
18 Years of Teaching Experience
8 Years of Teaching Experience with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
The thing I enjoy most about teaching is the first day of school each year. I love seeing the smiling faces of new children coming into my classroom ready to learn! To me, each one of my new students is like a blank canvas just waiting for me to create a masterpiece of opportunities to help each of them experience success in learning. The results at the end of the year are always miraculous and such a pleasure to see.

Valley Creek Elementary

Kathy Templeman
Kindergarten Teacher

Education
Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education 1-8, Special Education, and endorsement in Kindergarten.
Masters of Education in Early Childhood.

Experience
22 Years of Teaching Experience
15 Years of Teaching Experience in McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
I enjoy the children, and the community we build together in the classroom. I love seeing their faces light up when they learn something new.

Vega Elementary

Kristi Manely
Art Teacher - K-5th Grades

Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts - University of North Texas

Experience
5 Years of Teaching Experience - All with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I enjoy working with children and feel lucky to be able to teach something that I am passionate about.

Walker Elementary

Brenda Ross
3rd Grade Teacher - General Education-Self Contained

Education
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management - University of North Texas
Teacher Certification Post-Bac - University of Texas at Arlington
Currently seeking Masters in Library Science at Texas Women's University

Experience
7 Years of Teaching Experience
4 Years of Teaching Experience in McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
Touching the lives of our future.

Webb Elementary

Kristina Marie Odom
4th Grade Reading, Writing, Social Studies Teacher

Education
Bachelor of Science Degree - University of Central Oklahoma
Currently Seeking Masters Degree in Education Administration - Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Experience
5 Years of Teaching Experience
4 Years of Teaching Experience with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
The things I enjoy most about teaching are working with children every day, and that no two days are ever the same!

Wilmeth Elementary

Geneva "Genny" Gimber
Kindergarten Teacher

Education
Bachelor of Science - Finance - Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA
Alternative Certification - Louisiana Tech University - Lower Elementary Grades
Kindergarten Certification - Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA

Experience
15 Years of Teaching Experience
3 Years Teaching Experience in McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I enjoy developing relationships with my students—learning what makes them tick; their passions and fears. By doing this, I learn about the whole child and am able to meet their academic and social needs. I affectionately call all my students--for the last 15 years--Mrs. Gimber’s “Friends”. When I take the time to develop the relationship, my students not only feel loved and respected, but also strive to meet all my expectations. I get so excited when my students figure out they can do something—like read. They are truly little sponges waiting to be filled.

Wolford Elementary

Jennifer Lynn Ingram
1st Grade Teacher

Education
Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education - Texas Women's University
Specialization in Early Childhood Education

Experience
8 Years of Teacher Experience - All with McKinney ISD

What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I enjoy watching my kids read that hard word for the first time, getting the math skill that has been challenging them, and that look of excitement that fills their face when we do a science experiment where something unexpected happens.