Houston ISD Announces 2010 ACP Interns of the Year
HISD-ACP teachers honored in the presence of their students, peers and administrators.
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| Karen Campbell, mathematics teacher at Chavez HS earned honors as 2010 Intern of the Year 8-12. |
Houston ISD's Alternative Certification Program (HISD-ACP) named its 2010 Interns of the Year during individual campus presentations witnessed and supported by students, campus administrators and thier teaching fellows during the week of May 24, 2010 at campuses across the district. A committee of district representatives selects Intern of the Year winners from a distinguished group nominated by members of the Alternative Certification Program (ACP). The Intern of the Year selection committee members and campus principals presented the awards.
Karen Campbell, named the 2010 Intern of the Year for Grade 8 through Grade 12, is an Algrbra II teacher at Chavez High School. She graduated in 2009 from Carleton College majoring in economics and philosophy. While at Carleton College she particpated in track and field events earning the title all conference and a place on the women's indoor track and field honor roll. During the 2009-2010 school year she built relationships with students, parents and the surrounding community, designed thoughtful lessons and assessments, prepared review materails to help students make connections and facilitated targeted tutorial sessions focused on specific math objectives. Karen's students and math collegues focused on maximizing achievemen for every student every day and found time to train for and complete the Houston marathon. Dan DeLeon, principal of Chavez High School says, "as a teacher, Karen has the respect of her students because she works hard to ensure they learn and are successful. Her peers respect her for her teamwork and her desire to do whatever it takes for the team to be successful. " Karen says she is proud to have witnessed the growth her students made this school year and looks forward to additional responsibilites in teacher leadership and a winning year as the cross country track coach next year..
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| (R-L) X. Rodriguez-Davila, principal and Jeremiah Tarbutton, science teacher at Jackson MS, earned honors as 2010 Intern of the Year 4-8. |
Jeremiah Tarbutton, named the 2010 Intern of the Year for Grades 4 through Grade 8, is an eight grade science teacher at Jackson Middle School. Coworkers have described him as a hardworking science teacher who provides a risk-free environment where learning is the number-one priority. Jeremiah is passionate about science and enthusiastically shares his knowledge of the subject with his students and peers. His lessons are well-developed in both depth and complexity to reach all students, even the most reluctant learner. His principal notes, "I have observed Jeremy in two roles, that of a teacher and a student. With each role, his passion for student learning and his own professional development clearly shows his commitment to achieving significant gains with his students and his own growth as a teacher."
Jeremaih is currently completing a Masters of Education at the University of Houston - University Park and says, "he is looking forward to incorporating new strategies and practices into his instructional planning and delivery next year." He further states, "when he recalls the journey that has been this year - his first year of teaching, he can not help but smile as he reflects on the challenges, the new learning, new soultions and support that have made this year so wonderful..
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| (L-R) Gloria Salana- Mentor, Myrna Bazan-Principal and Elizabeth Perez, third grade bilingual teacher at Janowski Elementary School, earned honors as 2010 Intern of the Year EC-4 |
Elizabeth Perez, named the 2010 Intern of the Year for Early Childhood through Grade 4, is a third grade bilingual teacher at Janowski Elementary School. Elizabeth notes, "I was first introduced to the teaching field during my high school years while attending Stephen F. Austin High School." After graduating high school she earned a business degree and joined the staff at Janowski Elementary School. The principal, Myrna Bazan notes, "I have observed Elizabeth in a number of situations which have allowed me to witness first hand her dedication to the field of teaching, her dedication to her academic preparation, and her willingness to do what it takes in order to let the students in her class rise to their full potiential." Her mentor, Gloria Saldana notes, "Ms. Prez is a true professional balancing classroom management with close personal relationships with students. She sets clear guidelines for behavior that she consistently reinforces throughout the year and tailors the instruction to individual student needs, encouraging parent involvement, in students learning and provides meaningful student activities and multiple opportunities for students to learn. She further states, "what sets Elizabeth Perez apart from most first year teachers is her strong grasp of subject matter, her ability to relate to students and her creative style of teaching that makes learning both meaningful and fun.
Winners move on to compete with other ACP Interns of the Year by level across Texas. Selection committees meet in the Fall and Interns selected receive a plaque and monetary award at the CSOTTE conference the following Fall. Sharon Lekawski and Lidia Gazdyzgen, managers of HISD-ACP shared with the selection committee, "This is one of our favorite events during the year. " Sharon Lekawski believes teaching is such a noble and honorable profession and there is no greater responsibility than teaching the boys and girls of Houston. This week, we named three as winners, but we know all effective educators and their student are winners. Congratulations and thank you for choosing Houston Independent School District's Alternative Certification Program (HISD-ACP).
HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
Alternative Certification Program |
Nominees |
| Brook Brooks (Cage ES) |
| Herlinda Lopez (Energized for Excellence ES) |
| Oscar Uvillus-Lejuada (Cornelius ES) |
| Sarina B. Keller (Stehlik Intermediate School) |
| Tara Lane (Deady MS) |
| Athea Harris (Yates HS) |