Forest Meadow STAR Teacher

Kristi Kendall, Kate Swiney, Christa Harker, Elizabeth Hart, Former RISD Superintendent Dr. Carolyn Bukhair, Gail Hefton, recipient Carisa Niemeyer, RISD Superintendent Dr. Kay Waggoner, Kay Reynolds, FMJH Principal Kerri Jones, Debra Atchison, Carol Davies and Lance Belin

The Richardson ISD Prize Patrol made appearances all over Lake Highlands Thursday, alternating between quiet shushes and delighted squeals. Secrecy was part of the big surprise until the STARS Teachers of the Year were revealed.

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STARS – Superior Teaching Achievements in RISD Schools – were selected after a weeks-long process of nomination by schools, observation by committee and evaluation by veteran administrators, teachers and parents. Amazingly, of ten RISD 2015 winners, 6 came from LH schools: Ashley Scott (White Rock Elementary), Lisa Baker (Northlake Elementary), Jeff Brown (Lake Highlands High School), Carisa Niemeyer (Forest Meadow Junior High), Marion Figueroa (Moss Haven Elementary), Stephanie Miller (Skyview Elementary). Also honored were Cari Nasrallah (Terrace Elementary), Tony Strohmeyer (Richardson High School), Omar Pastrana (West Junior High) and Margaret Shull (Bowie Elementary).

As we rolled up in front of each school with balloons and a giant check, teachers inside craned their necks and staff members shrieked.

“She’s blushing,” exclaimed 3rd grader Destiny Villaverde, delighted to see her teacher, Ashley Scott, presented with the award. “She’s a great teacher – the best in the whole district.”

“Ashley creates this whole learning environment that’s collaborative and engaging,” said Linda Casey, RISD’s Director of Instructional Technology. “She integrates technology seamlessly with instruction. Her kids are always engaged. She’s a real leader in this building.”

Each winner received a check for $1000 from the Excellence in Education Foundation, an invitation to their gala fundraiser and an award certificate.

“My knees started to buckle when I saw the Prize Patrol come into my classroom with roses and balloons,” said awardee Lisa Baker. “There’s not a word for the excitement I felt. To be told that the work I do is appreciated is so wonderful. The money isn’t the point – I would do this for nothing.”

“She does a great job,” said Eden Diaz, a Northlake kindergartener. “She teaches us math and reading and makes it easy to learn. She’s nice, and sometimes she hugs us after school.”

“If you want the definition of a complete teacher,” said LHHS Principal Frank Miller, simply watch Jeff Brown in the classroom.”

When presented with his $1000 check, Brown couldn’t resist the chance to turn it into a lesson for his AP Economics students.

“We’re working on retirement accounts right now,” he told the Prize Patrol, “so the kids can tell me what to do with this money.”

“Mr. Brown is great,” said LHHS senior Josue Narvaez, “he makes Economics fun.”

“He’s always energetic,” agreed junior Ryan Swenke. “He gives us his all every day.”

Carissa Niemeyer’s 8th grader women’s choir could be heard singing as we approached her classroom at Forest Meadow.

“She interacts with us in such a loving, kind and sweet way,” said 8th grader Desiree Galloway. “We all love her. She makes it easier to sing early in the morning – she gets us ready to go. I’m a good singer, but she makes me better. Now, I sing in the car, I sing in the shower. I’m glad she won – she deserves it.”

“I truly consider myself so blessed to work in a profession I love and feel called to,” said Niemeyer, “in a district that fosters its teachers and promotes them to success, on a campus where I’ve been given support and opportunity for growth, with a vertical team of colleagues that are the definition of encouragement and inspiration, and in a community that truly cares for its teachers and has an incredible advocate for the fine arts. I am filled with gratitude.”

Marion Figueroa was selected for her work at Moss Haven.

“I’m so happy for her,” said fellow teacher Kim Aman. “She’s the ultimate Kindergarten teacher. She raises the bar for all teachers.”

“She taught me how to spell different words like ‘into’ and ‘with’,” said Aiden Dubuclet, “and next year I’ll be ready for first grade. Now I know a lot of words and I know 10+10=20. And she also taught me that some pennies are old and some are new.”

Good to know. (Actually, he had many more tidbits to share. Fountain of information, that Aiden.)

Stephanie Miller’s music students were so excited to see her win, they hugged her, they hugged the committee – even this reporter got a few hugs.

“She’s funny,” shared Penny Laussade. “When we do songs, she has very good beats. She taught us the bunny hop. She makes singing fun.”

Thank you, STAR teachers, for your dedication and your love of RISD and LH children.

Lisa Baker of Northlake Elementary

Lisa Baker of Northlake Elementary

Jeff Brown of Lake Highlands High School

Jeff Brown of Lake Highlands High School

Marion Figueroa of Moss Haven Elementary

Marion Figueroa of Moss Haven Elementary

Stephanie Miller of Skyview Elementary

Stephanie Miller of Skyview Elementary

Ashley Scott of White Rock Elementary

Ashley Scott of White Rock Elementary