COPPERAS COVE – The brightest stars among staff in Copperas Cove has been named.
CCISD has announced its 2023-24 campus and departmental employees of the year, recognizing the best, most impactful staff members this school year.
Staff were recognized in Auxiliary Employee of the Year, Paraprofessional of the Year, Rookie Teacher of the Year, Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year.
These employees were recognized recently at a banquet sponsored by H-E-B Plus of Copperas Cove. Thanks to H-E-B’s generous donation, the winner in each category was awarded a trophy and $250.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child and we find that to be true for educating students, as well,” said CCISD superintendent Dr. Joe Burns. “We have so many dedicated educators who truly make an impact, each day, in the education of students in our community. I’d like to congratulate each of the nominees this year for their hard work and dedication. We could not do what we do without their contributions.”
Auxiliary Employee of the Year recognized employees who work in non-instructional departments still vital to the daily operation of the district.
Child Nutrition Employee of the Year: Leslie Fraser, Cafeteria Manager
Custodial Department Employee of the Year: Lori Charles, Fairview/Jewell Elementary custodian
Maintenance Employee of the Year: Tabitha Zavala, Department Secretary
Transportation Employee of the Year: Lynette Bateman, Lead Driver & Pre-K/Trip Coordinator
Warehouse Services Employee of the Year: Jim Welling, Courier/Clerk
Welling was named CCISD Auxiliary Employee of the Year, as one of the few district employees who is in every district facility on a daily basis. Welling ensures district mail is not only sent on time, but received and delivered to the correct faclilty.
“When others are out sick or on leave, it’s Jim who often steps in, no matter whether they’re in the nutrition department or warehouse,” said Melissa Bryan, CCISD Director of Child Nutrition & Warehouse.
Paraprofessional of the Year recognized the work of the various aides and other staff who help execute educational plans for students each day.
Clements/Parsons Elementary School: Debra Crichlow
Copperas Cove High School: Maria Trevino
Copperas Cove Jr. High School: Angel Jones
Crossroads High School: Jerry Hickman
Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary School: Julissa Cooke
Hettie Halstead Elementary School: Josephine Wilson
House Creek Elementary School: Guadalupe Ybarra
Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy: Rebecca Henrich
Martin Walker Elementary School: Tracy Yarbrough
S.C. Lee Jr. High School: Shunmeka Herring
Williams/Ledger Elementary School: Lorinda Gory
Yarbrough was named CCISD Paraprofessional of the Year for her chameleon-like contribution at Martin Walker.
“I call Tracy Yarbrough the chameleon of Martin Walker,” principal Breanne Turner said. “As a special education inclusion paraprofessional, she enters about 10 different classrooms each day. That’s 10 teachers, 10 teaching styles, 10 sets of teacher expectations and 10 different lesson plans, and she blends and adjusts her behavior to fit the various needs of each classroom so she can best support her students.”
Rookie Teacher of the Year recognized teachers who were new to the profession, but have still made a profound impact on their students and their colleagues.
Clements/Parsons Elementary School: Adrianna Fox
Copperas Cove High School: Marlaina Mills
Copperas Cove Jr. High School: Jennifer Hammon
Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary School: Marcus Harris
Hettie Halstead Elementary School: Heidi Herrera
House Creek Elementary School: Ilesia Lortz
Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy: Sara Janidlo
Martin Walker Elementary School: Amy Tiscareno
S.C. Lee Jr. High School: Cierra Walker
Williams/Ledger Elementary School: Michelle Pfeifer
Marlaina Mills from Copperas Cove High School was named CCISD’s Rookie Teacher of the Year, for her quick work to improve her students’ experience.
“Mrs. Mills has worked tirelessly to update an outdated curriculum for Aquatic Science,” said Dr. Jimmy Shuck, principal at Copperas Cove High School. “She has included new and innovative ideas and labs in non-lab classrooms, as she is a traveling teacher. She doesn’t let her having a classroom on a cart stop her from giving students hands-on experiences that are crucial to student practice and mastery of skills in science.”
Elementary Teacher of the Year recognized the most impactful classroom teachers on each of the district’s seven elementary campus.
Clements/Parsons Elementary School: Patricia Bigford
Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary School: Lauren Buckram
Hettie Halstead Elementary School: Jennifer Knox
House Creek Elementary School: Hannah Franklin
Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy: Julie Reynolds
Martin Walker Elementary School: Ronna Brunson
Williams/Ledger Elementary School: Christy Smith
Lauren Buckram was named CCISD Elementary Teacher of the Year and advanced to the ESC Region 12 Teacher of the Year competition.
“Kids are happy around Mrs. Buckram,” said Dr. Rebekah Shuck, principal at Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary. “They know she will listen to them to help them when needed and hold them accountable when needed. Staff love her, too. Her kindness and dedication is unmatched and she radiates positivity.”
The final category, Secondary Teacher of the Year, recognized the best of the classroom teachers at CCISD’s four secondary schools, which serve students in grades 6-12.
Copperas Cove High School: Tad Laver
Copperas Cove Jr. High School: Crystal Martinez
Crossroads High School: Melvin Holliday
S.C. Lee Jr. High School: Kerry Cryer
Kerry Cryer was named CCISD Secondary Teacher of the Year and advanced to the ESC Region 12 Teacher of the Year competition.
“Mrs. Cryer’s rapport with her students is exemplified in their success,” said Brian Jost, principal at S.C. Lee Jr. High. “Her students come to tutorials, they grow, she celebrates the growth and notifies parents of how proud she is of their student. Students are better after being in Mrs. Cryer’s room.”
Jennifer Cotter from H-E-B Plus of Copperas Cove added, “The role of a faculty member is one of the most noble and influential professions in society. They are not just educators, but mentors, role models and life-changers. Each day, they walk into their schools with passion and purpose, instilling knowledge, values and a love for learning in the hearts and minds of their students. Thank you for your extraordinary contributions to education and for being the beacon of hope and inspiration that lights the path for our future leaders. From all of us at H-E-B, we extend our heartfelt congratulations. Here’s to many more years of success and achievement.”
CCISD would like to thank its community partners at H-E-B for their generosity in making this event happen and recognizing the hard-working staff in our district.
Pictures of each nominee and from the banquet can be viewed here.