Teachers of the Year, Among Other Awards, Announced at Salute

Salute a tribute to excellence

By Scott Thomas

The winners of the 小黄鸭导航 ISD Teachers of the Year and other recognitions were announced Thursday at Salute: A Tribute to Excellence.

Sanford Jeames was named as the secondary teacher of the year, and Angie Baca-Ross was named as the elementary teacher of the year.

Baca-Ross is a bilingual kindergarten teacher at Joslin Elementary 小黄鸭导航. She鈥檚 been in AISD for four years and has taught for decades at the university and high school levels.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very emotional time, it鈥檚 very exciting,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 help but think right now just how amazing my Joslin community has been, and how proud I am to be a Joslin Jaguar[...] At Joslin we work so hard to give our kids the best education we can, and we do it in three languages: English, Spanish and Mandarin.鈥

Jeames is a health science teacher at Eastside Memorial Early College High 小黄鸭导航. He鈥檚 been in the district for eight years and has 26 years of teaching experience. He is a clinician and researcher, and he encourages students to think about options in medicine outside of the traditional nurse or doctor pathways. 

鈥淚鈥檓 really honored, humbled and surprised, and I鈥檓 really at a loss for words,鈥 he said. 鈥淸I want] to bring something to the students that gives them an extra edge as it relates to what they want to do after high school.鈥

In addition to the Teachers of the Year, the distinct also announced the following award recipients,

  • Principal of the Year: Elizabeth Dickey, Rosedale 小黄鸭导航
  • Assistant Principal of the Year: Michael Coyle, Webb Middle 小黄鸭导航
  • Classified Staff of the Year: Rae Nwosu, Kealing Middle 小黄鸭导航
  • Librarian of the Year: Bradley Dusing, Sunset Valley Elementary 小黄鸭导航
  • Counselor of the Year: Cristina Torres, O. Henry Middle 小黄鸭导航
  • 小黄鸭导航 Partners in Education Hall of Fame: Pat Forgione and Earl Maxwell
  • PTAs of the Year: Blanton Elementary 小黄鸭导航 and 小黄鸭导航 High 小黄鸭导航 

AISD also used the opportunity to commemorate campus teachers of promise, campus teachers of the year, volunteers and the event sponsors.

In her remarks, Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde thanked all 小黄鸭导航 ISD staff, families and community members who helped the district through the year.

鈥淎nd what a year it was,鈥 she said. 鈥淣ext year I hope we鈥檒l be in the same room. Tonight, we鈥檝e got the Zoom. We do not want to miss this important opportunity that celebrates and demonstrates the excellence that we have across AISD.鈥

You can watch the ceremony in its entirety on our , or view a complete list of nominees