April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we’re #AISDProud to recognize the Austin ISD 2019–20 Volunteers of the Year. At Austin ISD, we know a public education institution of this size requires many dedicated workers, both hired and volunteer. 

Every year, each campus picks one or two Volunteers of the Year, Mentors of the Year, Parent Ambassadors and several Partners of the Year, including APIE Champions, who have given exceptional effort to support their schools.

Volunteers of the Year

Whether tutoring a group of students, helping out in the cafeteria, decorating a bulletin board or serving as a field trip chaperone, all of our volunteers make a big difference for our students. 

Please join us in celebrating the following volunteers who were selected by their school as Volunteers of the Year.

• Akins High: Sandee Setterquist and Hilda Reyes
• Andrews Elementary: Gloria Galindo
• Bailey Middle: Jennifer Allen
• Baldwin Elementary: Janice McCoy
• Baranoff Elementary: Mary Reza
• Barrington Elementary: Issac Aguilar
• Barbara Jordan Elementary: Kimberly Whalon
• Barton Hills Elementary: Austin High PALS
• Becker Elementary: Lana MacHado
• Bertha Sadler Means YWLA: Sgt. Chandra Irving
• Blackshear Elementary: Christine Caudle
• Blanton Elementary: Brenda Lopez
• Brentwood Elementary: Russell Barr
• Campbell Elementary: Yvonne Swain
• Clayton Elementary: Jamie Gray
• Cook Elementary: Analelli Lopez
• Covington Middle: Jennifer Armstrong & Kathy Hackworth
• Cowan Elementary: Terry Conrad & Jake O’Brien
• Davis Elementary: Cheryl Starcher
• Dobie Middle: Teresa Rivera
• Doss Elementary: Sarah Haegelin
• Eastside Memorial High: Rebecca T. Justice Hernandez
• Galindo Elementary: Susie Barron
• Gorzycki Middle: Lisa Barnes
• Govalle Elementary: Vincent Tovar
• Graham Elementary: Veronica Parra
• Guerrero-Thompson Elementary: Maria Elena Rios Solis
• Gullett Elementary: Melissa Lester and Jasmine Busch
• Gus Garcia YMLA: Demarco McSwain
• Harris Elementary: Gloria Neunaber
• Hart Elementary: Susie Jaimes
• Highland Park Elementary: Marsha Meyer
• Hill Elementary: Caroline Marquis
• Houston Elementary: Elvia Sala Vargas
• International High: Bryan Sitzes
• Joslin Elementary: Georgia Viloria
• Kealing Middle: Geeta Suggs
• Kiker Elementary: Becca Lusk  
• Kocurek Elementary: Bridget Cave
• Lamar Middle: Emily McGinnis
• Langford Elementary: Alta Alger
• LBJ Early College High: Para Agboga
• Linder Elementary: Denise Ojeda
• Lively Middle School: Maria Alfaro
• Maplewood Elementary: Torie Camp
• Mendez Middle: Deborah Vera
• Metz Elementary: Kathy Vasquez
• Mills Elementary: Travis Wootton
• Murchison Middle: Lauren Ward
• Navarro ECHS: Mark Grayson
• Oak Hill Elementary: Megan Viktoran
• Oak Springs Elementary: Phylicia Fabian
• Odom Elementary: Iris Pescador-Rodriguez
• Ortega Elementary: Daniela Garcia-Soto
• Padron Elementary: Olubunmi Gbadamosi
• Palm Elementary: Deborah Talamantes
• Pease Elementary: Annie Nguyen and Kenley Maddux
• Pecan Springs Elementary: Consuelo Araujo
• Perez Elementary: Esther Gutierrez
• Pickle Elementary: Nereyda Rodriguez
• Pleasant Hill Elementary: Elsa Ovalle
• Reilly Elementary: Kathy Woo
• Russell Lee Elementary: Adrienne Dula
• Sanchez Elementary: Joe Ramirez 
• St. Elmo Elementary: Carlos Carachure
• Small Middle School: Chasee Chappell Hudgins
• Summitt Elementary: Jim Walters
• Sunset Valley Elementary: Sandy Williams
• T. A. Brown Elementary: Avi Santos
• Travis ECHS: Steve Larson, Ph.D. 
• Travis Heights Elementary: Gilda Garcia
• Uphaus Early Childhood Center: Amena Sattar
• Webb Middle School: Leticia Benitez Hernandez 
• Widen Elementary: Zuleyka Santander & Rebeca Jaimes
• Williams Elementary: Josefina Velazquez & Silvia Martinez-Tapia
• Winn Elementary: Suzie Kabat
• Wooten Elementary: Delia Aguirre
• Zavala Elementary: Wesley Crawford

Mentors of the Year

Mentors serve as positive role models, and we are thankful to all of our mentors for their devotion and commitment to making a difference. They provide guidance and support in numerous ways to students across AISD campuses, ranging from academic support and career guidance to helping resolve issues that impede success. 

Please join us in celebrating the following mentors who were selected by their school as Mentors of the Year for their outstanding dedication to their mentees. 

• Akins High: Andrea Panter
• Anderson High: Homer Sippio
• Andrews Elementary: Heather Dunham
• Ann Richards YMLA: Shirley Sanders
• Austin High: David Stern
• Baranoff Elementary: Janja Drole
• Barrington Elementary: Issac Aguilar
• Barton Hills Elementary:  Stephen Walls
• Becker Elementary: Texanna Turner
• Bertha Sadler Means YWLA:  Freda Mills
• Blackshear Elementary: Keith Maxie
• Blanton Elementary: Joshua Chevalier
• Brentwood Elementary: Carol Curry
• Brooke Elementary: Jacqueline Augenbraun
• Campbell Elementary: Timothy Ege
• Cook Elementary: Leticia Palm & Ulises Lara
• Covington Middle: Douglas Allen
• Cowan Elementary: Veronica Moreno
• Davis Elementary: Robert Barnes
• Dobie Middle: Christopher Loughran
• Doss Elementary: Cathy Hoffman
• Galindo Elementary: Kevin Schilly
• Govalle Elementary: Amy Lavarentz
• Guerrero-Thompson: Eva Fabiola Saracho Parra
• Gus Garcia YMLA: Patrick Jones & Tosan Eruwayo 
• Harris Elementary: Corinna Flores 
• Highland Park Elementary:  Jason Butler 
• Hill Elementary: Jan Phillips
• Joslin Elementary: Lane Northcut
• Kealing Middle: Polly Street 
• Kocurek Elementary: Ohndrea Elliott
• Lamar Middle: Mike Fischer
• LBJ ECHS: Jacques Gordon
• Linder Elementary: Christy Seals
• Lively Middle: Susan Farr
• Maplewood Elementary:  Octavia Gibson
• Martin Middle: Scott Mackey
• Mathews Elementary: David Stern
• McCallum High: David Foster
• Mendez Middle: Stephen Pina
• Metz Elementary: Chris Christine
• Mills Elementary: Travis Wootton
• Murchison Middle: Kimberly Freeman
• Navarro High: Homer Sippio
• Northeast ECHS: Brittany McMillan
• O.Henry Middle: Sydney Benter
• Oak Hill Elementary: Gene Wright
• Ortega Elementary: Lisa Starr
• Padron Elementary: Anna Gorman  
• Pease Elementary: Amy Whitsett and Claire Koenig
• Pecan Springs Elementary: Nathaniel Bradford
• Perez Elementary: Kai Rodriguez
• Pickle Elementary: Catherine Duncan
• Reilly Elementary: Veronica Gideon
• Russell Lee Elementary: Joanna Batt
• Sanchez Elementary: Mohit Mehta
• Summitt Elementary: Terrie Jordahl
• T. A. Brown Elementary: Gail Ayers
• Travis ECHS: Victor Martin
• Uphaus Early Childhood Center: Veridiana Hernandez-Jimenez
• Walnut Creek Elementary: Sheldon Wayne
• Webb Middle: Josephine Diaz
• Widen Elementary: Daisy Woods
• Williams Elementary: Lisa Crawford
• Winn Elementary: Suzie Kabat
• Wooldridge Elementary: Katie Miles
• Wooten Elementary: Rogelio Cipriano
• Zavala Elementary: Cheryl Kaufman

Parent Ambassadors

Parent Ambassadors model good parent involvement by establishing links between home and school, making strong connections with school staff, participating in school decisions and engaging in volunteer leadership. 

Please join us in celebrating the following parents who were selected by their school as Parent Ambassadors for contributing so much to their school. 

• Akins High: Alicia Tafoya
• Anderson High: Carrie Schnoor
• Andrews Elementary: Heather Dunham
• Bailey Middle: Judy & Fred Scott 
• Baranoff Elementary: Kim Gribble
• Barbara Jordan Elementary:  Laura Ledesma
• Bertha Sadler Means YWLA:  Alberta Shelton
• Blackshear Elementary: Joann Dickenson
• Blanton Elementary: Megan Sembera Peters
• Brentwood Elementary: Marti Bier
• Brooke Elementary: Gloria Bedolla
• Campbell Elementary: Kate Mills
• Clayton Elementary: Courtney Holcomb
• Cook Elementary: Sandra Guerrero
• Covington Middle: Belinda Montgomery
• Cowan Elementary: Leora Davis
• Davis Elementary: Daphne Hoffacker
• Dobie Middle: Eva Fabiola Saracho
• Doss Elementary: Mirna Lizeth 
• Galindo Elementary: Deedee Jonas Camozzi
• Gorzycki Middle: Candace Goerlich
• Govalle Elementary: Dolores Perez
• Graham Elementary: Tina Pike
• Guerrero Thompson Elementary: Eva Fabiola Saracho Parra
• Gus Garcia YMLA: Patricia McSwain
• Harris Elementary: Elsie Madel
• Hart Elementary: Mariel Galindo
• Highland Park Elementary: Heidi Murphy
• Hill Elementary: Ruhi Bell
• Houston Elementary: Vianny Rodriguez
• Joslin Elementary: Charlotte Blanch
• Kocurek Elementary: Melanie Richardson
• Lamar Middle: Annie Reeves
• Langford Elementary: Christine Salinas
• LBJ ECHS: Betty Johnson
• Linder Elementary: Alejandra Resendiz
• Lively Middle: Laurie Solis
• Maplewood Elementary:  Staci Duhan
• Mendez Middle: Zulekya Santander Ocampo 
• Metz Elementary: Leticia Vasquez
• Murchison Middle: Julie Choyce
• Navarro ECHS: Tricia Southerland 
• Northeast ECHS: Ehiyamen Osezua 
• Oak Hill Elementary: Kaycee Crisp
• Oak Springs: Diana Kennedy
• Odom Elementary: Samantha Camacho
• Ortega Elementary: Hannah Hamilton
• Palm Elementary: Deborah Talamantes
• Padron Elementary: Michelle Majia
• Pease Elementary: Terry Woodroffe
• Pecan Springs Elementary:  Trasell Underwood
• Perez Elementary: Luvia Carcamo
• Pickle Elementary: Maria Del Rosario Lugo
• Pleasant Hill Elementary:  Araceli Rosales
• Reilly Elementary: Katherine Nelson
• Russell Lee Elementary: Medwyn Price
• Sanchez Elementary: Louie Yniesta
• Small Middle: Maria Archuleta
• St. Elmo Elementary: Negeen Moseley
• T. A. Brown Elementary:  Maria Rios
• Travis ECHS: Myrna Ruvalcaba
• Travis Heights Elementary: Meredith Jiles
• Uphaus Early Childhood Center: Araceli Martinez
• Webb Middle: Martha Santana Castillo  
• Widen Elementary: Claudia Jackson 
• Williams Elementary: Crystal Ramirez & Brian Rangel
• Winn Elementary: Nadia Khan
• Wooten Elementary: Perla Solis
• Zavala Elementary: Briceyda Jaramillo

Partners of the Year

Businesses, service organizations, educational institutions and governmental agencies all serve a huge role in contributions to our schools by serving as partners in various capacities. These partners provide volunteers, donations, school improvement support and much more. 

Please join us in celebrating the following partners who were selected as Partners of the Year for their outstanding support of our schools. 

• Akins High: 
  • Onion Creek Club Ladies Association
  • St. Chubby Foundation
  • Abundant Living Faith Center
  • Westoak Woods Baptist Church
  • A+ Federal Credit Union
• Andrews Elementary: 
  • Tzu-Chi
  • Communities in Schools
• Barbara Jordan Elementary: 
  • H.E.B. #13
  • Siete Foods
  • Barbara Jordan Elementary PTA
• Barrington Elementary: 
  • H.E.B. 
• Barton Hills Elementary: 
  • Barton Hills PTA
  • St. Mark’s Angel Giving Tree
  • Austin High PALS
• Becker Elementary: 
  • Austin Energy
  • Communities in Schools
  • Creative Action
  • Literacy First
• Bertha Sadler Means YWLA: 
  • LINKS, Town Lake Chapter
  • LINKS, Austin Chapter  
• Blackshear Elementary: 
  • H.E.B.
  • IBC Bank for Financial Responsibility
  • Literacy
• Blanton Elementary: 
  • Bad Mama Bakehouse
  • Stubbs BBQ
  • Austin Vet Hospital
  • Frost Bank
• Brentwood Elementary: 
  • St. John’s United Methodist Church
  • Crestview United Methodist Church
  • Friends of Brentwood
• Brooke Elementary: 
  • CapMetro-Austin Public Transit
• Campbell Elementary: 
  • Education Connection
  • The Well Church
  • Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
• Cook Elementary: 
  • Yaneth Castillejo
• Covington Middle: 
  • Valentina’s Tex-Mex BBQ
  • The Vine Austin
• Davis Elementary: 
  • K. Q. Desing
  • I Fratelli Pizza
  • Seven-Eleven
  • E Team Austin
• Dobie Middle:  
  • Austin Voices
  • Brighter Bites
  • The College of Health Care
  • Professions
  • Frost Bank
• Galindo Elementary: 
  • Region’s Bank
  • Travis County Constable’s Office
• Govalle Elementry: 
  • Frost Bank
• Graham Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Austin Chinese Church  
• Guerrero-Thompson Elementary:  
  • ​​​​​​​Cici's Pizza
  • The Junior League of Austin
  • Nike’s Store at Round Rock
• Gullett Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Easy Tiger
  • Austin Gardeners
  • North Austin Soccer Alliance 
• Gus Garcia YMLA: 
  • ​​​​​​​Mount Bonnell Lodge #2
  • St. Peter’s United Methodist Church
  • Greater Swenson Grove Baptist Church
  • Capitol Wright Distributing
  • Jessica Sanchez
• Harris Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Dignified Dwelling Realty, LLC
  • Memorial United Methodist Church
• Hart Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​H.E.B., Lamar and Rundberg
• Highland Park Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Chez Zee American Bistro
  • Crenshaw’s Athletic Club
  • Law Office of Joel A. Levine
  • Roots Real Estate
  • Four Hands
• Hill Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Arnold and DeSantis Orthodontics
  • Total Home Technologies
  • Shay Webb
  • Austin Yard Cards
  • Lowey Law Firm
• Houston Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​ACE
  • SEEDS
  • Operation School Bell/Assistance
  • League Austin
  • YMCA-ELR
  • Onnit Gym
• Joslin Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Ryan and Stephanie Turner
  • Woodlawn Baptist Church
  • Tina Walker
  • Navvab Taylor
• Kealing Middle: 
  • ​​​​​​​Texas STARBASE AUSTIN
  • AVENUE
• Kocurek Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Bethany Lutheran Church
  • H.E.B.
  • Welcome Church
• Langford Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Baranoff PTA
  • New York Life
  • Price WaterhouseCoopers
• LBJ Early College High: 
  • ​​​​​​​Project MALES 
• Linder Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Austin Voices
  • Neighborhood Longhorn Program
  • Seedling Foundation
  • UT Language Acquisition Department
• Maplewood Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Contigo
  • Cherrywood Coffee House
• Mendez Middle: 
  • ​​​​​​​Communities in Schools
  • UTeach 
• Metz Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Jo Nevares, Realtor
• Murchison Middle: 
  • ​​​​​​​Lowey Law Firm
  • PostNet
  • Jennifer Walton
  • Arnold & DeSantis
• Navarro ECHS:  
  • ​​​​​​​IBM 
• Northeast ECHS: 
  • ​​​​​​​Muslim Space
  • Austin Energy
  • Vida Clinic 
  • Strengthening Relationships
  • Strengthening Families
  • Texas State
  • Upper Ninety
• Oak Hill Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​A+ Federal Credit Union
• Oak Springs Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Alpha Kappa Alpha
  • The Dog Alliance
  • First Baptist Church
  • Frost Bank
• Odom Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Hungry Souls
  • Freedom Life Church
• Ortega Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Literacy First
  • Next Level Valet 
  • Americorps
  • Teachers of Tomorrow
• Padron Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Office Depot, Inc.
• Pecan Springs Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Mary Reynolds
  • Rotary District #5870
• Perez Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Clayton Elementary
• Pickle Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Brighter Bites
  • Seedling Foundation
• Pleasant Hill Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Austin Public Library
• Reilly Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Office of Council Member Greg Cesar
  • Texas Department of Public Safety
  • Premier Emergency Room
• Russell Lee Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​White Denim
  • Kendra Scott
  • Menchie’s Yogurt
  • Maize Bakery
  • Rambler Water
• Sanchez Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​La Pena Art Gallery
  • Locke Lord, LLP
  • Texas Gas Service
  • Austin American Statesman
  • UT Academic Advising Counselor, Office of Student Affairs, College of Education
• Small Middle:  
  • ​​​​​​​Double Dave’s of Arbor Trails
• St. Elmo Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​H.E.B.
  • Villafranca Towing & Collision
• T. A. Brown Elementary: 
  • ​​​​​​​Texas Association of School Boards
  • Gethsemane Lutheran Church
  • TARGET
  • Side by Side Kids 
• Travis ECHS:  
  • ​​​​​​​Junior Achievement
  • Our House
• Travis Heights Elementary: 
  • HomeSlice Pizza
  • Zips Cleaners
  • Pho Please
• Uphaus Early Childhood Center:  
  • ​​​​​​​Partners in Parenting
  • Uphaus PTA
• Webb Middle School: 
  • ​​​​​​​Red Lobster
  • Breakthrough
  • City of Austin
  • GEAR UP
  • Project MALES
• Widen Elementary: 
  • ACE Afterschool Program
  • Communities in Schools
• Williams Elementary: 
  • Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church
  • City Chapel—Keep Kids Fed Program
  • Hungry Souls
  • Education Connection
  • Rack Room Shoes
• Winn Elementary: 
  • H.E.B., Manor Road
  • First Pentecostal Church
  • Einstein Bagels, Pflugerville
  • Starbucks Coffee
  • St. Peter’s United Methodist Church
• Wooldridge Elementary: 
  • ACUMED
  • Ryan Rogers
  • Sigma Chi Fraternity
  • West Austin Rotary
  • Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority
• Wooten Elementary: 
  • Wooten Neighborhood Association
  • Redeemer Lutheran Church
  • InKind, Inc.
  • Austin Association of Insurance Professionals
  • Specialty Insurance Managers, Inc.
• Zavala Elementary: 
  • Christ Church of Austin

Don’t see your campus volunteers listed? Contact APIE’s Dawn Lewis at dlewis@austinparters.org to honor the volunteers at your campus!

APIE Champions

APIE congratulates its 2020 Champions! Thanks to all of the wonderful business partners, school partners, and volunteers for all they did this year to support our schools, our programs, and most importantly, our students.

APIE Volunteers of the Year: Sam and Grace Dowd
APIE Middle School Champion: Dobie Middle School
APIE High School Champions: Akins High School and Navarro High School
APIE GEAR UP Champions: Burnet Middle School and Lively Middle School
APIE Tech Champion: IBM
APIE Donor Champion: 3M Gives
APIE Coordinator of the Year: José Carrasco, Dobie Middle School

Volunteer and Partnership Opportunities:

For more information on how to become a volunteer at an Austin ISD campus, please visit Austin Partners in Education.
To learn more about other volunteer opportunities at AISD, visit the Office of Innovation Department's website.