April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we’re #AISDProud to recognize the Austin ISD 2021-22 Volunteers of the Year. We know public schools could not work without the people from the community who step up to do what’s needed, and this is our chance to salute the best of an indispensable bunch.   

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 Austin Partners in Education Champions, who have given exceptional support 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 ECHS: Trudy Richards
• Allison Elementary: Tom Suhler and Sally Baulch
• Andrews Elementary: Lucero Ayala and Mayra Mendoza
• Ann Richards YWL: Janine Corn
• Austin High School: David Stern
• Baldwin Elementary: Kristi Campbell
• Baranoff Elementary: Sasha Haagensen
• Barton Hills Elementary: Jennifer Botchwell
• Becker Elementary: Natalie Oldfather and Yanet Gonzalez
• Blackshear Elementary: Kat Petree
• Blanton Elementary: Esther Meier
• Blazier Primary: Lauren Buhler
• Boone Elementary:  Alyson Behrendt
• Bowie High: Deb Coulter Bueide
• Brentwood Elementary: Halea Hayden
• Bryker Woods Elementary: Alison Darnell
• Burnet Middle: Blanca Espinoza and Rosa Patino
• Campbell Elementary: Bessie Evans
• Casey Elementary: Analisa Reyes
• Clayton Elementary: Karen Zimmer
• Cook Elementary: Berenice Cruz
• Covington Middle: Kimberly Buser
• Cowan Elementary: Jennifer Printz
• Crockett ECHS: Terry Scholars Foundation
• Davis Elementary: Ginny Wells
• Dobie Middle: Austin Chinese Church
• Doss Elementary: Amy Hart
• Eastside ECHS: Luis Rao Santayo
• Galindo Elementary: Laura Flores
• Gorzycki Middle: Mandy Knittel
• Govalle Elementary: Alexis Sandlin and Maria Espinoza
• Graham Elementary: Orlando Rodriguez
• Gullett Elementary: Donna Pfeffer
• Guerrero-Thompson Elem.: Maria Irma Perez and Erika Tolentino
• Gus Garcia YMLA: Tosan Eruwayo and Julius Heslop
• Harris Elementary: Betzabel Campuzano Perez
• Hart Elementary: Sayra Castro Galvan
• Highland Park Elementary: Jacqueline Flesher
• Hill Elementary: Ruhi Bell
• Houston Elementary: Erika Gonzalez
• Barbara Jordan Elementary: Coretta Adams
• Joslin Elementary: Sandra Lui
• Kealing Middle: David Bell
• Kiker Elementary: Katy Heisterman
• Kocurek Elementary: Kay Henry
• Langford Elementary: Guadalupe Alvarez-Garcia
• Lee Elementary: Medwyn Price
• Linder Elementary: Elba Juarez Chavez
• Lively Middle: Margarita Reyes
• Maplewood Elementary: Leah Wang
• Mendez Middle: Rebecca Jaimes
• Mills Elementary: Rachel Wittek
• Murchison Middle: Laurent Ward
• Navarro ECHS: Kathy Rogers
• Norman & Sims Elementary: James Harrington
• O. Henry Middle: Allison Funchess
• Oak Springs Elementary: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. & Alicia Fabian
• Overton Elementary: Karen Padron and Maria Rodriguez
• Padron Elementary: Karolina Abarca
• Palm Elementary: Valeria Mauricio
• Patton Elementary: Sally Hunt
• Pecan Springs Elementary: Mary Reynolds and Veronica Comstock
• Perez Elementary: Ester Gutierrez
• Pillow Elementary: Darlene Watson
• Reilly Elementary: Teddy Wang
• Ridgetop Elementary: Christina and Paul Patrin
• Rodriguez Elementary: Bianca Albarran & Maricela Carbajal
• Saint Elmo Elementary: Marissa Gamez
• Small Middle: Sarah DeVore
• Summitt Elementary: Sarah Romo de Vivar
• Sunset Valley Elementary: Janet Couvillion
• Travis High: Jasmine Clinger and Paula Vaughn
• Travis Heights Elementary: Anna Roth
• Walnut Creek Elementary: Fabiola Ramirez
• Widen Elementary: Laura Trejo Cavazos
• Williams Elementary: Kids Hope and Hungry Souls
• Winn Elementary: Suzie Kabat
• Wooldridge Elementary: Devereaux Morkunas
• Wooten Elementary: Leticia Hernandez
• Zavala Elementary: Mary Todd
• Zilker Elementary: Jen Pan

Mentors of the Year

Mentors serve as positive role models, and we are thankful to them for their devotion and commitment to making a difference. Mentors provide guidance and support 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.

• Allison Elementary: Anne Harrison & Liz Crabtree
• Andrews Elementary: Aveen
• Austin High: David Stern
• Baranoff Elementary: Diane Watts
• Blanton Elementary: Aneesha Baral
• Brentwood Elementary: Judy Johnson
• Campbell Elementary: Alison Takada
• Cook Elementary: Alejandro Zepeda
• Covington Middle: David Gonzales
• Cowan Elementary: Joseph Deeb
• Cunningham Elementary: Wendi Gordon
• Crockett ECHS: Vivian Nguyen
• Dobie Middle: Paula Blaha
• Doss Elementary: Morgan Illika and Jennifer Hopper
• Galindo Elementary: Safiya Popalzai
• Guerrero-Thompson Elementary: Samantha Cervantes
• Gus Garcia YMLA: Julius Heslop and Tosan Eruwayo
• Hart Elementary: Veronica Luna
• Highland Park Elementary: Jason Butler
• Houston Elementary:  Susan Levett & Daniel Smith
• Barbara Jordan Elementary: Maggie Stevens
• Joslin Elementary: Pat Herring
• Langford Elementary: Alex Allen
• Linder Elementary: Dawn Trenholm Colvin
• Lively Middle: Colin Clark
• Maplewood Elementary: Ashley Glover
• Martin Middle: Georgia Huffman
• Mendez Middle: Devin Rogers
• Mills Elementary: Stephen Smith
• Murchison Middle: John Yearwood
• Navarro ECHS: Bianca Xoyamayagua-Galvan
• Pecan Springs Elementary: Nat Bradford
• Pillow Elementary: Melanie Kosnovoc
• Reilly Elementary: Jesse Porter
• Ridgetop Elementary: Judy Johnson & Andrew Martinez
• Summitt Elementary: Sara Foyt
• Sunset Valley Elementary: Janet Couvillion
• T.A. Brown Elementary: Susana Limon
• Travis ECHS: Vivian Nguyen
• Walnut Creek Elementary: Fatemehnasrin Zangeneh
• Widen Elementary: Uriel Dominguez

Parent Ambassadors

Parent Ambassadors model good parental 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. 

• Akins ECHS: Belynda Montgomery
• Andrews Elementary: Yunivia Morales
• Ann Richards YWL: Julie Ulrich
• Baranoff Elementary: Alicia Lemon
• Barton Hills Elementary: Stacy Gardner
• Becker Elementary: Angela Schneider and Sameera Balay
• Blackshear Elementary: Cheylin Rush and Kristen Moriatry
• Blanton Elementary: Emily Sawyer
• Blazier Primary: Clint Huts
• Boone Elementary: Tiffany Every
• Brentwood Elementary: Angela Morton
• Bryker Woods Elementary: Jennifer Bigbee
• Burnet Middle: Rosa Patino
• Casey Elementary: Erika Bodoin
• Cook Elementary: Yaneth Castillejos
• Covington Middle: Sage Baker
• Cowan Elementary: Becky Wittsche
• Cunningham Elementary: Samantha Thompson
• Davis Elementary: Ginny Wells
• Dobie Middle: Brandy Juarez
• Doss Elementary: Nishi Goel and Lorena Acosta
• Galindo Elementary: DeeDee Camozzi
• Gorzycki Middle: Rena Alderson
• Gullett Elementary: Lindsey Liggett
• Guerrero-Thompson Elem.: Lorena Castellanos and Samantha Cervantes
• Gus Garcia YMLA: Stephanie Kaczmarek & Andrea Kaczmarek
• Harris Elementary: Shaleiah Fox
• Hart Elementary: Ryan Kagan
• Highland Park Elementary: Jeny Ghartey
• Hill Elementary: Kelly Turan 
• Houston Elementary: Elvia Salas Rodriguez
• Barbara Jordan Elementary: Rachek Vanhover and Ian Van Hover
• Joslin Elementary: Tina Walker
• Kealing Middle: Beth Reyburn
• Kiker Elementary: Katy Heisterman
• Kocurek Elementary: Kelly Power 
• Langford Elementary: Adriana Madrigal Ayala
• Lee Elementary: Medwyn Price
• Linder Elementary: Maria E. Tinoco
• Lively Middle: Margarita Reyes
• Maplewood Elementary: Stephanie Perrone
• Mendez Middle: Zendaya Santander Ocama
• Mills Elementary: Stephanie MacKay
• Murchison Middle: Jen Despins 
• Navarro ECHS: Manuela Cisneroz 
• Norman Sims Elementary: Luetta Campbell
• Oak Springs Elementary: Alicia Fabian
• Overton Elementary: Maria Rodriguez & Karen Padron n
• Padron Elementary: Irene Nieto
• Palm Elementary: Yanet Zamarron
• Patton Elementary: Rebecca Rendon
• Pecan Springs Elementary: Juana Noria & Consuelo Araujo
• Perez Elementary: Ester Gutierrez
• Pillow Elementary: Jessica Stephens
• Reilly Elementary: Danielle Bietry
• Ridgetop Elementary: Kevin Jewell
• Rodriguez Elementary: Imelda Ramirez and Maria Baldera
• Saint Elmo Elementary: Jonathan Flanders 
• Small Middle: Jennifer Featherstone
• Summitt Elementary: Jim Walters 
• Sunset Valley Elementary: Priscilla Goble & Julia Goewey Ruiz
• T.A. Brown Elementary: Myrna Tamez
• Travis High: Myrna Ruvalcaba and Julie Thomas
• Travis Heights Elementary: Meredith Bradley
• Walnut Creek Elementary: Fabiola Ramirez
• Widen Elementary: Amy Jordan
• Williams Elementary: Ashley Wickham
• Winn Elementary: Becca Longino
• Wooldridge Elementary: Alejandra Martinez
• Wooten Elementary: Mariela Vaca Posada

Partners of the Year

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

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

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

APIE Champions

APIE congratulates its 2022 Champions! Thanks to all the wonderful business partners, school partners and volunteers for everything they did this year to support our schools, our programs, and most importantly, our students.

• APIE Volunteer of the Year: Nigel Gombakomba
• APIE Volunteer of the Year: UT Pre-Dental Society
• APIE Mentor of the Year: Bianca Xoyamayagua-Galvan
• MCC Above and Beyond Award: Joan Quenan
• MCC Above and Beyond Award: Niles Seldon
• APIE Business Champion: A+ Federal Credit Union
• APIE Support Champion: Nahum Pacheco
• APIE Elementary Coordinator of the Year: Bernardo Martinez, Wooten Elementary
• APIE Elementary Coordinator of the Year: Maria Vazquez, Pleasant Hill Elementary
• APIE Secondary Coordinator of the Year: Sandra Zachary, Gus Garcia YMLA

Volunteer and Partnership Opportunities:

For more information on how to become a volunteer at an Austin ISD campus, please contact dlewis@austinpartners.org or go to the Austin Partners in Education website.

To learn more about other volunteer opportunities at AISD, visit the Office of Innovation Department's website.