AUSTIN, Texas—Today, Austin Independent School District Interim Superintendent Paul Cruz surprised three exemplary AISD’s teachers as the 2014 Teachers of the Year for elementary, middle and high school at their respective campuses.
“Each year, AISD gets to recognize three teachers who have gone above and beyond their teaching responsibilities to provide exceptional learning opportunities,” Interim Superintendent Paul Cruz said. “I am proud of these teachers, as well as all the other exceptional staff we have across the district.”
One of the three teachers will be named the Austin Teacher of the Year at Salute: A Tribute to Excellence on Thursday, May 29, and will serve as the district’s nominee for the Texas Teacher of the Year.
Teacher of the Year – Elementary School
James Butler, a Pre-K teacher at Gullett Elementary School, has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction: reading specialization from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. He has taught at Gullett since 2011 and previously taught at T.A. Brown and Barbara Jordan and Winn elementary schools. In 2012-13, Butler was awarded the A+ Education Foundation Grant to purchase iPads to create an iPad center in his Pre-K classroom.
Teacher of the Year – Middle School
Sharon Roy has taught at Kealing Middle School for 20 years, including magnet English, software design, Leadership 101 and pre-AP English. Roy earned her secondary teaching certificate in English and math at the University of Texas in Austin and earned her master’s degree in English from Yale University, studying multicultural American women’s literature as well as a bachelor’s degree in English, minoring in math from UT. The teacher has received grants for curricular programs to create an interdisciplinary unit and professional development on fairy tales; to create lessons and professional development integrating technology, art analysis in an English curriculum; to create Kealing’s literary magazine InkBlot as well as others.
Teacher of the Year – High School
Nicholas Dellas, science department manager and biology PLC leader at LBJ High School, completed his teacher certification program at St. Edward’s University. He also has a master’s degree in kinesiology with a specialization in exercise physiology from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree in health science with an emphasis in athletic training from Grand Valley State University. Dellas has led the student council at LBJ as well as helped students participate in the City of Austin Youth Council and coached the LBJ Science Olympiad Team from 2005-07.
For more information, please contact the Department of Community Relations and Community Engagement at 414-2414.