Top brass from Ector County ISD on Monday honored the elementary and secondary teachers of the year with signs, a trophy and a check from the Education Foundation.
Sylvia Ponce, a second-grade teacher at Cavazos Elementary, was selected as the Elementary Teacher of the Year and Samantha Baker as the Secondary Teacher of the Year at Bonham Middle School.
Each spring, each ECISD school selects a campus Outstanding Teacher, recognizing those who excel in their professionalism, their service and leadership to the school, school district, and community; and who have a measurable, positive impact on student performance. The district celebrated them with a picnic at the ballpark on April 28.
The list of the 2023-24 Outstanding Teachers can be found here.
Five teachers who, through a committee review, were selected as finalists for the two Teacher of the Year honors along with Ponce and Baker were:
- Joe Muniz, Dowling Elementary.
- Diana Richardson, Burleson Elementary.
- Yoana Picazo, New Tech Odessa.
These five were invited to an interview, from which the district teachers were chosen. Superintendent Scott Muri said there are about 2,000 teachers in ECISD.
This week is also Teacher Appreciation Week throughout the nation and campuses have posted suggestions for what can be done for teachers for all they do. At Cavazos, Muri asked students to pause as they were coming down the hall to spotlight Ponce.
The students applauded for Ponce and students said Ponce was selected because they were so smart.
Ponce said she wanted to thank Principal Beatrice Martinez for the faith she had in her by making her a multi-classroom leader. Ponce teaches second-grade bilingual students and has been teaching for 32 years, all with ECISD.
“It was a learning experience for me. I feel being my age is never too late to learn and I think the kids that I have, the beautiful minds that I have, they’re the best thing. I know that they are going to contribute to our society … I feel like we have advantage of teaching these babies and learning from them, because they teach me and I learned from them,” Ponce said.
“Every year is a challenge, but I’ve learned every year. That’s why I think I’m still here. We’re never too old to learn,” she added.
Baker, a multi-classroom leader, teaches eighth-grade math and Algebra I.
Baker said it was very humbling to receive the recognition. She added that there are so many great teachers in ECISD and she was gratified to be in the running for Teacher of the Year.
“I was extremely shocked to walk in the door and have this presented to me today,” Baker said.
This is her 11th year of teaching.
Bonham Principal Kamye Smith said it was an honor to have Baker working at the campus. Smith said Baker is a fabulous teacher and fabulous all-round leader at the school and it’s a privilege to work with her.
“I thought it was a definite yes for the Secondary Teacher of the Year …,” Smith said.
Baker said she thinks her students knew she was going to get the award.
“We don’t often as teachers get recognition for anything that we do until maybe later on in life you see a kid in the grocery store and they say hey I remember you, I’m an engineer or a doctor,” Baker said.
She added that it’s a reminder of why she’s a teacher.
For her teacher peers, Baker said she’s thankful for the way everybody does their job and the impact they make on students.
She added that it’s more than being a teacher. Sometimes you’re a mom, sometimes a parent, and sometimes a counselor.
“This job matters so much,” Baker said.
Muri said the No. 1 factor that influences student achievement is the teacher.
“So to be able to recognize all of our teachers this week, especially today to celebrate our two teachers of the year is a wonderful opportunity,” Muri said.
He added that this is a week set aside to recognize and validate teachers, but everyone can celebrate teachers because people are molded and shaped by them.
“Of course our students, they are currently being molded and shaped by these individuals. It’s important not only this week, but every day to recognize, honor and value the teachers that we have not only in Ector County ISD but across the country. Teachers are special individuals, and we ask them to do superhero work every day with our kids. Today, we validate, recognize and honor our teachers,” Muri said.
Muri said they know they have “great talent” in ECISD.
“If you look at the data that’s produced and the work of our kids, not just this year, but for years, the impact of these two teachers in particular is significant on their kids and so they can take that data with them and know that they’re in the competition to win it and we feel very confident in the two that we have this year,” he added.
Muri said it was tough at the campus level, but when you get to the district level, it’s a highlight for people who serve on the interview committee because they hear the stories of great teachers in the district.
“It refreshes and revitalizes our faith and belief in great teaching and the good work that folks do. The competition is stiff, because each of our teachers of the year impact the students they see that they serve in very powerful ways,” he added.
