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CISD educators, employees get GEM awards
By Dan Eakin, deakin@starlocalnews.com
A total of 25 educators and employees in the Coppell Independent School District were presented with GEM (Great Educators Matter) awards at a Coppell school board workshop Monday night.
Anthony Hill, school board president, said the Great Educators Matter program “highlights employees who go far beyond the responsibilities of the job they are paid for to make a difference for students, parents and/or their co-workers.”
A committee on each CISD campus screens GEM nominations prior to their submission th the district committee. Each campus is limited to no more than 15 submissions to the district leve.
“The district committee felt that these 25 were clearly outstanding and deserved to be honored by the board of trustees,” he said.
Some of those honored were as groups, while others received individual honors.
Beth Cook, Liz Malone, Christine McNerme and Kara Cadue of Austin Elementary were honored as a group.
“In order to request $25,000 from our PTO Board, these four ladies helped showcase the technology being used in Austin classrooms at a PTO meeting this fall,” Hill said. “Parents had a first hand look at how itouches are used daily in reading and math classes as Mrs. Cook demonstrated the many apps used by students.”
Another group that was honored collectively was composed of Sandra Braden, Kati Castellanos, Laci Garza, Peter Macrae, Kris Rindels and Amy Cheatham of Valley Ranch Elementary.
“In an effort to support instruction trhough project-based learning and to facilitate the importance of environmental responsibility, the students and staff at VRE built a sustainable school garden and an outdoor learning center,” Hill said. “These six teachers took time out of their summer breaks to craft a plan for the learning center.”
Four drama and music teachers from CHS, CMS North and Cottonwood Creek were also honored for outstanding service.
Hill said Lisa Tabor, Bruce Hermans, Brittany Reese and Sarah Meador “gave their blood, sweat and tears in creating, producing, directing, choreographing and helping with the student showcase for the TASA/TASB convention in Austin. They gave up a significant part of their summer coordinating about 100 students in practices and rehearsals in order to put on this incredible show.”
Sue Kane, a Town Center Elementary School nurse, was honored for going beyond the call of duty.
“She traveled to Cottonwood Creek seven times to teach four teachers how to tube-feed a new student,” Hill said. “She created and wrote both the individual health and emergency plans for this child. She also attended and presented the medical facts at two meetings at Cottonwood Creek.”
Dr. Paul Haggan, an intervention specialist, was also honored with a GEM Award.
“His Herculean efforts during the week of our tragic loss of our two young men from CHS is to be commended,” Hill said. “Dr. Haggan worked throughout the night and into the early hours of the morning for weeks, to reach out and support the two families of the young men as well as the friends who were closest to them.”
Others who were presented with GEM awards included Chantel Kastrounis, Cottonwood Creek assistant principal; Pam Johnson, Cottonwood Creek clinic aide; Laura Williams and Gretchen Pace of Coppell Middle School West; Ron-Marie Johnson, Victory Place@Coppell principal; Cathy Johnson, CHS special education teacher; Clara Caussey, CHS Academy English teacher; Shirley Cooksey, service center benefits manager; and Brian Choate, Cottonwood Creek fifth grade teacher.
GEM awards are presented three times each year, or once a quarter to CISD educators or employees.
“The next time you see a ‘GEM’ of a co-worker going the extra mile, do not forget to complete a GEM nomination for them,” Hill said.
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