LISD honors Teachers of the Year
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Jun 3, 2013, Comments Off
Courtesy Roberto Treviño,
(Laredo, Tx)- The Laredo Independent School District honored its top educators during an annual Gala held at the Laredo Civic Center. The Mardi Gras style banquet celebrated and showcased the district’s most outstanding teachers, staff members, and retirees.
The nominees for Secondary and Elementary Teacher of the Year, and the Para-Professional of the Year from each campus were recognized and presented with a plaque by LISD Board of Trustee’s President Hector “Tito” Garcia, along with trustees Ricardo “Rick” Garza, Jesus Martinez, and Superintendent Dr. Marcus Nelson. The board members and superintendent also took time to shake hands and pose for photos with all the honorees. Tokens of appreciation were also presented to retirees for their years of service and dedication to the school district.
Baltazar Vichareli, of the Dr. Dennis D. Cantu Health Science Magnet School and Martin High School was named the Secondary School Teacher of the Year. Thelma Tenorio, who is a pre-kinder teacher at Milton Elementary School, was named the Elementary School Teacher of the Year. The Paraprofessional of the Year was Mario Teniete of the Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts. Vichareli and Tenorio will represent LISD in the upcoming Region 1 Teacher of the Year program this summer.
Vichareli has been an educator with LISD for 21 years, the majority of them at Martin High School. His greatest reward is seeing his students graduate. “The biggest reward I get from teaching is when students come up to me and tell me thank you for helping me pass my TAKS or STAAR test and I will be graduating this year with my class,” said Vichareli. “I also find it so rewarding when I hear that my former students have graduated from college and/or have gotten accepted to medical school or law school.”
Mr. Vichareli volunteers his time with the Knights of Columbus at Blessed Sacrament Church where he helps college and theology students pursue their studies to become Catholic priest. He also volunteers as a lecturer for Sunday and Holiday Masses, and as a volunteer coach with the Noon Optimist Little League.
Tenorio has been an educator at LISD for 33 years. She says her biggest accomplishment has been enhancing the lives of her youngsters and seeing some of her former students graduate as Valedictorians and Salutatorians. She is also very involved in the community as co-director of various ACTS retreats, the Bethany House, Alethea Society, and Breast Cancer Awareness projects.
Teniente has been with LISD and the Trevino Magnet School for 20 years as a teacher aide in the art and jewelry classes. He is always learning and enhancing his skills and encourages his students to do the same. According to VMT Director Dr. Martha Villarreal, Teniente is the backbone of the school’s Fine Arts Department and serves as an ambassador for the VMT. He provides assistance for stage backdrops, decorations, and parade floats.
The LISD Teacher of the Year Program is affiliated with the Texas and National Teacher of the Year Program. LISD campuses participated in the program by submitting the name of outstanding teacher nominees.
LISD retirees were also recognized for their years of service to the district and for there dedication and commitment to the students of LISD. Several employee have spent there entire careers at the district and made LISD their life’s. Some of these outstanding and loyal employees include Graciela C. Gamez, Diana Samaniego, Opi Chapa, Belinda Casarez, and Eleazar Barrera
To add to the festivities, The Trevino Magnet School’s Steel Drum Band, under the direction of Carlos Torres provided the music and the Nixon High Golden Spurs provided the entertainment. The Cigarroa High School ROTC presented the colors.
