LaredoBuzz.Com

 Courtesy Roberto Treviño,

Breaking News! This just in to the newsroom! The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) has just added three outstanding Laredoans to the statewide Media Honor Roll.  Richard “Heatwave” Berler from KGNS-TV, Alma Ferrara from KLDO-TV, and Nick Georgiou from the Laredo Morning Times were named to the 2010 Media Honor Roll by the Laredo Independent School District.  The honorees were thanked for their commitment to the district and presented with a plaque during Monday’s LISD board meeting.

This year the Media Honor Roll recognizes media representatives from more than 450 Texas newspapers, radio and television stations, and online publications for being honored by their local school districts.

Berler is the chief meteorologist at KGNS-TV. He has been providing the local weather forecast with KGNS for 30 years.  “Heatwave” is the 18th person to be awarded the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation by the American Meteorological Society in 2005.  Berler is a frequent visitor to LISD campuses where he is invited to be a guest reader and presenter at Career Day events.

Ferrara is a news anchor, reporter, and assignments editor with KLDO-TV.  She has been part of the KLDO family since 1997.  Coming from a family involved with radio and television, Ferrara brings extensive experience to KLDO.  She was instrumental with this year’s first ever LISD “Coat them with Love” campaign.  She assisted the school district by organizing a day long coat drive at the KLDO studios.

Georgiou is a reporter for the Laredo Moring Times.  He has been assigned the educational beat covering not only LISD, but also other educational institutions in town.  Over the last two years, Georgiou has become a regular fixture at LISD board meetings.  His exceptional writing skills have kept the LISD community informed on important issues including the district’s accountability, curriculum, and student achievement.

Among the criteria for the district selection included the media representative’s efforts to get to know the superintendent, board president, and the districts mission and goals; report school news in a fair, accurate, and balanced manner; give a high profile to positive news about schools; visit the schools; and maintain a policy of no surprise by sharing information with school officials.

“These three outstanding individuals have been supporting our school districts mission and goals and reporting school news in a manner that is fair, accurate, and balanced,” said Dr. Marcus Nelson LISD superintendent.  “The Laredo Independent School District congratulates them for their accomplishments and thanks them for their commitment to making our school district a better one.”

 TASB is a nonprofit organization established in 1949 to serve local Texas school districts.  School board members are the largest group of publicity elected officials in the state.  The districts they represent serve more than 4.7 million public school students.