Three Dallas Independent School District teachers who go above and beyond their job descriptions to help their students were honored by the Rotary Club of Dallas on Aug 9.
Rotary Club member and former DISD Superintendent and United States Under Secretary of Education, Linus Wright, recognized the three awardees and challenged club members to continue to support DISD. Texas Commissioner of Education, Mike Morath, applauded the teachers fortheir outstanding contribution to Texas children, "“This is the most complicated thing that happens in our life time and it’s the most important work to help the next generation of Texans have it better than the last. Congratulations to these three educators”
Winners were Adriana Popa, middle school teacher at Sudie Williams Talented andGifted Academy, Anna Marie Sifford, teacher at Hillcrest High School and Gloria Prieto-Puentes, teacher at Lakewood Elementary Learning Center, Each received a $3,500 check and recognition plaque. Cash awards are funded by an anonymous endowment established by the Dallas Rotary Club Foundation in 1999.
“All of us had outstanding teachers who have influenced our lives in many ways,” explained Dr. Hubert Zajicek, event chair. “We don’t get to thank our most outstanding teachers in DISD often enough. To be able to honor these “best of the best” teachers with a small token of our appreciation is a tremendous honor for us here at the Rotary Club of Dallas.” Nominated by their peers, principal or the general public, award criteria are based on six factors – performance over and above the job description, activities that benefit the community, activities that benefit disadvantaged or at risk students, actions exhibiting selfless conduct toward others, demonstration of innovation and creativity in the classroom and the nominee’s personal philosophy statement.