It was the Vernon ISD teachers and staff’s turn to be honored Monday night at the Lion’s Roar Recognition Ceremony held in the Empire Room of the Wilbarger Auditorium.
Several special awards, such as teacher and staff of the year, were presented at the event, which also included recognizing those who are retiring at the end of the school, and those teachers who earned recognized, exemplary or masters level in the Teacher Incentive Allotment program.
The 2023-24 school year was the first for VISD to participate in the TIA program, and from last year the district had 29 teachers who earned a level of distinction. There were 15 at the recognized level, 13 at the exemplary level, and 1 at the masters level. Those teachers will receive a total of $348,000 in stipends from the State of Texas, each year for the next five years. VISD will receive 10 percent of those funds each year.
“We are very excited and happy for these teachers,” Vernon ISD Supt. Dr. Kermit Ward said as he began to introduce them. “We know this group will certainly grow after this year. My goal is for all teachers, regardless of subject, to have the opportunity for TIA and plans are already underway to include more subjects for the 2025-26 school year.”
Teachers at the Recognized Level included: Amanda Kajs, Jennifer Newcomer, Braci Morris, Whitney Fryman, Misty DeLaune, Audrey Wrinkle, Savannah Sandoval, Karen Schoonover, Kelly Boswell, Julie Terry, Kelly Patterson, Debra Hogue, Christina Mathis, Doug Patterson, and Dustin Swatzell.
Exemplary Level teachers included: Ana Mora, Madison Smith, Twalenna Weddle, Ana DeLaGarza, Jana White, Laura Pedigo, Katrina Trejo, Courtney Jansa, Melissa Inman, TiSierra White, Denise Sanders, Jonette Hutchings, and Donna Hardin.
Reaching the Masters Level was Beth Haight.
Teacher of the Year awards for each campus were also presented. Jennifer Newcomer was the Teacher of the Year for McCord, while Aaron Burr received the honor for Vernon Elementary, Robby Spencer received the honor for Vernon Middle School, and Audrey Hastings received the honor for Vernon High School. Shane Lance was the AFP Teacher of the Year.
From that group, the Elementary Teacher of the Year Award went to Aaron Burr, and the Secondary Teacher of the Year Award went to Robby Spencer.
Staff of the Year honors were awarded to: Tiffany Lewis, McCord Elementary; Manuel Perez, Vernon Elementary; Zantea Townsend, Middle School, and Donna Snow, High School.
Representatives from Vernon Auto Group also presented VHS teacher Doug Patterson with the Red River Best Chevy Dealer Teacher Appreciation Award.
The Vernon Regional Retired Teachers Association Award was presented to Angela Morrison, who taught first grade for VISD for 31 years before retiring in 2014.
Receiving the Lion’s Pride Partner of the Year Award was The Vernon Record for the newspaper’s constant and positive support of VISD and for telling the district’s story year in and year out through photos and stories. Owner and publisher of The Vernon Record, Daniel Walker, accepted the award.
Vernon ISD is losing six employees who will be retiring at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Four of the retirees were able to attend the ceremony and were recognized and presented with rocking chairs.
Betty Bell, a diagnostician with Wilbarger SSA, has spent seven of her 37-year career with Vernon ISD. A 1981 graduate of VHS, Angela Bradford, also a diagnostician with Wilbarger SSA, has spent 28 of her 34-year career with Vernon ISD.
Robby Spencer graduated from VHS in 1991, and has spent 28 of his 29-year career with VISD. He is currently a history teacher at VMS, but also served as the head baseball coach for approximately 12 years, and coached other sports for most of his VISD career.
Amber Furhmann, McCord principal, is retiring after one year with VISD.
Retirees unable to attend the ceremony were Teri Williams, a teacher at VMS who spent the majority of her career as a VMS coach and served as the softball head coach, who has been with VISD for 26 of her 31-year career, and Roland Ellington, district mechanic, who has been with VISD for 20 years.
The district also presented awards for its Child Nutrition, Maintenance, Transportation and Custodian departments. Those Employee of the Year awards went to: Renea Branin, child nutrition; Freddy Benton, maintenance; Jenny Chumley, custodian; and Willie Thomas, transportation.
Longevity awards were presented to employees who are celebrating their 5-year, 10-year, 15-year, 20-year or 25-year anniversary with VISD. Those employees included:
5-years: Chasity Boyce, Rosemary Cervantes, Rhonda Garrett, Beth Haight, Melissa Inman, Tira Lewis, Braci Morris, Jacy Morton, Hagen Northcutt, Marguerita Ramirez, Sara Reeder, Eva Saldana, Austin Thompson, Jennifer Walker, and Sara Williams;
10-years: Patricia Barrera, Kelly Boswell, Yesika Calvillo, Mary Fieldhouse, Guadulupe Garcia, Shannon Glaze, Chelsea Lopez, Ana Mora, Marina Ramirez, and Rae Ann Stevens;
15-years: Lesly Escobedo, Lamisa Moore, Tomas Ortega, Twaleena Weddle, Tammy Wendler, and Kari Young.
20-years: Aaron Burr, Barbara Cothran, Gina Ellington, Roland Ellington, and Elly Gonzales;
25-years: Sandra Kieschnick.