Founders Day Award

A middle school art teacher who never stops helping students, a Board of Trustees member and dozens of volunteers who serve on local PTAs received special awards during a Founders Day Dinner and Celebration held Feb. 26 at Shadow Oaks Elementary School.

Click here to view photos from this event.

During the Fiesta-themed event, the Spring Branch Education Foundation presented a check for $6,000 to support student scholarships.

Founders Day celebrates the Washington, D.C., meeting in February 1897 that helped create the Parent Teacher Association in the United States. Today, the SBISD Council of PTAs has about 10,000 members.

This year’s annual dinner program included a message by Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., on the importance of contacting Texas legislators as they consider topics of importance like changes in STAAR/EOC student testing and graduation plans.



Landrum teacher Andres Bautista celebrates student success with grads from SBISD's Northbrook High School.

He also spoke about Spring Branch’s T-2-4 plan to double the number of students by 2017 who earn a technical certificate, a two-year or four-year degree. The spotlight for one of the evening’s brightest moments – the naming of the year’s School Bell recipient – shined on Landrum Middle School art teacher Andres Bautista.

During his career at Landrum Middle School, Andres was named a district Teacher of the Year and has been honored by several organizations for his work with young artists, including a well known local nonprofit group, the NewSpring Center on Blalock Road.

At Landrum Middle, Andres has volunteered for the past two years as treasurer of the Landrum Lions PTA in addition to a host of other student-focused duties and positions: He is the school’s yearbook sponsor and photographer, boys soccer team coach, and a Christmas program sponsor for those in need.

“Andres brings an inspirational, high achieving and enlightening attitude to his teaching that has captivated students and other teachers. He has sacrificed his personal time to stay after school so many countless hours during the week or on weekends to help students,” his nomination states.

“He truly cares for the future of all his own students, and he sees the importance in high school graduates pursuing a college degree. He helps many high school students complete their college applications and arranges frequent college field trips for students,” his nominators also stated.

During Winter Break, Andres organized a fund-raising drive from his family’s home in McAllen to assist families in a Spring Branch apartment building who had lost everything in a sudden fire. The NewSpring Center had named him a featured artist, and Andres helped a former student who is now attending college receive a scholarship from the local group.

“It brings joy to Andres’ heart to see his young artists pursue their dreams. Although he may seem like a superhero carrying many responsibilities, Andres is committed to his school and community, but most importantly to all his students.”

School Bell Award winners receive a personally engraved brass school bell. The SBISD Council of PTAs presents the award each year to an outstanding educator who promotes the objectives of the PTA and is an advocate for all children. A local bank also issues a stipend.

Other School Bell Award nominees this year included the following:

• Pam Pennington, Bunker Hill Elementary
• Ashley England, Cornerstone Academy
• Sally Craddock, Frostwood Elementary
• Belinda Henry, Hunters Creek Elementary
• Rhonda deLeon, Meadow Wood Elementary
• Paula Liming, Memorial Drive Elementary
• Stephanie Aguirre, Memorial Middle
• Suzy Lyles Godwin, Memorial High
• Karen Harrell, Rummel Creek Elementary
• Carroll Harkins, Sherwood Elementary
• Robert Fleming, Spring Forest Middle
• Lance Stallworth, Spring Woods High
• Christopher Juntti, Stratford High
• Rebecca Kim, Valley Oaks Elementary
• Andrew Maddocks, Westchester Academy for International Studies
• Kay Kennard, Westwood Elementary
• Sylvia Kirkland, Wilchester Elementary
• Stacy Burkhart-Brezina, Zebra Zone School for Early Learning

In another highlight of the evening, SBISD Board of Trustees member Katherine Dawson was presented the Council PTA Life Award. This is the highest award for volunteers who work to improve the lives of all students through the district Council of PTAs.

A Stratford High graduate, Katherine Dawson is a former district teacher and parent of three children who attend SBISD schools. She has been active in local PTAs, serving as both PTA president and treasurer. She was also president of the Council of PTAs.

At the district level, she has volunteered on the SBISD Finance and District Improvement teams, the Volunteer Advisory Board, and Employee of the Month and Teacher of the Year committees.

Katherine has also coached an Odyssey of the Mind team, served as a Girl Scout leader, and has remained active with the Junior League of Houston. Several Board of Trustees members showed their support for this year’s nominee.

Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) Executive Director Cece Thompson, SBEF Chair Mike Rome, and Board of Director Warren Matthews presented a symbolic $6,000 poster-sized check to fund scholarships for high school seniors.

In separate action, more than 100 people were honored as 2012 Texas PTA Lifetime Members.

This year’s Council of PTAs president is Susan Griffin, who welcomed guests. Event program presentations were made by Founders Day Chairs Veronica Herrmann and Melissa DeAyala, as well as Awards Chair Carrie Goolsby. Caroline Bennett, who is Council vice president for membership, presented the PTA's Lifetime Member awards.

Event program presentations were made by Founders Day Chairs Veronica Herrmann and Melissa DeAyala, as well as Awards Chair Carrie Goolsby. Dinner was catered by Los Tios Mexican Restaurant. The Northbrook High School Jazz Band provided entertainment.

2012 Texas PTA Lifetime Members

• Buffalo Creek Elementary Romelia Jimenez-Garza Elizabeth Rodriguez
• Bunker Hill Elementary Charlotte Adams Meredith Cooley Becky Drexelius Allison Knostman Lisa Linker Jeff Majewski Michelle Majewski Valerie Martinez Rachel Matthews Laura Ripkowski
• Cornerstone Academy Sheri Deluca Maria Galvan Beth Robertson Eva Sivon
• Frostwood Elementary Jennifer Carmichael Lindsay Fiuzat Laura Gauss Laura Mendoza Marion Thames Laura Whitnel
• Hunters Creek Elementary Pam Carmain Dawn Dixon
• Meadow Wood Elementary Meg Blitch Amanda Bush Jay Campbell Anna Farris Kevin Farris Amy Griffith Barbara Stabler Carl Stabler
• Memorial Drive Elementary Jill Collins Michelle Kelly Amy Lindsay Thea Marino Meghan Rao Colleen Zatorski Samantha Lancios—Extended Life Member Award
• Memorial High Carol Bowers David Kastor Yvette McMahan Marilyn Todd
• Memorial Middle Patty Aucock Jennifer Barker Kim Brown Pam Callahan Karen Lee Chris Thornton Mendy Wheeler
• Nottingham Elementary Karen Alexander Cynthia Arocha Gwin Bosco Shana McClintock Julianne Murphy Michelle Putnik
• Rummel Creek Elementary Athena Cashiola Carrie Goolsby Maureen Hamilton Karen Miller Deborah Moore Kim Wood
• Sherwood Elementary Sina Alvarado Jill Sherrill
• Spring Branch Middle Sheri Beggins Paige Weinstein Suzanne Greene—Extended Life Member Award Miriam Ramos—Extended Life Member Award
• Spring Forest Middle Donna Brown Darlynn Lydick Joshua Ritchie Sharon Sharadin Becky Singley Amy Watkins
• Stratford High Thomas Clancy Julie Gibson Anne Hachtman Pam Lundell Kim Wood
• Terrace Elementary Laurie Ramirez Amy Schomburg Cheryl Stazo
• Valley Oaks Elementary Jenny Fett Bob Kretschmer Laura Mullins Julie Nordin Susie Rampersaud Monica Rosenstein Becky Smith Teresa Weyer Shannon Whiting Sharon Zetka-Lightfoot Marty Ethridge—Extended Life Member Award
• Westchester Academy for International Studies Lori Bauer Leslie Enloe Jane Finneran Sylvia McInroe Camille Tarics
• Wilchester Elementary Cheryl Brady Debbie Dodds Elizabeth Elliott Holly Mosby Chris Vierra Pam Goodson—Extended Life Member Award