Employees of the year from across EMS ISD were honored during the Employee Appreciation Awards brunch held on April 17, 2025, at the Dr. Jim F. Chadwell Administration Building and Discovery Lab Learning Center.
Award winners from each campus, Central Administration and Maintenance, along with campus and district leaders and members of the Board of Trustees were treated to a brunch catered by the HCTC Culinary Arts students and the EMS ISD Bistro team.
EMS ISD Superintendent Dr. Jerry D. Hollingsworth addressed those in attendance.
"We are here to celebrate every extra step you have taken that may have been seen or gone unseen," Hollingsworth said. "It's that extra effort that you give from your heart daily that you put directly into the young, impressionable minds around you."
Marking a special conclusion to the ceremony, the EMS ISD Auxiliary Employee of the Year, Paraprofessional Employee of the Year, Professional Employee of the Year, Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year were announced.
Each winner received a gift basket from Chick-fil-A Saginaw and a monetary gift from EECU.
The district-level winners were selected from the campus and department winners chosen earlier in the school year.
Congratulations to our 2024-2025 EMS ISD Employees of the Year!
Elementary Teacher of the Year: Elissa Villarreal, Art and Music, Dozier Elementary School
Secondary Teacher of the Year: Heather McFarland, Science, Saginaw High School
Professional of the Year: Dr. Cynthia Webber, Principal, Saginaw High School
Paraprofessional of the Year: Elaine Moreno, Principal's Secretary, Bryson Elementary School
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Pedro Hernandez-Arriaga, Lead Custodian, Marine Creek Middle School
Campus, Central Administration and Maintenance Employees of the Year
Bryson Elementary School
Professional of the Year: James Wade
Paraprofessional of the Year: Elaine Moreno
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Robin Cox
Teacher of the Year: Laci Smith
Chisholm Ridge Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Denise Ingram
Paraprofessional of the Year: Donna Hahler
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Veronica Flores
Teacher of the Year: Madison McCutcheon
Comanche Springs Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Christina Renteria
Paraprofessional of the Year: Janie Simmons
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Audra Rogers
Teacher of the Year: Conner Walker
Copper Creek Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Veronica Anderson
Paraprofessional of the Year: Dionne Wyly
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Maria Salazar Reyna
Teacher of the Year: Brittany Williamson
Dozier Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Priscilla Chazarreta
Paraprofessional of the Year: Tasha Simmons
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Cecilia Yaw
Teacher of the Year: Elissa Villarreal
Eagle Mountain Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Dana Switzer
Paraprofessional of the Year: Gerta Mema
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Maria Garcia
Teacher of the Year: Chris Alt
Elkins Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Dawnelle Butler
Paraprofessional of the Year: Lilly Franco
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Maria Munoz de Soto
Teacher of the Year: Lauren Bankston
Gililland Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Christine Lewis
Paraprofessional of the Year: Teresa Mendez
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Manuela Alvarez
Teacher of the Year: Cindy Strand
Greenfield Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Dwight Williams
Paraprofessional of the Year: Ginger Dale
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Aracely Luevanos
Teacher of the Year: Hailee Hogan
Hafley Development Center
Professional of the Year: Shannon Bradley
Paraprofessional of the Year: Aurora Choate
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Norma Garcia Campos
Teacher of the Year: Angela Sinclair
Hatley Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Michelle Graham
Paraprofessional of the Year: Debra Barrick
Teacher of the Year: Jill Jones
High Country Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Cathy Fassett
Paraprofessional of the Year: Amanda Putman
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Olga Hinojosa
Teacher of the Year: Brooke Lukenbach
Lake Country Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Jill Tucker
Paraprofessional of the Year: Vickie Carter
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Elva Rodriguez Campa
Teacher of the Year: Carrie Miller
Lake Pointe Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Brent Caldwell
Paraprofessional of the Year: Annette Reyes Suarez
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Krystal Shirley
Teacher of the Year: Jessica Simon
Northbrook Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Jennifer Peacock
Paraprofessional of the Year: Rhonda Patterson
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Baltasar Garcia
Teacher of the Year: Camilla Donathan
Parkview Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Norma Sandoval
Paraprofessional of the Year: Barbara Weiler
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Leticia De La Hoya
Teacher of the Year: Kara Henderson
Remington Point Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Renee Gillen
Paraprofessional of the Year: Carol Clark
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Kim Soukhaseum
Teacher of the Year: Karen Weckar
Saginaw Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Pat Wood
Paraprofessional of the Year: Lindy Hannebaum
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Teresa Gaskie
Teacher of the Year: Amy Beasley
Willow Creek Elementary School
Professional of the Year: Stacie Witt
Paraprofessional of the Year: Carla Linthicum
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Josefina Dominguez
Teacher of the Year: Brittany Schwerman
Creekview Middle School
Professional of the Year: Jenn Stark
Paraprofessional of the Year: Clarissa Causey
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Juan De La Hoya
Teacher of the Year: Monica Woods
Ed Willkie Middle School
Professional of the Year: Cindy Moilan
Paraprofessional of the Year: Angela Junkin
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Norma Lopez
Teacher of the Year: Michelle Hughes
Highland Middle School
Professional of the Year: Leah Roberts
Paraprofessional of the Year: Janine Saucedo
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Sheila Henson
Teacher of the Year: Soledad Hayes
Marine Creek Middle School
Professional of the Year: Shamyria Moore
Paraprofessional of the Year: Erica Briones
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Pedro Hernandez-Arriaga
Teacher of the Year: Kelly Clause
Prairie Vista Middle School
Professional of the Year: Natasha Provo
Paraprofessional of the Year: Lory Ortiz
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Purita Haggerty
Teacher of the Year: Stephanie Vass
Wayside Middle School
Professional of the Year: Cristian Espinal
Paraprofessional of the Year: Julie Gregory
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Linda Villanueva
Teacher of the Year: Jennifer Torres
Boswell High School
Professional of the Year: Cree Magill
Paraprofessional of the Year: Luz Santiago
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Maricruz Tinoco
Teacher of the Year: Lindsey Ray
Chisholm Trail High School
Professional of the Year: Kevin Wilson
Paraprofessional of the Year: Esther Tarifa
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Esmeralda Mosqueda
Teacher of the Year: Cody Brown
Eagle Mountain High School
Professional of the Year: Brian Munk
Paraprofessional of the Year: Tracy Fuhs
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Dawn Mueller
Teacher of the Year: Alyson Holley
Saginaw High School
Professional of the Year: Dr. Cynthia Webber
Paraprofessional of the Year: Rena Escamilla
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Jorge Soto
Teacher of the Year: Heather McFarland
Watson High School/ADC
Professional of the Year: Natalie Johnson
Paraprofessional of the Year: Yara Nava
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Maria Rivas Garcia
Teacher of the Year: Kelli Dougher
Hollenstein Career & Technology Center
Paraprofessional of the Year: Robin Broxterman
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Scott Kelly
Teacher of the Year: Abigail Bettencourt
Maintenance
Professional of the Year: Jim Howard
Paraprofessional of the Year: Melissa Warren
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Bobby Carr
Central Administration
Professional of the Year: Aaron Hardisty
Paraprofessional of the Year: Michelle Banogon
Auxiliary Employee of the Year: Matthew Geismar
