2022-23 AWARDS

ATPE honored educators, ATPE volunteers, and education journalists at the summit, as well as presented the association’s highest honor, the Judy Coyle Texas Liberty Award.

Judy Coyle Texas Liberty Award

Named after one of ATPE’s founding members, the Judy Coyle Texas Liberty Award is presented to individuals or organizations who have demonstrated superior service to public education. The 2023 recipient of the Judy Coyle Texas Liberty Award is Laura Yeager, a tireless Texas public school advocate who says her work in public education policy is “driven by the belief that public education and civic engagement are the central tenets of a strong democracy and key to a better and fairer world.” Yeager has been a founding member of three organizations dedicated to our public schools: Texans Advocating for Meaningful School Assessment (TAMSA), Texas Educators Vote, and Just Fund It TX.

Alafair Hammett Media Award

The Alafair Hammett Media Award recognizes specific works of journalism that highlight important issues in Texas public education. The award is selected by the members of the ATPE Public Information Committee, who evaluate journalistic works recommended by ATPE staff. The works are evaluated for relevancy, clarity, approach to public education policy, and ability to capture audience interest. The 2022-23 ATPE Public Information Committee reviewed six nominated articles and selected KXAN investigative reporter Kelly Wiley as the recipient for her broadcast package entitled “The Exit: Teachers Leave. Students Suffer.”

Doug Rogers Campus Representative Of The Year Awards

Local Units/ISDs with 1–200 Members

Local Units/ISDs with 201–500 Members

ATPE’S TOP RECRUITER:

AMANDA FORTENBERRY

The 2022-23 Top Recruiter is Amanda Fortenberry, formerly of Hardin-Jefferson, who recruited 39 new members. Fortenberry received $390 ($10 for each new member), plus $1,000 for being the state’s top recruiter as part of the One New = $10 for You recruitment challenge.

Sean Douglas Cuero

Finalists: Jessica (McHale) Rutherford, Hempstead; Christy Skinner, Lumberton

Roya Dinbali Nacogdoches

Finalists: Monique Juliangarza, Spring; Katherine Whitbeck, Nacogdoches

The Doug Rogers Campus Representative of the Year Awards acknowledge those special ATPE volunteers who are fundamental to the continued growth and development of our grassroots organization.

Local Units/ISDs with 501–1,000 Members

Local Units/ISDs with 1,001+ Members

Artemio Cantu

La Joya

Finalists: Hilda Martinez, La Joya; Aiesha Odutayo, Houston

Antonio Mercado

Edinburg

Finalists: Michelle Jeffrey, Katy; Jennifer LeWinter, Plano

Floyd Trimble Local Unit Of The Year Awards

Local Units with 1–200 Members

Local Units with 201–500 Members

The Floyd Trimble Local Unit of the Year Awards acknowledge the efforts and accomplishments of outstanding local units across the state.

Local Units with 501–1,000 Members

Local Units with 1,001+ Members

University Local Units

Bandera ATPE

2022-23 officers: President John Milner, Vice President Stan Payne, Secretary Sherrie Williamson, Treasurer Diane Payne

Finalists: Hempstead ATPE, North Starr ATPE

Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ATPE

2022-23 officers: President Michael Sweet, Vice President Lydia Marez, Secretary Dora Melendez, Treasurer Martha Alvarado

Finalists: Allen ATPE, Magnolia ATPE

Charles Pickitt Educator Of The Year Awards

Administrator of the Year

Associate of the Year

La Joya ATPE

2022-23 officers: President Artemio Cantu, Vice President Julian Villarreal, 2nd Vice President Vanessa Brown, Secretary Bertha Cantu, Treasurer Jesus Garza, Membership Chair Hilda Martinez

Finalists: Alief ATPE, Houston ATPE

Katy ATPE

2022-23 officers: President Janet Godfrey, Vice President Ollie Kendrick, Secretary Sherry Doll, Treasurer Dalton Lauck, Membership Chair Dedra Robertson

Finalists: Cypress-Fairbanks ATPE, Denton ATPE

University of St. Thomas ATPE

2022-23 officers: President Brenna Ruehter, Vice President Shermeen Patel, Treasurer Anahy Martinez Balleza, Historian Xareni

Chazares, Sponsor Jean Kiekel

Finalist: Houston Baptist University ATPE (now Houston Christian University)

The Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year Award recognizes ATPE members who demonstrate exceptional or innovative capabilities in their respective educational fields.

Elementary Teacher of the Year

Secondary Teacher of the Year

Special Services Educator of the Year

Christina Flores

Riesel

Finalists: Claire Bray, Nacogdoches; Kris Mitzner, Katy

Francis Sanchez Zapata County

Finalists: Wanda Bailey, Mesquite; Eduardo Mercado, Edinburg

Michael Sweet

Pharr-San Juan-Alamo

Finalists: Christy Biehle, Katy; Lacey Brajenovich, Katy

Daxus Nessoi Katy

Finalists: Clarice Cross, Plano; Joan Pearson, Cypress-Fairbanks

Greg Fore Dallas

Finalists: Ana Ramos, Roma; Dedra Robertson, Katy

Political Action Committee Honorees

Stephen F. Austin ATPE-PAC Honorees

The members below have contributed the following cumulative amounts to ATPE-PAC since July 1997.

Liggins, Dale Lovett, Teresa Millard, Lynn Nutt, Steve Pokluda, Deborah Pleasant, Betty Plunkett, Michael Renteria, Lindsay Robinson, Eliseo Rodriguez, Abby Rogers, Jayne Serna, Maria Slette, Shelia Slider, Wendy Smith, Becky Spurlock, Ron Walcik, Katherine Whitbeck, Richard Wiggins

William B. Travis ATPE-PAC Honorees

Maria Trevino, Norma Vega, Melissa Walcik, Ron Walcik, Eileen Walcik, Stacey Ward, Katherine Whitbeck, Shane Whitten, Richard Wiggins, Belinda Wolf

Davy Crockett Fundraising Challenge

$7,500

Karen Hames, Steve Pokluda

$5,000

MaElena Ingram

$2,500

Bill Griffin, Shannon Holmes, Shawna Myerson, Shelia Slider, Michael Sweet

$1,500

Madonna Felan, Lynette Ginn, Barbara Lebold, Paula Marshall, Yvette Milner, Lynn Nutt, Barbara Ruiz, Stephanie Stoebe, Leslie Ward

$500

Lizandra Ayala Valentin, Beverly Bredemeyer, Greg Fore, Stacy Gallier, Yessica Garza, Tiffiiany Godley, Tiffany Gygi, Crystal Hammill, Catherine Harbour, Tommie Hicks, Dorothy Hulett, Rebecca LeBreton, Angela Robinson, Horacio Rodriguez, Jessica Rutherford, Angela Sanchez, Tanya Snook, Mary Stricker

ATPE-PAC Statesman Award

The ATPE-PAC Statesman Award honors ATPE members who have donated $20 or more to ATPE-PAC for 12 consecutive months. Charlotte Anthony, Betty Berndt, Sherry Boyd, David de la Garza, Sharon Dixon, Twila Figueroa, Ron Fitzwater, Jason Forbis, CaRita Forte, Lynette Ginn, Tonja Gray, Byron Hildebrand, Shannon Holmes, Darlene Kelly, Barbara Lebold, Jerrica

This year’s William B. Travis Honorees are those members who donated $150 or more to ATPEPAC between Aug. 1, 2021, and July 31, 2022. Shannon Abernathy, Tina AlvaradoCrouch, Susan Ambrus, Charlotte Anthony, Susan Ballew, Betty Berndt, Nelson Bishop, Jerry Bonham, Julleen Bottoms, Sherry Boyd, Beverly Bredemeyer, Brandi Claiborne, Sara Connaway, Hector Cruz, Elizabeth Davis, Ona Beth Day, David de la Garza, Sharon Dixon, Alice Erdelt, Madonna Felan, Twila Figueroa, Ron Fitzwater, Jason Forbis, John Fore, CaRita Forte, Ginger Franks, Donna Gibbon, Patti Gibbs, Sharon Ginn, Tonja Gray, Tanya Gray, Stephen Griffin, Karen Hames, Byron Hildebrand, Jeanette Hlavaty, Lisa Hollowell, Shannon Holmes, Malinda Holzapfel, Maria Ingram, Phyllis Jarzombek, Irma Jimenez, Kate Johanns, Courtney Jones, Darlene Kelly, Connie Kilday, Barbara Lebold, Jerrica Liggins, Tara Linz, Dale Lovett, Elias Lozano, Meredith Malloy, Paula Marshall, Hilda Martinez, Melanie Mathis, Katy Matthews, Shawna Mayerson, Betty McCoy, Evelyn MilesHoskin, Teresa Millard, Maria Samantha Montano, Shawn Mustain, Sharon Nix, Lynn Nutt, Bobbye Patton, Deborah Pleasant, Betty Plunkett, Steve Pokluda, Jennifer Price, Michael Renteria, Lindsay Robinson, Eliseo Rodriguez, Abby Rogers, Belinda Rosa, Jessica Rutherford, Gayle Sampley, Jayne Serna, Maria Slette, Shelia Slider, Wendy Smith, Rhonda Smith, Leah Smith, Samuel Spurlock, Becky Spurlock, Stephanie Stoebe, Cathy Stolle, Mary Stricker, Michael Sweet, Marsi Thomas,

This challenge was established to recognize the regions and local units that raise the most money per member for ATPE-PAC. This award covered the Aug. 1, 2021–July 31, 2022, fundraising period.

Region, 10,000 or Fewer Members

Region 11 ATPE

Region, 10,001 or More Members

Region 10 ATPE

Local Unit, 1–200 Members

Woden ATPE

Local Unit, 201–500 Members

McAllen ATPE

Local Unit, 501+ Members

Lewisville ATPE

ATPE-PAC Silent Auction Donors

David de la Garza; Amy Dodd; Andrea Elizondo; Jennifer Mitchell; McAllen ATPE; Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, and 20

Staff Service Awards

Congratulations to the following ATPE staff members honored during the summit for their combined 160 years of service.

Five Years of Service

Celina Leal

Jeff Vega

Mary Jane Waits

10 Years of Service

Bret Messer

Diane Pokluda

Martha Moring

20 Years of Service

Andrea Elizondo

Barbara McGrath

Tracy Revetta

25 Years of Service

Joy England

Brian Park

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