ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR
CREEKSIDE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SECONDARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR
W.B. RAY HIGH SCHOOL
39th ANNUAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR CEREMONY
6 P.M., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2025 - VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
Eric Villarreal, P.E. PRESIDENT Marty Bell VICE PRESIDENT
S. Jaime Arredondo SECRETARY
Alice Upshaw
Hawkins ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Steve Barrera TRUSTEE
Don Clark TRUSTEE
Dolly Gonzales Trolley TRUSTEE
Roland Hernandez, Ph.D.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Sandra Clement, Ed.D.
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
Karen Griffith
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS AND SUPPORT SERVICES
Maria Alvarado
CCISD’s 2024 Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School.
Jane Lee-Rhodes
CCISD’s 2024 Secondary Teacher of the Year, Harold C. Kaffie Middle School
Denis Wisner
Corpus Christi ISD Coordinator for Innovative Technologies
Diana Ybarra
Corpus Christi ISD Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
Porfirio Zamora
2018 Secondary Teacher of the Year, Veterans Memorial High School
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2025
WELCOME
Roland Hernandez, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Eric Villarreal, P.E.
President, Board of Trustees
Leanne Libby, APR
Chief Communications Officer
Amalia Dolores Barragan
2025 Elementary Teacher of the Year, Creekside Elementary School
Pedro Benavidez
2025 Secondary Teacher of the Year, W.B. Ray High School
Roland Hernandez, Ph.D.
Amalia Dolores Barragan is passionate about helping students discover their inner strengths, even when the odds seem stacked against them. She finds joy in moments when students realize their potential—whether it’s the confidence of solving a challenging problem or a hesitant child raising their hand for the first time. Beyond the classroom, she has led professional development sessions, contributed to curriculum writing and mentored fellow educators, ensuring all students have access to transformative learning experiences.
“Becoming a teacher was a deeply personal and purposeful journey for me, built on resilience, self-discovery, and the belief that education can transform lives,” Barragan wrote in her essay. “As a student, I struggled with self-doubt despite my achievements, an experience that shaped my empathy for those who face similar challenges. Teaching is not just my profession; it is my purpose. Every time a student discovers their voice, believes in their worth and achieves what once felt impossible, I am reminded why I chose this path.”
Mr. Benavidez is passionate about fostering curiosity and creating a supportive learning environment for his students. He believes that cultivating a sense of wonder is essential to deeper learning and strives to make his classroom a place where every question is valued. As an educator, he embraces the challenges of working with diverse learners, including English Language Learners and G/T students, tailoring his approach to meet their unique perspectives. In addition to teaching International Baccalaureate Chemistry, he mentors new teachers, serves as Science Department Chair, and coaches students to success in science fairs at state and international levels.
“Teaching was not my original career plan, but it has become my calling,” Benavidez wrote in his submission. “The journey from a researcher to an educator has been unconventional, but it has allowed me to bring a unique perspective to the classroom. My experiences taught resilience, adaptability, and the importance of lifelong learning— qualities I strive to instill in my students.”
BRIANNA O’BOYLE
T.G. Allen Elementary School
ALEXANDRA ROMERO
Ella Barnes Elementary School
DEBBIE RODRIGUEZ
Mary Helen Berlanga Elementary School
KIMBERLY MORENO
Calk-Wilson Elementary School
LISA MORIN
Club Estates Elementary School
AMALIA DOLORES
BARRAGAN
Creekside Elementary School
BRIGITTE PRADO
Cullen Place Elementary School
ELANA PEREZ
Joseph T. Dawson Elementary School
ANGELICA SANCHEZ
Early Childhood Development Center
ROBIN LINDEMANN
Fannin Elementary School
MELISSA GARCIA
Rafael Galvan Elementary School
CLAUDIA GARCIA
Dr. J.A. Garcia Elementary School
ALESIA ASTORGA
Weldon Gibson Elementary School
KELLY O’DONNELL
Gloria Hicks Elementary School
MELISSA GUERRA
Sam Houston Elementary School
RAYSHANDA CARTER
Luther Jones Elementary School
LEVY MURRAY
Zachary Kolda Elementary School
LORI WARE
Stanley Kostoryz Elementary School
JUANA SANCHEZ
Los Encinos Elementary School
MARIA BARKER
Moses Menger Elementary School
WHITNEY COPELAND
Metro Elementary School of Design
CASSANDRA SOTO
E.E. and Jovita Mireles Elementary School
MELISSA ZAPATA
Blanche Moore Elementary School
LESLIE VILLA
Oak Park Elementary School
ELIZABETH HASTINGS
Fred R. Sanders Elementary School
RACHAEL CAFFEY
Schanen Estates Elementary School
LILIANNA VENTURA
NARVAEZ
Rose Shaw Elementary School
LIANA GARZA
Weldon A. Smith Elementary School
KAROLINE LAUGHLIN
William B. Travis Elementary School
VERONICA GONZALEZ
Faye Webb Elementary School
CERINA RAMIREZ
Windsor Park Elementary School
SILVIA MENDEZ
C.P. Yeager Elementary School
MERCEDES QUIJIJESUDHOFF
Lorenzo De Zavala Elementary School
ELIZABETH SANDOVAL
Dorthy Adkins Middle School
DANIEL BENAVIDES
Marvin Baker Middle School
KRYSTAL MEZA
Tom Browne Middle School
DANIZ MONTOYA
Cunningham Middle School at South Park
SELINA GARCIA
Robert Driscoll Middle School
ROSIE MORALES
Elliott Grant Middle School
TIFFANY FOSS
Paul R. Haas Middle School
JOHNNIE MARLEY
Carl O. Hamlin Middle School
PRISCILLA CANALESDOMINGUEZ
Harold C. Kaffie Middle School
AIDE PEREZ
Sterling B. Martin Middle School
GORDON HALEY
Harold T. Branch Academy
ASHLEY LOVE
Mary Carroll High School
GABRIELLE GONZALES
Collegiate High School
JARED BRANDT
Solomon M. Coles High School & Education Center
PHILIP BROWN
Richard King High School
GABRIEL GOMEZ
Roy Miller High School
EMILY SOTO
Foy H. Moody High School
PEDRO BENAVIDEZ
W.B. Ray High School
SOPHIE ACEVEZ
Veterans Memorial High School
BROOKE REYNA
Mary Grett Transition Center
CASANDRA JACKSON
Student Support Center
2024
Jane Lee-Rhodes (S)
Maria Alvarado (E)
2022
Amanda Davis (S)
Megan Butler (E)
2021
Luisa White (S)
Rachel Beavers (E)
2020
Laurel Brashears (S)
Monica Garcia (E)
2019
Ryan Bennett (S)
Azita Pardom (E)
2018
Porfirio Zamora (S)
Emily Schellinger (E)
2017
Pragati Bannerjee (S)
Lauren Augsburger (E)
2016
Jaime Trevino (S)
Ruby Shaver (E)
2015
Morris McRae (S)
Annie Mucheru-Garza (E)
2014
Usha Gurumurthy (S)
Dr. Delores Tapia (E)
2013
Ibet Caro (S)
Erika Vazquez (E)
2012
Elizabeth Taylor-Payne (S)
Timothy F. Gloria (E)
2011
John Colunga (S)
Tom Martin (E)
2010
Todd Alan Moulder (S)
Belinda Chapa (E)
2009
Sue Verlaan (S)
Monica Benavides (E)
2008
Lorinda Hamilton (S)
Janet W. Daehne (E)
2007
Joán S. Alvarez (S)
Joel A. Gonzales (E)
2006
John Michael Strubhart (S)
Robin Abrego (E) 2005
Thomas E. Buckner (S)
Belinda Silva (E)
2004
Rene Castillo (S)
Teresa Lynn Krell (E)
2003
Da’Anna Stringer (S)
Emily Hyatt Weaver (E)
2002
Steven L. Gonzales (S)
Margaret A. Nourse (E)
2001
Vinay Dulip (S)
Piedad Ymbert (E)
2000
Stephanie E. Martinez (S)
Denise Hill (E)
1999
Barbara M. Ostarch (S)
Mary Beth Castillo-Tierce (E)
1998
John Alan Snyder (S)
Mary F. Bales (E) 1997
Dr. Kenneth W. Boeker (S)
Dongwol Kim Roberson (E) 1996
Diana G. Fernandez (S)
Melissa S. Holt (E) 1995
Nancy Adams (S)
Jill Scott (E)
1994
Evelyn Hroch (S)
Raúl O. Ramón (E)
1993
Arnold Leal
1992
Nancy Getz Campbell
1991
Marcia Ramsey
1990
Mary Elmore Williams
1989
Galen Hoffstadt
1988
Ricardo Godoy
1987
Dr. Rebecca Palacios (S) - Secondary (E) - Elementary
Note: From 1987 - 1993, one CCISD Teacher of the Year was selected from the secondary and elementary nominees.
LEANNE LIBBY, APR
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
LYNDALL GATHRIGHT
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
OCTAVIO CABALLERO
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
JACQUELINE FRANCO WEBMASTER
ALEXANDRIA CANTU
SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
TEACHER OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION COORDINATOR
TEACHER OF THE YEAR SELECTION COMMITTEE COORDINATOR
ELOISA DOWIAT CCEF BOARD LIAISON
BROOKE GARCIA COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
ANGELA STEPHENS
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
NICOLE SPRENCEL
GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN
THOMAS DONNA MULTIMEDIA INTERN