Celebrate Campus, District
Teachers of the Year
Garland ISD is home to committed,
driven and passionate educators.
Their devotion to student success
impacts classrooms across the district
every day. They selflessly dedicate
countless hours to the future
generation, and their determination
does not go unnoticed.
Every year, each school names one
exceptional educator as its Campus
Teacher of the Year. This esteemed
title comes with districtwide
recognition, a commemorative gift,
two Texas Rangers tickets and the
chance to be selected as a District
Teacher of the Year.
Two of the exceptional 72 are
then chosen by a committee
for elementary and secondary
recognition. This year’s honors went
to Cheryl Taylor from Classical
Center at Vial Elementary School and
Brittney Ellis from Bussey Middle
School. The 2017-18 Elementary and
Secondary District Teachers of the
Year impressed with their innovative
instruction, leadership skills and
gusto for education.
Although Taylor serves as Vial’s
librarian, the 19-year educator
branches out of the reading room to
inspire students.
“My campus is a Leader in Me
campus. I am a member of the
Lighthouse Leadership team and am
one of the facilitators,” she stated.
“We are encouraging students to lead
on our campus, and our students
are taking ownership in our campus.
Referrals are down; helping is up!”
Like her elementary counterpart,
Ellis is also focused on language arts.
For the past four years, she has created
dynamic lessons to differentiate
instruction in reading and writing.
“I was able to incorporate both
STEM and AVID strategies to teach my
students how story elements work
together to create meaning,” Ellis said.
“Students built a hoverboard out of
a CD, film canister and balloon. The
entire construct was a metaphor. I
strive to meet students where they
are and empower them to get where
they need to be.”
Both instructors received $1,000
3
from the GISD Education Foundation
and are now in the running for the
title of Region 10 Teacher of the Year.
Congratulations to all 72 GISD
Teachers of the Year. See a list at
garlandisd.net/newsroom .
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may 2018