Rockwall ISD names 2017 Elementary, Secondary Teachers of the Year

(ROCKWALL, TX — May 11, 2017) Rockwall ISD is proud to announce the 2017 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year: Kayse Williams, special education resource teacher at Stevenson Elementary and Amber Panter, Spanish teacher at Utley Middle School.

“Kayse has the ability to make lasting, life-long relationships with each of her students, taking the time to get to know them,” said Stevenson Elementary Principal Mike Pitcher. “The relational bonds she forms are unique. They believe in themselves because they know that Kayse believes in them.”

“Amber has captured students’ imaginations through her active approach to teaching and facilitating the love of Spanish and leadership,” said Utley Middle School Principal Todd Bradford. “Amber uses her strong interpersonal skills to take kids learning to places they never imagined.”

Also honored was Erica Maresh, who was awarded the second “Sheri Stodghill Fowler Beginning Teacher of the Year Award.” Sheri Stodghill Fowler was the Chief Communications Officer for the school district for 9 years before passing in January 2015 after a lengthy battle with cancer. She loved Rockwall and Rockwall ISD and this banquet to honor teachers was her favorite event of the year.

Thank you to our sponsors Toyota of Rockwall, Rockwall Breakfast Rotary Club, Crenshaw Consulting Group LLC, Farmers Electric Cooperative, Lee Lewis Construction, Nations Roof, Northstar Builders Group, Rockwall ISD Education Foundation, SSC Service Solutions, VLK Architects and Walsh Gallegos Trevino Russo & Kyle P.C. for making this event possible.

A special thanks to Rockwall Flower and Design, the Hilton Bella Harbor, PSAV Presentation Services, Rockwall High School Jazz Band, Rockwall High School Stingerettes and videographer Mark Walsh for their wonderful assistance.

Each year, our district participates in the Teacher of the Year program by the Texas Association of School Administrators. This program begins at the district level with the opportunity to honor one educator from each Rockwall ISD campus for his or her ability to inspire students in innovative and creative ways.

A selection committee then chooses the two winners after spending time in each classroom and interviewing each teacher. This year’s selection committee was Rhonda Wasson, English Language Arts for Secondary, Library Services and Languages other than English Coordinator; Katie Braden, Elementary Science Coordinator; Brenda Sandoval-Jones, Rockwall ISD 2016 Elementary Teacher of the Year; Justin Newberry, Rockwall ISD 2016 Secondary Teacher of the Year and Gary Piepenburg, Representative of Rockwall Breakfast Rotary.

Congratulations to Kayse Williams and Amber Panter and good luck at the Teacher of the Year regional competition.

Submitted press release.

Our monthly print edition is delivered free to 19,000+ homes in Rockwall and Heath, TX.