ROCKWALL, TX (August 15, 2014) The Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rockwall Independent School District welcomed numerous new members to the school district during the annual RISD Teacher / Employee Appreciation Breakfast August 15 in the Rockwall High School cafeteria.
The event, presented by Title Sponsor ATMOS Energy along with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, The Timpa Law Office and Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP, included breakfast and lots of other goodies for those in attendance.
Liz Beauchamp with ATMOS Energy opened the program and set the stage not only for a memorable New Teacher & Employee Breakfast, but also for an inspiring start to the 2014-15 school year.
Several speakers, including RISD Superintendent Jeff Bailey, U.S. Congressman Ralph Hall and Senator Bob Deuell were on hand to express their gratitude for the hardworking members of the school district, and to congratulate the 134 new staff members on joining the district for the fast-approaching 2014-15 school year.
“This event is always a great kickoff to the school year, to get to see all of the new staff members that are joining Rockwall ISD,” Bailey said. “We’re a destination school district, and parents select to join this community, particularly if they have children they want to be in this school district.
“I appreciate you selecting us. We chose you, but you also chose us and you want to work here. There are thousands of applicants each year who want to join Rockwall ISD, and I see you as the cream of the crop, and I’m just so appreciative of the job I know that you will do and in joining the Rockwall ISD family.”
Congressman Hall echoed the superintendent’s words of appreciation to the district’s teachers and employees.
“You have our children, you educate our children, and that’s the finest thing that anybody could ever do,” he said. “You’re the most important people that I will get to speak to this year.”
Bailey also mentioned the tremendous support the school district receives each and every year from the community, including the Rockwall Chamber, elected county officials and members of the RISD Board of Directors.
“Anytime that you have an outstanding school district, you have outstanding leadership from your board,” Bailey said. “We have a great team of board members that support our teachers and our parents.”
James Nelson of Alliance Bank drew inspiration from American businessman Lee Iacocca, best known for engineering the Ford Mustang and Ford Pinto cars, in his expression of gratitude for the teachers and staff of RISD:
“’In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something else,’” Nelson quoted.
Each new RISD employee was given a ticket to a raffle drawing for some fabulous prizes, including cash giveaways from American National Bank, iPad Minis from Alliance Bank and an iPad from Toyota of Rockwall.
Elementary and secondary district Teachers of the Year Melanie Weir and Mike McMahon were also recognized during the prize giveaways. Toyota of Rockwall sponsors the Teacher of the Year award by providing a six-month lease on a brand new Toyota to the winners.
A special thank you to the event sponsors, which include Title Sponsor Atmos Energy; Linebarger, Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP; Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall; Timpa Law Office; American National Bank; Credit Union of Texas; Farmers Electric Cooperative; K&S Insurance Agency; Lake Pointe Medical Center; Oncor Electric Delivery; Toyota of Rockwall; A&A Granite and Limestone; CertaPro Painters of Lake Ray Hubbard; Community Bank; Honda Cars of Rockwall; Mathnasium of Rockwall-Heath; MidSouth Bank; North American Title; Rockwall Economic Development Corporation; Special Products & Mfg, Inc; Vice & Henley, PLLC Attorneys and Counselors at Law; AAA iRepairs; Alliance Bank; Ebby Halliday Realtors; Guild Mortgage Company; Johnson Insurance Agency; MedPost Urgent Care; Rest Haven Funeral Home & Memorial Park; Rockwall Modern Dentistry and Orthodontics; The Olson Law Firm, PLLC; Warehouse – Pro; Autumn Leaves of Rockwall; Belfiore Salon & Day Spa; and Chick-fil-A. Table sponsors included: Conway Company CPAs, PC; Ebby Halliday Realtors; Filip Insurance Services; Glen Oaks Hospital; Housewarmers of Rockwall County; Huffaker-Simpson; Interstate All Battery Center; Inwood National Bank; Kenda L. Culpepper, Rockwall County District Attorney and Jim Pruitt, City of Rockwall, Mayor Pro-Tem; Lakeside Chevrolet; Lakeside National Bank; Lyons Air Conditioning and Heating; Melange Beauty, LLC; Papa John’s Pizza; PostNet; Rockwall Gold and Silver; Scentsy Fragrance; Summit Financial Group, George Warner; and Texans for Bob Deuell.
The following companies provided gift items for the teacher’s goody bags: Atmos Energy; Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall; American National Bank; Credit Union of Texas; Toyota of Rockwall; A&A Granite and Limestone; CertaPro Painters of Lake Ray Hubbard; MidSouth Bank; Rockwall Economic Corporation; AAA iRepairs; MedPost Urgent Care; The Olson Law Firm, PLLC; Belfiore Salon & Day Spa; Chick-fil-A; Filip Insurance Services; Glen Oaks Hospital; Interstate All Battery Center; Scentsy Fragrance by Anne Lessard; Shenaniganz; Heath Salon & Spa; Diamond Display Group; Lakeshore Dental, PLLC; Lakeside Chevrolet; Turner, Stone and Company; City of Rockwall; Culver’s; Galyean Insurance Agency; Johnson Insurance Agency; and Melissa Holliman.
The following donated raffle items: AAA iRepairs; Alliance Bank; American National Bank; Amy Joyce Designs; Belfiore Salon & Day Spa; Belk; Britt’s Training System; CertaPro Painters; Chick-fil-A; Chris Cuny; Comet Cleaners; Congressman Ralph Hall; Dodie’s Cajun Diner; Dr. Todd Johnson; Farmers Electric Cooperative; Firehouse Subs; Glen Oaks Hospital; Heath Hair Salon and Spa; Horizon Road Oil Depot; Johnson Insurance Agency; Kim & Calvin Wallen; Lake Pointe Medical Center; LSJ Awards; Luby’s/Fudrucker’s; Mellow Mushroom; MidSouth Bank; Nothing Bundt Cakes; Pizza Cucina; Rockwall Economic Development Corporation; Rockwall Flower and Design; Rockwall Fast Cash; Sassy Lady; Scentsy – Anne Lessard; Senator Bob Deuell; Shelli Miller; Shenaniganz; Smoothie King; Sterling Tea; Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall; The Londoner; Toyota of Rockwall; JER Chilton YMCA at Rockwall; and Zanata.
The Rockwall Chamber holds the RISD Teacher / Employee Appreciation Breakfast every year to illustrate the importance of the school district’s educators to the community, and the positive impact teachers and the employees of RISD have on their students every school year.
By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News staff writer and reporter.
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