Professional Award Winners

Professional Achievement Award

YEAR WINNER’S NAME
2024 Marco Vasquez
2023 Kristin Zastoupil
2022 Angela Brown
2021 Art Del Barrio
2020 Ian Halperin
2019 Craig Verley
2018 Judith Saxton
2017 Veronica Sopher
2016 Monica Faulkenbery
2015 Mark Thomas
2014 Sharon Cox
2013 Debbie Graves Ratcliffe
2012 Cindy Randle
2011 Christy Willman
2010 Shirley Brothers
2009 Kirk Lewis
2008 Norma Zamora-Guerra
2007 Bonnie Ellison
2006 Tim Carroll
2005 Marilyn Kuehlem
2004 Katherine Cernosek
2003 Mary Ann Simpson
2002 Jolene Ortego
2001 Janet Cline
2000 Bob Sharp
1999 Riney Jordan
1998 Becky Nugent
1997 Annell Todd
1996 Steve Knagg
1995 Dixie Parris
1994 Billie Koetter
1993 Jerry Smith
1992 Terry Cannon
1991 Jackie Tolbert
1990 Cindy Randle
1989 Ann Spears
1988 Rosemary Travis
1987
1986 Joe Sherrod
1985 Ann Watson
1984 Rodney Davis

Most Valuable Member Award

YEAR WINNER’S NAME
2024 Marco Alvarado
2023 Anne-Marie Espinoza
2022 Stephanie de los Santos
2021 Justin Elbert
2020 Tim Carroll
2019 Beth Trimble
2018 Julie Thannum
2017 Patti Pawlik-Perales
2016 Louise Henry
2015 Lorette Williams
2014 Heather Willden
2013 Karen Adler
2012 Larry Goddard
2011 Corpus Christi ISD Communications Department
2010 Monica Faulkenbery
2009 Lisa S. Winters
2008 Kari Hutchison
2007 Staci Stanfield
2006 Scott Milder
2005 Kirk Lewis
2004 Shirley Brothers
2003 Sherilyn Conn
2002 Janet Crock
2001 Becky Walker
2000 Kathy Clausen
1999 Shana McKay Wortham
1998 Susan McGuire, Linda East
1997 Jerry Smith
1996 Larry Ascough
1995 Bob Massey
1994 Lynda Queen
1993 Vera Porter
1992 Dean Angel
1991 Sandra Jackson
1990 Tony Thetford
1989 Judy Williams
1988 Riney Jordan
1987 Judy Kriehn
1986 Cindy Randle
1985 Steve Knagg
1984 Don Agnew

Rookie of the Year

YEAR WINNER’S NAME
2024 Stephanie Lyssy
2023 Veronica Johannsen
2022 Ashley Scott
2021 Shelby Akin
2020 Kelsey Purcell
2019 Emily Solis
2018 Magen Davis
2017 Kim Cathey
2016 Tiffanie Blackmon-Jones
2015 Jamie Fails
2014 Olga Pena
2013 Britta Gamino
2012 Emily Grobe
2011 Maya Bethany
2010 Maclovio Perez
2009 Angela Jenkins
2008 Laura Riveron
2007 Ashley Holt
2006 Bria Michael
2005 Carrie Taylor
2004 Tisha Heskett
2003 Celina Bley
2002 Rachel Cruthirds
2001 Norman Lamberth
2000 Renae Gonzalez Murphy
1999 Adam McGilvray
1998 Amy Williams
1997 Annette Garcia
1996 Robin McClure
1995 Henry Garcia
1994 Ann Kate
1993 Craig Eichhorn
1992 Brenda Riojas
1991 Jeff Prescott
1990 Judy Peschel
1989 Ken Smalling
1988 Charlene Robertson
1987
1986 David Ochoa
1985 No Award
1984 Bobby Reynolds
1983 Dixie Parris
1982 Judy Williams
1981 Jackie Tolbert
1980 Cindy Bradford

Bright Idea Award

YEAR WINNER’S NAME
2024 Brittany Blanchard
2023 Tierney Tinnin
2022 No Award
2021 Charlotte LaGrone and John Tarrant
2020 Erin McCann, CPC and Justin Dearing
2019 North East ISD
2018 La Porte ISD
2017 K-TOR Radio, Galveston ISD
2016 Mission CISD
2015 Lubbock ISD Communications
2014 Go Public Campaign
2013 San Marcos ISD
2012 Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
2011 Amy Smith
2010 Dr. Dana Bashara, Patti Pawlik-Perales, Tricia Corey
2009 Craig Verley
2008 San Marcos CISD
2007 KGBG-TV, San Benito CISD
2006 Karen Permetti
2005 Kirk Lewis & the 2004 Executive Committee
2004 Lizbeth Johnson
2003 Rio Grande Valley Education Partnership
2002 Corpus Christi ISD Communications Office
2001 Julie Thannum
2000 Louise Henry
1999 Jon Dahlander
1998 Henry Garcia
1997 Janet Cline
1996 Nancy Ruff
1995 Brenda Riojas
1994 Susan Hoyle, Sarah Hubert
1993 Jerry Smith
1992 Dorian Martin
1991 Terry Cannon
1990 Steve Hamlin
1989 Sylvia Hawkins
1988 Donna Robertson
1987 Barry Allison
1986 Larry Ascough
1985 Jerry Smith
1984 Ann Watson
1983 Jackie Tolbert

Media Award

YEAR WINNER’S NAME
2024 Dacia Rivers, Texas School Business Magazine
2023 John Oliva, Corpus Christi Caller-Times
2022 Wayne Carter NBC 5 (DFW)
2021 Demond Fernandez, WFAA Dallas
2020 David Chancellor, WOAI-NBC San Antonio
2019 Deborah Knapp, KENS-5 San Antonio
2018 No Award
2017 Chris Saldaña, CBS KEYE-TV Austin, Texas
2016 John Garrett, Community Impact Newspaper
2015 Dave Berry, Tyler Morning Telegram
2014 Francisco Vara-Orta, San Antonio Express-News
2013 Evan Smith, the Texas Tribune
2012 Joe Smith, TexasISD.com
2011 Rachel Slade, The Williamson County Sun
2010 Jerry Hanszen, Radio Station KGAS, Carthage, TX
2009 Khambrel Marshall, KPRC-TV Houston
2008 Eric Finley, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
2007 Clyde King, Jr., Hartman Newspapers
2006 John Black, Bayshore Sun
2005 Terry Stutz, Dallas Morning News
2004 Brad Watson, WFAA Dallas-Ft Worth
2003 No Award Given
2002 Sam Gwynne, Texas Monthly
2001 No Award Given
2000 Martha McClain, San Benito News
1999 Hometown Star, Fort Worth Star Telegram
1998 June Brann, Progress Times Mission
1997 Irma Chapa, KGBT-TV Harlingen
1996 Cindy Cesare, KRIS-TV Corpus Christi
1995 David & Connie Landmann, Copperas Cove Leader Press
1994 David Sullens, Mark Lyon, & Craig Hammett

Partner in Public Education Award

YEAR WINNER’S NAME
2024 State Rep. Abel Herrero
2023 No Award
2022 Gary Hefner, Magnolia H-E-B
2021 Ally Surface
2020 Charles T. Doyle
2019 Fred Markham