FWISD announces 2019-2020 Chairs for Teaching Excellence

Sixteen Fort Worth ISD teachers have been chosen as the 2019-2020 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence. The selected teachers will be conferred with the title of Chair for Teaching Excellence for one year and receive a $5,000 honorarium.

Each Teaching Chair’s campus will receive a banner to display in a prominent location. In addition, a photograph of each winner will be on display at the FWISD Professional Development Center for one year, the school district said in a news release.

The Chairs for Teaching Excellence Luncheon will be Nov. 14, 2019.

Fort Worth ISD established The Chairs for Teaching Excellence program in 1994. It is modeled after the university-level Chair program and is designed to recognize and reward exemplary teachers. This program is unique because of its role in a public K-12 setting and for its rigorous selection process.

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Each year, more than 100 teachers submit Teaching Chair applications across 16 subject area categories, as well as recommendation letters, for review by members of the Teaching Chairs selection committees.

Each category has its own selection committee. Teachers selected as finalists undergo a rigorous evaluation process based on their application; a teaching demonstration recorded on video during a class visit; and an interview session with their respective selection committee.

This year’s Teaching Chairs sponsors and honorees are:

Angela D. Paulos Chair for Teaching Excellence in Visual Arts Alyssa Vallecorsa, Trimble Tech High School Central Market Chair for Teaching Excellence in Acquisition of Language Maria Cruz Washington, Stripling Middle School Bayard H. Friedman Chair for Teaching Excellence in Performing Arts Brent Schooley, South Hills High School Blue Zones Project Chair for Teaching Excellence in Health & Physical Education Mark Greenwood, Westcliff Elementary School Broadway at the Bass Chair for Teaching Excellence in Dance & Theater Victoria K. Scheffler, South Hills High School Chase Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary English Cassie Hanson, Trimble Tech High School Crescent Real Estate Chair for Teaching Excellence in Career & Technical Education Vickie Jenson, South Hills High School Atmos Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Science Naomi V. Gutierrez, Rosemont 6th Grade Kroger Chair for Teaching Excellence in Special Education Lauren Caldwell, Westcliff Elementary School Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Reading Brandi Mayhall, Burton Hill Elementary School Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Math & Science Marisol Herrera, Dolores Huerta Elementary School Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Middle School STEM Ann Marie Burgess, M. Martin Jacquet Middle School Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in High School STEM Barton Scott, Young Men’s Leadership Academy Sewell Lexus & Infiniti of Fort Worth Chair for Teaching Excellence in Humanities Nathan Pena, Young Women’s Leadership Academy TTI Inc. Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Math Heather Hedges, Paschal High School XTO Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Early Childhood Education Amy Sikes Morrison, Waverly Park Elementary School