TCTA award winners announced

The Texas Classroom Teachers Association presents 13 statewide awards annually to honor those who have made outstanding contributions during the past year to public education, the teaching profession or to TCTA. The 2011-12 winners will be honored at a banquet at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston on Feb. 9, 2012, just before the association's annual convention, and are as follows:

Friend of Education – Public Official Category

Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman - nominated by the Whitesboro CTA

Friend of Education – Private Citizen Category

General Robert M. Shoemaker, U.S. Army, Retired, Killeen - nominated by the Killeen CTA

Administrator of the Year - Elementary Category

Linda McGurk, Principal, Milam Elementary School, McAllen ISD - nominated by the McAllen CTA

Administrator of the Year - Middle/Secondary Category

Leann Maxwell-Dumas, Principal, Alamo Junior High School, Midland ISD - nominated by the Midland CTA

Administrator of the Year - Central Office Category

Dr. John M. Folks, Superintendent, Northside ISD - nominated by the Northside CTA 

School Board Trustee of the Year

Oscar Medrano, School Board Trustee, San Benito CISD - nominated by the San Benito CTA

Retiree of the Year

Donna Patrick, former grades 5-6 math teacher at Southern Hills Elementary School, Wichita Falls ISD - nominated by the Wichita Falls CTA

Faculty Representative of the Year

Melissa Wright, Pre-AP World Geography teacher, Early College High School, Midland ISD - nominated by the Midland CTA

Leader of the Year

Shelley Reep, 7th grade math teacher, Alamo Junior High School, Midland ISD - nominated by the Midland CTA 

Innovator of the Year         

Gail Douglas, special education structured learning classroom teacher, Coronado High School, Lubbock ISD - nominated by the Lubbock CTA

Silver Apple Media Awards

Print, circulation of less than 50,000

Jessica L. Zwar, former reporter for Houston County Life magazine; currently employed by the Palestine Herald Press - nominated by the Crockett CTA

Print, circulation of 50,000 or more

Margaret Downing, Editor, Houston Press

Broadcast, including radio and television

Lindsey Stiner, Anchor/Reporter, KVII-TV Pronews 7, Amarillo