A district of more than 7,500 employees, Garland ISD is fortunate to have many caring, committed and skillful paraprofessionals who provide meaningful and vital support to students and staff. The GISD Paraprofessional of the Year program recognizes these individuals and their contributions.
It started in 2019, honoring 72 campus winners, and this year’s second annual awards extends recognition to division paras as well. Staff across the district were recently given the opportunity to nominate their coworkers who make GISD a great place to live, work and learn. Committees then chose one winner from each campus and up to seven winners from each division. A complete list of 2020 honorees can be found below.
The esteemed group of 88 winners is now in the running for District Elementary, Secondary and Division Paraprofessional of the Year titles. Those awards will be announced later this spring.
“We want our paras to know how much they are valued in GISD,” said Superintendent Ricardo López. “We would not be #GarlandUSA without them, and I hope the entire tri-cities will join me in celebrating our outstanding 2020 honorees.”
Elementary:
- Amy Yearout – Abbett Elementary School
- Kimberly Patterson – Armstrong Elementary School
- Nancy Girouard – Back Elementary School
- Kathy Webster – Beaver Technology Center for Math & Science
- Victor Cespedes – Bradfield Elementary School
- Patricia Nava – Bullock Elementary School
- Jennifer Garver – Caldwell Elementary School
- Jason Ratliff – Carver Elementary School
- Julie Hope – Centerville Elementary School
- Ninfa Rosales – Cisneros Prekindergarten School
- Cathy Lawler – Classical Center at Vial Elementary School
- Pleshae Brown – Club Hill Elementary School
- Evelyn Crain – Cooper Elementary School
- Kiri Richardson – Couch Elementary School
- Anthony McClure – Daugherty Elementary School
- Letiany Rodriguez – Davis Elementary School
- Ashton Grable – Dorsey Elementary School
- Khanh Le – Ethridge Elementary School
- Aracely Rodriguez – Freeman Elementary School
- Luisa Teshe – Giddens-Steadham Elementary School
- Marimar Carrillo – Golden Meadows Elementary School
- Virginia Rodriguez – Handley Elementary School
- Raquel Martinez – Heather Glen Elementary School
- Manuela Davis – Herfurth Elementary School
- Rossy Del Rio – Hickman Elementary School
- Marisela Shamsid-Deen – Hillside Academy for Excellence
- Natalie Galitz – Keeley Elementary School
- Karen Clark – Kimberlin Academy for Excellence
- Shana Ray – Liberty Grove Elementary School
- Amy Monzon-De Jesus – Lister Elementary School
- Mahnaz Mousavi Sigaroudi – Luna Elementary School
- Melissa Ramirez – Montclair Elementary School
- Juanita Dominguez – Northlake Elementary School
- Traci McGill – Park Crest Elementary School
- Denia Toperzer – Parsons Prekindergarten School
- Joann Boswell – Pearson Elementary School
- Jose Munevar – Roach Elementary School
- Karla Boling – Rowlett Elementary School
- Anna Gibson – Sewell Elementary School
- Michelle Retta – Shorehaven Elementary School
- Raeann Geer – Shugart Elementary School
- Teresa Vallejo – Southgate Elementary School
- Jill Greenleaf – Spring Creek Elementary School
- Lastenia Gonzalez – Stephens Elementary School
- Elizabeth Mejia – Toler Elementary School
- Karen Brandenburg – Walnut Glen Academy for Excellence
- Alysabeth Howland – Watson Technology Center for Math & Science
- Janna Hockett – Weaver Elementary School
- Jennifer Baker – Williams Elementary School
Secondary:
- Patricia Crowell – Austin Academy for Excellence
- Maria Beltran Lule – Bussey Middle School
- Tracy Lee – Classical Center at Brandenburg Middle School
- Reyna Montano – Coyle Middle School
- Mayra Elizondo – Garland High School
- Johnny Miller – Gilbreath-Reed Career and Technical Center
- Cathaleen Shaw – GISD Alternative Education Center
- Javier Barrera Puentes – Houston Middle School
- Rocio Villalobos – Hudson Middle School
- Noemi Martinez – Jackson Technology Center for Math & Science
- Lea Williams – Lakeview Centennial High School
- Frances Marcano Feliciano – Lyles Middle School
- Faiza Bano – Memorial Pathway Academy
- Susana Morales – Naaman Forest High School
- Gracie Rodriguez – North Garland High School
- Candida Arredondo – O’Banion Middle School
- Julie Friel – Pathfinder Achievement Center
- Cathy Fields – Rowlett High School
- Lilia Espinoza – Sachse High School
- Maria Garcia – Schrade Middle School
- Debra Booker – Sellers Middle School
- Christi Davis – South Garland High School
- Lanita King – Webb Middle School
Division:
- Ashley Fears – Division of Academics
- Martha Salmeron – Division of Academics
- Cindy Savage – Division of Academics
- Karla Arreozola – Division of Finance
- Carrie Becknal – Division of Finance
- Melissa Browning – Division of Finance
- Cathy Garcia – Division of Finance
- Marianne Mackey – Division of Finance
- Marty Pargas – Division of Finance
- Irene Schwartz – Division of Finance
- Chelsea Burch – Division of Leadership
- Nikki Champy – Division of Leadership
- Jenny Graves – Division of Leadership
- Roxanne Pack – Division of Leadership
- Debbie Rogers – Division of Leadership
- Gay Wilburn – Division of Leadership