Salute is ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø ISD’s annual celebration to recognize some of the district’s outstanding team members for their continued dedication to student excellence and achievement in our schools.
The Salute Awards recognizes campus-based staff members in TEN categories. The winners will be celebrated at our Salute Awards ceremony, where we will also honor Teachers of Promise and Teachers of the Year.
- Transportation Staff of the Year
- Food Service/Warehouse Staff of the Year
- Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year
- Teaching Assistant of the Year
- Campus Support Staff of the Year (includes Library Clerks, front office teams, Parent Support Specialists, Assistive Therapists, and Campus Safety staff)
- Campus Professional Staff of the Year (includes School Psychologists, OTs, PTs, Instructional Coaches, Diagnosticians, licensed mental health professionals, mental health specialists, Speech Pathologists and Nurses
- Library Staff of the Year (Includes Librarians & Associates of Library Services)
- Counseling Staff of the Year (includes our counselors and wellness counselors)
- Administration Staff of the Year (Includes Assistant Principals, Academy Directors & Academic Deans)
- Principal of the Year
2026 Salute Honorees
Staff, students, and families were invited to submit open nominations across ten categories from November through January. We received over 1500 submissions! Three finalists were then chosen for each category by a committee of district stakeholders who scored in alignment to our ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø ISD mission, vision and values.
Custodial and Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year
- Virginia Molina, Head Custodian, Ann Richards SYWL
- Ivan Tovar, Head Custodian, Eastside ECHS
- Carlos Valle, Custodian, Blazier Primary/Blazier Intermediate
Food Service and Warehouse Staff of the Year
- Bernadette Diaz, Food Service Manager, Winn Montessori
- Carrie Crouch, Food Service Manager Lead, Kealing MS/Garza Independence HS
- Ofelia Diaz, Food Service Specialist Lead, Anderson HS
Transportation Staff of the Year
- Jacqui Willis, Coordinator Transportation Planning & Scheduling
- Kimberly Hurtado, Bus Monitor
- Kevin Monzon, Bus Monitor
Teaching Assistant of the Year
- Dariuska Li-Gonzalez, Pleasant Hill ES
- Jennifer Staller, Brentwood ES
- Maria Esquivel, Gus Garcia YMLA
Campus Professional Staff of the Year
- Jami Kirkland, Instructional Coach, Burnet MS
- Corine Robbins, Instructional Coach, Dobie MS
- Melissa Alvarez, Occupational Therapist Bilingual
Campus Support Staff of the Year
- Lynn Tellechea, Administrative Assistant, Highland Park ES
- Nery Gouldner, Administrative Assistant, Bear Creek ES
- Carmen Alvarado, Administrative Assistant, Rosedale
Library Staff of the Year
- Courtney Ewing, Librarian, Casis Elementary
- Tara Lane Bowman, Librarian, Lamar MS
- Katy Price, Librarian, Blanton Elementary
Counseling Staff of the Year
- Kristel Sans, Counselor, St. Elmo Elementary
- Kelli Kirk, Counselor, Maplewood Elementary
- Adriane Kimmel, Counselor, Garza Independence HS
Administration Staff of the Year
- Kristin Troegle, Assistant Principal, Graham Elementary
- Kevin Owens, Assistant Principal, Navarro ECHS
- Martha Sanchez, Assistant Principal, Wooten Elementary
Principal of the Year
- Shana King, Principal, Crockett ECHS
- Brian Lancaster, Principal, Anderson HS
- Leyla Olano, Principal, Reilly ES
- Diana Vallejo, Principal, Govalle ES