Teachers of the Year being honored April 14

Members of the Teachers Communications Committee for the Denton school district named 31 educators as Jostens’ Teachers of the Year.

The teachers will be honored with a special presentation, reception and open house hosted by the board of trustees at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, in the Professional Development Center, 1212 Bolivar St.

Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year, will also be named at the presentation.

The two honorees will represent DISD at the Regional XI level, which includes more than 60 school districts.

Jostens donates a gold ring to each honoree. San Bay Studios gives a special T-shirt to all the Teachers of the Year.

The elementary teachers of the year include:

Blanton: Jaime Parker, librarian

Borman: Socorro Zamudio, kindergarten teacher

Evers: Dee Ann Annett, Reading Recovery teacher

Ginnings: Cynthia Ferris, first-grade teacher

Hawk: Katie Vaughan, kindergarten teacher

Hodge: Mardee Rayner,fourth-grade teacher

Houston: Fauncine Stubblefield, second-grade teacher

Lee: Alice Vazquez, second-grade teacher

McNair: Julia Hamm, fifth-grade teacher

Nelson: Zetta Smith, kindergarten teacher

Paloma Creek: Marcia Chamblee, Reading Recovery teacher

Pecan Creek: Billie Lowrie, ESL teacher

Providence: Terry Rahn, special-education teacher

E.P. Rayzor: Ivey Carey, librarian

N. Rayzor: Linda Marquez-Gavilanes, pre-kindergarten teacher

Rivera: Mauricio Corredor, pre-kindergarten teacher

W.S. Ryan: Noemi Geihsler-Vinola, second-grade teacher

Savannah: Yvonne Gentry, second-grade teacher

Stephens: Laurie Forsyth, fifth-grade teacher

Wilson: Matt Preston, fourth-grade teacher

Ann Windle School for Young Children: Sylvia Munge, preschool program for children with disabilities teacher.

The Secondary Teachers of the Year include:

Calhoun: Connie Shaw, seventh-grade teacher

Crownover: Christina Baker, EXPO teacher

Harpool: Monica Colson, eighth-grade teacher

McMath: Ruth Westbrook, seventh-grade teacher

Navo: Chris Schick, eighth-grade history teacher

Strickland: Tiffany Fitzsimmons, art teacher

Denton High: Cristina Galindo, ESL teacher

Guyer High: Paula Robinson, chemistry teacher

Ryan High: Julie Tolle, English teacher;

Davis: Patricia Gerdes, science teacher.

Fifth-grade transition meetings set for May

All Denton school district middle school campuses are hosting transition meetings for current fifth-graders and their parents from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 4, at each campus.

Parents and students will learn more about middle school teams and elective choices at their future campuses. Counselors, teachers, organization sponsors and coaches will be available to talk with those attending.

Those who cannot attend or who have questions should contact the school’s counseling office.

Calhoun Middle — 709 Congress St., Denton, 76201 — 940-369-2400

Crownover Middle — 1901 Creekside Drive, Corinth, 76210 — 940-369-4700

Harpool Middle — 9601 Stacee Lane, Argyle, 76226 — 940-369-1700

McMath Middle — 1900 Jason Drive, Denton, 76205 — 940-369-3300

Navo Middle — 1701 Navo Road, Aubrey, 76227 — 972- 347-7500

Strickland Middle — 324 E. Windsor Drive, Denton, 76209 — 940-369-4200

Special-education director earns honor

Val Morgan, director of special education for the Denton schools, recently received the Eula Lee Carter Scholarship from the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.

Morgan was one of 25 to receive a $6,000 scholarship from the society.

Morgan, a member of the society’s Iota Iota chapter in Texas, is attending Texas Woman’s University, where she is majoring in special-education administration.

The honor society for female educators promotes excellence in education and personal and professional growth of women educators.

Ryan High School

Bands performs at national festival

The Ryan High School bands recently performed at the Bands of America National Concert Festival in Indianapolis.

Eighteen bands nationwide were selected to perform in the festival.

The festival comprises the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, the National Percussion Festival, Orchestra America National Festival and the Middle School National Music Festival.

The festival featured concerts by the Honor Band of America, the Honor Orchestra of America and the Jazz Band of America.

 The festivals are noncompetitive events, with ensembles performing for a knowledgeable audience.

Eddy Russell is the Ryan High director of bands.

Denton High School

Denton High earns top student council awards

The Denton High Student Council recently earned the Sweepstakes Council and the Top Ten Project awards from the Texas Association of Student Councils at the group’s state convention in Arlington. DHS was one of 196 schools to receive the award, out of approximately 1,300 schools.

DHS was recommended in five areas:

* drugs, alcohol, safety and health,led by juniors Libby Knight and Will Hayes;

* energy and environment, led by senior Ryan Davidson;

* pride and patriotism, led by senior Katie Franks;

* community service, led by senior Priscilla Jasso;

* outstanding student council, led by junior Kelsie Vogds.

The school’s Homecoming Carnival project also earned a Top Ten Project Award. Senior Isaiah Laws outlined the project in the application, and student council members, Corwyn Raesz, senior, and junior Makenna Wiedower, made nine presentations about the project at the convention.

Junior Fillies Clinic set for this Saturday

The Denton High School Fillies are hosting a Junior Fillies Clinic from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in the Denton High gymnasium, 1007 Fulton Drive. The clinic is open to girls ages 3 to 13. The clinic is offered to teach dance skills and instill confidence in participants while raising money for the Fillies Drill Team.

The clinic participants will perform their routines for parents at 11:30 a.m. in the main gym. For more information, contact Ashley Ness, at 940-369-2000.

Drill team hosts ‘What a Wonderful World’

The Fillies Follies will host What a Wonderful World at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, and Friday, April 17, in the Denton High School auditorium.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students and $3 for children younger than the age of 5. Students may purchase tickets in the Denton High front office.

Ashley Ness is the Denton High Fillies dance director. For more information, contact Denton High at 940-369-2000.