Katy ISD Selects District-Wide Teachers of the Year
Two outstanding teachers have been chosen as the 2011 Katy ISD District-Wide Teachers of the Year. Kimberly Bojko, kindergarten teacher at Michael L. Griffin Elementary and Amy Martinez, Biology, IPC and Chemistry teacher at Martha Raines High School, were announced during a surprise visit from Katy ISD Superintendent Alton Frailey at their schools.
“These individuals exemplify the finest attributes of outstanding teachers. Their passion for teaching truly enhances student learning and achievement. They are models of teachers that every student, parent and school wants and deserves,” says Frailey. “I congratulate Ms. Bojko and Mrs. Martinez on this honor.”
Bojko, this year’s elementary District-Wide Teacher of the Year, has been teaching in Katy ISD since 2007. She holds a Masters of Education degree from The Ohio State University and studied Literacy Collaborative under professors Gay Su Pinnell and Patricia Scharer. Bojko is often called upon to give presentations to teachers and parents on meaningful, interactive and hands-on opportunities to engage students in the classroom. She has also been recognized as a SMART Exemplary Educator and Digi Star Award winner.
“Ms. Bojko is an outstanding teacher whose passion for education inspires students and colleagues. Every day she demonstrates there are no limits to learning,” says Jacki Keithan, Michael L. Griffin Principal.
“It’s an honor to be Katy ISD’s Elementary Teacher of the Year,” says Bojko. “I am proud and thrilled to win such a prestigious award, especially when there are so many great teachers in Katy. It was amazing to discover Superintendent Frailey, the faculty and all the Griffin students had come out to cheer and recognize my work. Now I have a huge incentive to make sure I live up to the title.”
Martinez, this year’s secondary District-Wide Teacher of the Year, has been at Katy ISD’s Raines High School since 2009. She majored in Secondary Education and Biology at Drury University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She has participated on the IPC curriculum writing team and created online courses about modeling/teaching for fellow Raines teachers. She was named the Outstanding First-Year Teacher at Drury University in 1999.
“Amy is a teacher and leader of students and educators at RHS and has been instrumental to every positive change that has occurred on campus,” says Becky Bracewell-Tucker, Martha Raines High School Principal. “She has been influential in changing our story from being a school of unmotivated students and poor academic performance to a place of learning where teachers and students are finding success.”
“My most significant contributions and accomplishments as a teacher revolve around leading students, and even at times teachers, to go to the next level of learning,” says Martinez. “To see the relief on someone’s face when a concept they have struggled with in school finally makes sense, brings a satisfaction that is hard to adequately describe to someone who has never experienced it.”
Both District-Wide Teachers of the Year will be nominated by Katy ISD for the 2011 Texas Education Agency’s State-Wide Teacher of the Year program.
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