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A total of 19 teachers in the San Antonio area have been chosen as distinguished educators and finalists for the 2015-2016 �԰����� Prize for Excellence in Teaching.

The educators will be honored at a reception at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 in the Skyline Room of the Coates University Center on the �԰����� campus. Based upon their outstanding teaching and leadership, two of the educators will be selected by a blue-ribbon committee composed of business and civic leaders and �԰����� education students to receive the �԰����� Prize for Excellence in Teaching for 2015-2016.

The winners will be named in a ceremony on Friday, April 29 in the Ruth Taylor Recital Hall on the �԰����� campus. Also, that day, the 2015 National Teacher of the Year, Shanna Peeples, will deliver the Kappa Delta Pi Lecture for Outstanding Educators. Peeples is an English teacher at Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, Texas.

�԰����� Prize for Excellence in Teaching finalists:

• Alamo Heights Independent School District
  Michelle Candland
  Special education teacher
  Alamo Heights High School
• Boerne Independent School District
  Michael Gillette
  AP United States history teacher
  Boerne Samuel V. Champion High School
• Comal Independent School District
  Pamela Blair
  5th grade ELA teacher
  Indian Springs Elementary School
• East Central Independent School District
  Janette Chall
  2nd grade teacher
  Harmony Elementary School
• Fort Sam Houston Independent School District
  Leah L. Goff
  4th grade teacher
  Fort Sam Houston Elementary School
• Harlandale Independent School District
  Bridget Williams
  8th grade math teacher and math department chair
  Terrell Wells Middle School
• Judson Independent School District
  Teresa Pena
  Adult years vocational instructor
  Judson Secondary Alternative Campus
• Lackland Independent School District
  Patrick Button
  2nd grade teacher
  Lackland Elementary
• North East Independent School District
  Javier Melendez
  5th grade teacher
  Bulverde Creek Elementary School
• Northside Independent School District
  Carol Marie Hudson
  Kindergarten teacher
  Henry T. Brauchle Elementary School
• Randolph Field Independent School District
  Deborah Wells
  1st grade teacher
  Randolph Field Elementary School
• San Antonio Independent School District
  Dora Alicia Garcia
  1st grade teacher
  Martin Luther King Academy
• Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District
  Stacy Reed
  8th grade science and Pre-AP science teacher
  J. Frank Dobie Junior High School
• Somerset Independent School District
  Amber Simpson
  Master teacher
  SSG Michael P. Barrera Veterans Elementary School
• South San Antonio Independent School District
  Mary Ann Ochoa
  2nd grade bilingual teacher
  Five Palms Elementary School
• Southside Independent School District
  Katherine Lujan
  Collaborative learning facilitator of science and math
  J. L. Matthey Middle School
• Southwest Independent School District
  Yara Schutter
  1st grade teacher
  Southwest Elementary School
• The Winston School of San Antonio
  Robyn Borth
  Middle school reading and language arts, upper school transitions
  and American history teacher, and cheer coach
• Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District
  Calvin W. Lambert
  Senior Naval instructor-NJROTC
  Uvalde High School

Since 1982, �԰�����, through its Department of Education, has recognized and honored teaching as a profession and those outstanding persons who distinguish themselves in the profession. Joining �԰����� in sponsoring the prize activities in 2015 is H-E-B Grocery Co. All finalists receive a crystal apple and a cash award.

For more information, contact �԰�����’s department of education at 210-999-7501.