Each year, teachers on all eight Mt. Pleasant ISD campuses pick one of their own to honor as Campus Teacher of the Year. This honor means a lot because it comes from one’s own peers – the people who see you on your best days and your worst days. The people who understand what you face and do daily because they face and do the same things.

From this select group of eight teachers, members of the Mt. Pleasant-Titus County Retired School Personnel Association are charged with choosing the District Teachers of the Year.

This choice is not easy. In fact, this year, as every year, it was extremely difficult. But when the discussion was over and the votes counted, a unanimous decision had been reached.  Kerrie Holt, a 4th grade teacher at Vivian Fowler Elementary School, had been named the MPISD Elementary Teacher of the Year and Tracey Campbell, Ph.D., a 7th grade Science teacher/team leader at Mount Pleasant Junior High School, had been named MPISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.

MPISD Elementary Teacher of the Year: Kerrie Holt (Vivian Fowler Elementary)

Kerrie Holt grew up in Mt. Pleasant and is a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. She was an Interventionist at Corprew Elementary for three years, moving to Vivian Fowler Elementary in 2008 where she has worked as an Interventionist, worked with dyslexic students and as a 4th grade teacher.

When asked why she became a teacher, Holt said, “God placed a calling on my heart in 2004. I answered His call and began school in the fall of 2004. I believe God called me to teach to impact families by showing His love and grace. I have been abundantly blessed in my career.”

When asked what she likes most about teaching, Holt said, “I like watching students learn to believe in themselves. It is very rewarding to watch students set goals, then strive to meet the goals and ultimately achieve the goals. Building self-confidence in students is my favorite part.”

Her advice to someone considering a career in teaching is simple: “Always treat students as if they were your kids. Treat students the same as you would want your child to be treated by their teacher.”

MPISD Secondary Teacher of the Year: Tracey Campbell (Mt. Pleasant Junior High)

Tracey Campbell grew up in the Harts Bluff community and is a graduate of Mount Pleasant High School. He attended Northeast Texas Community College and earned his B.A. in Biology from Austin College in Sherman. He earned a Masters of Divinity from Louisiana Baptist University (LBU) in Shreveport and in 2017 was awarded a doctorate in Psychology and Christian Counseling from LBU. He taught in Rusk ISD, Harts Bluff ISD and Pittsburg ISD before joining Mt. Pleasant ISD in 2016.

When asked why he became a teacher, Campbell said he had a disastrous first attempt at lecturing to a college class. That caused him to think that he “could find a way to communicate to students what they need to know to be successful in every area of life.” That led him to take education classes and become a teacher.

What does he like most about teaching? Campbell said, “I thrive on learning new things. I like finding new educational strategies. I like meeting students from a variety of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. I am validated in knowing that each student regardless of specific modification, accommodation, or at risk position, has had an opportunity to learn things that will enrich their life.”

His advice to prospective teachers has three parts: “First, teaching is about perseverance more than anything else. Second, remember your own health and family are more important than any students you will ever meet. Don’t let your desire to help take the place of your need to take care of yourself. Third, don’t let the details keep you from enjoying teaching. And one more – never stop learning.”

Campus Teachers of the Year

The Child Development Center Teacher of the Year is Pre-K Dual Language teacher Maria de los Angeles Rodriguez. She attended school in Mt. Vernon, earned an Associate’s Degree from NTCC and her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Bilingual Supplement. She began work at the Child Development Center as a Bilingual Assistant in 2007, moved into teaching in 2011. After a two-year hiatus at Mt. Vernon ISD, she returned to the CDC in 2017.

When asked why she became a teacher, Rodriguez said, “My Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Palmer, inspired me with her loving, sweet personality. Her affection spoke louder than words, which was exactly what I needed. I didn’t know any English and she made my school experience that year an unforgettable one. From then on I knew I wanted to be just like her when I grew up and be able to teach others in their native language as well.”

What Rodriguez said she likes about teaching is “I love building a positive relationship with the students and seeing how much they grow academically and socially.”

She has the following advice for someone considering a career in teaching. “Teaching is a career that requires lots of patience and you will face different challenges throughout the year. With that, you will always have that heartwarming feeling of making a difference in your students’ lives. What bigger reward can you ask for?”

The Teacher of the Year at Annie Sims Elementary School is Music teacher Shonda Randle. She attended Annie Sims Elementary and is a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. She earned her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. She worked at Lawler Vision Center for 10 years before joining the staff at Annie Sims two years ago.

Randle said she became a teacher “to help inspire students to love learning, especially music, just as many other teachers have done for me.”

When asked what she likes most about teaching she said, “What I like most about teaching is being in love with my job. I love having fun with my lessons, seeing my students grow in their musical abilities and learning new things each day.”

Her advice to someone considering teaching? “If you want to teach when you grow up, go for it! Follow your dream, develop a plan to get there and never give up. You can do it if you set your mind to it.”

The E.C. Brice Elementary School Teacher of the Year is 3rd grade Dual Language teacher Leonardo Vera. A native of Columbia, South America, he graduated from the National University as a Physicist Engineer in 2006. He lived in North Carolina for five years before returning to Columbia to teach physics. He returned to the United States and joined the staff of E.C. Brice in 2015.

When asked why he became a teacher, Vera explained that he enjoyed tutoring his classmates in both high school and college. He taught in Columbia for several years, then went to work in a manufacturing facility but, he said, “the feeling is not the same, it is not what I am passionate about. And now I am teaching 3rd graders and the feeling is even better.”

Vera said what he likes most about teaching is “the ‘aha’ moment when my students first understand a new concept or see how the lesson applies directly to their lives. I get excited when students see improvement or when they are able to struggle through to mastery. Knowing that I have helped my students move forward with skills they will use for the rest of their lives is gratifying and truly fulfilling for me.”

He said that he would tell someone considering a career in teaching “if helping others, getting their best potential out of them and feeling helpful in a society is what they are looking for, then this is the career for them.”

The Corprew Elementary School Teacher of the Year is 3rd grade ESL teacher LaGlenda Moore Rockwell. She is a graduate of Pittsburg High School, earned her associate’s degree at NTCC, her undergraduate degree from Stephen F. Austin University and her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Before joining the District in 2009, she taught in Texarkana and Pittsburg.

When asked why she became a teacher, Rockwell explained, “When I was younger I enjoyed playing school with my baby sister. I would act like the teacher when we played. It wasn’t until high school, when I took a class that allowed me to go to our primary school and interact with students and teachers that I realized I wanted to be a teacher. I loved everything about the experience and couldn’t wait until I had my own classroom.”

Rockwell says she loves getting to know her students when asked what she likes most about teaching. She added, “Learning what makes them excited when they learn new things. I love building a relationship with them and their families. I love learning new ways to teach through my interactions with them.”

She would tell someone considering a teaching career that they have chosen the best profession ever, that they will learn so many great things. Her advice? “Try your best to always have a smile, be positive and flexible. Be ready to learn new things because one way doesn’t work for everyone. Love what you do and always look for ways to grow.”

The Teacher of the Year at P.E. Wallace Middle School is 6th grade English Language Arts teacher Tonya Schultz. She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School, earned an associate’s degree from NTCC, and both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She has taught at P.E. Wallace for 14 years. She is also a licensed professional counselor having worked with at-risk and the elderly and as an academic advisor at NTCC.

Schultz says two things led her to teaching: “to be able to be at home with my own children and a passion for working with young people to help them succeed.”

When asked what she likes about teaching she said, “I love creating a warm, loving environment that makes my kids feel safe and accepted. The bond with my students is the greatest blessing of all and I know it helps them reach higher than they might have thought possible.”

Her advice to someone considering a teaching career is simple. “Make sure you are passionate about teaching and that you love kids. It is your ministry and a calling that requires 100% commitment.”

The Teacher of the Year at Mount Pleasant High School is Spanish Teacher Maryna Svirska-Otero.  She was born in the Ukraine and attended school there earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish as Foreign Languages and a Master of Arts in English and Spanish with emphasis on Translation from a university there. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Liberty University.  She joined Mt. Pleasant High School in 2004 teaching Spanish Language Arts and Literature. She has served as Foreign Language Department Chair since 2014.

Otero said she became a teacher to use her talents “for the benefit of our community’s present and future, our young men and women. I wish to see every student of mine succeed in any matter, personal or professional, that they choose to pursue and I enjoy being available to support them along their path.”

She says, “It is a joy for me to work with young people and be able to use my knowledge and skills to help them reach their highest potential in specific subject matter, in developing their character, and in acquiring life skills necessary inside and outside our classroom on a particular stage of life. It is a precious experience to see my students mature during the academic year, as they use their skills and become more confident in their personal and academic success.”

Her advice for someone considering a career in teaching is “to see it as a vocation, more than just a job. It is important to love people. I would advise them to look at the students through the lens of the future while treating them with respect and encouragement, imagining who and what they are in the process of becoming.”

“These teachers exemplify what is good about public education, what is good about Mount Pleasant ISD schools,” said MPISD Superintendent of Schools Judd Marshall.  “They care about their students.  They go the extra mile.  They serve as role models for their students and for their colleagues.  They give of themselves daily to make sure all of our students receive the best possible education. We are blessed that they have chosen to work for MPISD.”

The Mount Pleasant ISD Teachers of the Year were recognized at the May 21 Board of Trustees meeting and honored at the End-of-Year Breakfast Friday, May 25, 2018.

Pictured: MPISD Campus Teachers of the Year
Front Row (l-r) Maryna Otero, Kerrie Holt, Leonardo Vera, Angeles Rodriguez
Back Row (l-r): Tracey Campbell, LaGlenda Rockwell, Tonya Schultz, Shonda Randle