Employee:

Campus / Work Area Assigned:

Job Title:

Years of Service:

Nominated by:

Judy Aberle has been a dedicated educator for the past twenty-three years. Seventeen of those years were spent as a debate coach and thirteen of them she has spent lovingly attending to the needs of students with learning disabilities in hearing labs. One of those years I was privileged to see her innovative teaching methods in action as she captured the minds of her students while developing the a love of knowledge. Presently, Ms. Aberle’s doors remain wide open longer after the dismissal bell is rung. I recently visited her classroom and found the students working diligently from wall to wall after school. Her outstanding dedication to education brought back memories of the year she worked with my own daughter. She inspired in her not only a love of learning, but inspired her to believe in herself. She taught her that any goal was attainable only if you put your heart in it. Today, my daughter ranks at the top ten percent of the University of the Incarnate Word and will be graduating with a major in communications and a minor in graphic design. I am proud to nominate Ms. Aberle for believing in our children.

Judeen Aberle’s Biography. I graduated from the U of WI in Madison with a BS in Education with a "Broad Field" in English and communication arts. I moved to Del Rio where I taught English and speech and coached UIL policy debate and Lincoln-Douglas debate. I taught at Del Rio High School for thirteen years. I moved to San Antonio in l996 to coach competitive speaking events: extemporaneous speaking (informative and persuasive), oral interpretation (poetry and prose), and both policy debate and Lincoln-Debate. We competed in National Forensic League and University Scholastic League. I have been blessed to take students to district and qualify for regional, as well as state meets. After four years here at Holmes, I dropped coaching. At that time, I returned to classroom speech and English. I have taught English I, II, III, and IV. Throughout the years, I have taught all levels: Correlated Language Arts ( the old term for what NISD refers to as English lab classes), regular, enriched, honors, and gifted/talented. With the GT, I participated in GT fairs where students presented projects, curriculum writing, and state conventions.

My father instilled the love for education. I learned the value of reading and the library. His belief was that a reader could be independent. If you can read, you can find answers to any question. If not, you are dependent on whoever has the answer. Because my parents couldn't afford to put me through college, I was on my own. I joined the Air Force when I realized that I wasn't able to earn and save enough to attend school. That was a good experience and provided me the savings and GI Bill to enable me to get my degree. Teaching is my love. As one of seven and the oldest girl, I did a lot of it as a part of my role in the family. But, to become a teacher has been my way to impact the lives of young people. I wanted to give to other youth what my teachers had given me: the hope and belief that I could make something of myself. One counselor my senior year called me in when she realized I hadn't registered for college. She showed me what to do and how to file for grants and loans which enabled me to get started. I have never forgotten her.

I strive to give my students what I have. A professor wrote on the board once that "a good teacher is dispensable." When I asked him what he meant, he explained that a good teacher takes the student as far as he can go. From there the student is able to go on and beyond. teaching isn't a job for easy money nor for those looking for summers off. My freshmen religion teacher explained it well. She said that teaching is a vocation, whereas most jobs career is a stepping stone to a higher salary; a vocation is a calling of God.

I would like to nominate Evelyn M. Hardaman for the “Red McCombs School House Award”. After teaching all day, Evelyn M. Hardaman volunteered t the Levi Strauss Plant or Kelly USA for several hours for six days a week. These are some of the things she did:

She was able to facilitate communication with special needs evacuees due to her knowledge of sign language. She encouraged the faculty, staff and students at her school to donate supplies, and she supplemented them with her own money. She spent many hours reading to the children, tutoring them, and comforting them. She started the program called “Building Book Buddies”. When children in Northside donated books, they were asked to write a note inside to cover welcoming the recipient to Texas. Evelyn took these books to the shelters and gave them to the children.

While at the shelter, she did makeovers and provided transportation to a beauty salon. Once, on a Monday, she picked up an elderly gentleman from the shelter at 5:30 a.m. and took him to the airport so he could be with relatives.

She encouraged those around her to visit the shelters and read or work with the children. Evelyn, along with her doctoral team, wrote an accountability plan for educating the children who were evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. The plan will be submitted to The Texas Education Agency.

Shirley Ferguson is not your stereotypical secretary. She as recreated her job to enthusiastically embrace organizing and shepherding the thousands of business and community volunteers in Northside ISD. Call from the community, work, or any place from “outside” and say “I love students; how can I help?” and you will be transferred to Shirley Ferguson who will convince you to donate time, energy and expertise to the campus or program of your choice – ranging from Northside Education Foundation to Chalkfest sponsor from Wax Museum ticket for Katrina Kids to gifts for Grandparents Day at school. Shirley Ferguson is actually a lot like Red and Charlene McCombs; unselfishly giving back and expanding her job to be relationship rich.

Mrs. Donzis is a model of (?) and compassion. She (?) her young students in learning the importance of good choices and great character. She uses artistic and creative approaches to welcome and connect with every child. Mrs. Donzis volunteers her time every Thursday night to provide a FREE parent center at one of our elementary schools. She believes that parents need many avenues of support for themselves and their children. She works very long hours to ensure that everyone is cared for. Se does all of this – walks the extra miles – without ever asking anything for herself. She is loved and respected by her students for being an everyday hero.