New Braunfels ISD hosted its second annual Excellence Awards ceremony on Monday, April 24. More than 200 members of the NBISD community were in attendance at the McKenna Events Center where they enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Inside the ballroom attendees and awardees sat at tables decorated with a variety of school-related props from football helmets to globes, textbooks and microscopes. As folks walked into the ceremony, giant light up letters that spelled NBISD sat in front of a wall where many in attendance gathered for fun photo-ops.
Gold, blue and white balloons were draped around the top and sides of a backdrop for award winners after they crossed the stage. Dr. James Largent, NBISD’s interim superintendent, handed awardee’s their trophies while NBISD Executive Director of Communications Rebecca Villarreal was the event’s MC.
Among those who crossed the stage were the three biggest award recipients of the evening.Those awards included the second annual Duane Trujillo Commitment to Children Award, along with the Elementary and Secondary District Teachers of the Year.
Duane Trujillo Commitment to Children Award
Tom Orr, an NBISD volunteer, was awarded the Duane Trujillo Commitment to Children Award.
The Duane Trujillo Award is named after former Carl Schurz Principal Duane Trujillo, who passed away earlier this year. Trujillo spent 17 years with NBISD, working at multiple campuses.
“Duane’s passion for working with students was evident to everyone he met,” said NBISD Executive Director of Communications Rebecca Villarreal, who served as Master of Ceremony for the event. “His laughter, passion and love of life for his students will never be forgotten by those he worked with.”
The award went to Tom Orr who has volunteered at NBISD for many years. He is a former Silver Unicorn Award recipient and was also this year’s substitute teacher of the year.
According to those who nominated him, “He has worked extensively with credit recovery students at New Braunfels High School alongside Donna Lemley helping students who are at-risk.”
“Tom Orr devotes two days out of the week with elementary students as he reads books to these students. He is resilient and never complains,” a nominator said. “This man deserves recognition not for this year but also for the many years he has already provided to the district.”
NBISD District Teachers of the Year
From the 14 Campus Teachers of the Year, NBISD has selected Cathleen Jenkerson from Memorial Elementary as District Elementary Teacher of the Year and Melinda Kniseley of New Braunfels Middle School as the District Secondary Teacher of the Year.
A selection committee selected these outstanding teachers for the district honors after judging their essay applications and conducting in-person interviews. Both recipients will compete at the regional level this summer with hopes of ultimately being named Texas Teacher of the Year.
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Cathleen Jenkerson of Memorial Elementary was awarded elementary teacher of the year
Memorial Elementary’s Cathleen Jenkerson was named the NBISD elementary teacher of the year for 2022-23.
She has been teaching at NBISD for the last three years, including the last two as the art teacher at her campus. Jenkerson taught fourth grade during her first year at Memorial.
Prior to NBISD, she worked as a second and third grade teacher from 2018-2020 at James Bowie Elementary School in the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District. Jekerson also has worked as a camp counselor and pre-k teacher at New Braunfels Academy and as an infant, toddler and preschool lead teacher at Kid Spa Austin.
Since 2021, she has led the Student Leadership Council at her campus. She also was awarded the Memorial Elementary Core Value Award, Act with Purpose in 2022.
Prior to becoming a teacher, Jenkerson graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Resource and Environmental Studies with a minor in Art. She volunteered for one year in the AmeriCorps VISTA Program, where she wrote and published a Groundwater Productions Manual for the Texas Rural Water Foundation.
She later earned her teaching certification after finding that her calling was to work with children.
“It is extremely flattering to win this award and advance to the next round of the competition. I was beyond thrilled to be recognized by my peers for Campus Teacher of the Year. It made me feel so valued,” Jenkerson said. “I am extremely privileged to work in a community of highly capable and successful teachers that respect art education and can see the impact it has on our students. When I was recognized as District Teacher of the Year, I felt even more honored to work for a district that shares the same values. I firmly believe that I am only one of many incredible teachers that grow our young leaders, but nonetheless, the recognition is remarkable!”
Secondary Teacher of the Year
Melinda Kniseley of New Braunfels Middle School was awarded secondary teacher of the year
Melinda Kniseley of New Braunfels Middle School was announced as the secondary teacher of the year during the Excellence Awards.
“I am incredibly humbled to receive the Secondary Teacher of the Year award for our district. It signifies my colleagues’ belief in me, and inspires me to keep learning and growing in my profession in an effort to give back to the next generation all that was invested in me by the incredible teachers in my own life,” she said. “It is also very heartwarming to me to reflect on the journey so far. I am enormously grateful for the people and experiences I have encountered and the relationships built over the years. The award represents the hard work, dedication, and selfless giving of all our district teachers, which makes it all the more precious and meaningful to me.”
Kniseley has worked in education for the last 20 years and at NBMS for the last 17 years, starting as a 7th-grade math teacher and then becoming a 6th-grade lead math teacher. In 2014, she transitioned into teaching 8th-grade Algebra I, where she still is teaching and serving as NBMS Math Department Head.
Prior to NBMS, Kniseley spent four years teaching in San Antonio at the School of Excellence in Education Charter School as well as summer experience writing curriculum at Texas State University.
Kniseley is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and received her Texas teaching certification through San Antonio College. She also graduated Western Governors University with a Master of Business Administration. Kniseley says she is a lifelong learner and has earned certifications as a paralegal, blended learning and 18 Master Hours of teaching middle school mathematics.
Other award winners from the evening included:
Substitute of the Year
Tom Orr
Tom Orr, an NBISD volunteer, was awarded the Duane Trujillo Commitment to Children Award.
Counselor of the Year
Trey Martinez, Oak Run Middle School
Trey Martinez of Oak Run Middle School was named counselor of the year
Nurse of the Year
Erin Neuse, RN, Voss Farms Elementary
Erin Neuse of Voss Farms Elementary was named nurse of the year
Instructional Aide of the Year
Norma Grijalva, Lone Star Early Childhood Center
Norma Grijalva of Lone Star Early Childhood Center is the Instructional Aide of the Year
Support Services Employee of the Year
Carlos Cortez, Plumber, Maintenance Department
Curriculum Support Employee of the Year
Sarah Vaughn, Behavior Specialist, Student Services
Sarah Vaughn, a behavior specialist, was named Curriculum Support Employee of the Year
Campus Administrative Support Employee of the Year
Brenda Silva, Administrative Assistant, New Braunfels Middle School
Brenda Silva of New Braunfels Middle School was named the Campus Administrative Support Employee of the Year
District Administrative Support Employee of the Year
Connie Ayala, Executive Assistant, Curriculum and Instruction
Connie Ayala, Executive Assistant of Curriculum and Instruction, was named District Administrative Support Employee of the Ye
Transportation Employee of the Year
Steve Jeanson, Route Coordinator
Steve Jeanson, NBISD Transportatiion Route Coordinator, was named Transportation Employee of the Year
Assistant Principal of the Year
Mark Kosmo, New Braunfels Middle School
Mark Kosmo, New Braunfels Middle School Assistant Principal, was named the Assistant Principal of the Year
Professional of the Year
Ralph Bissey, Webmaster
Ralph Bissey, district webmaster, was named Professional of the Year
Principal of the Year
Marisela Lopez, Klein Road Elementary School
Marisela Lopez of Klein Road Elementary was named Principal of the Year
District Elementary Teacher of the Year
Cathleen Jenkerson, Memorial Elementary
District Secondary Teacher of the Year
Melinda Kniseley, New Braunfels Middle School
Duane Trujillo Commitment to Children Award
Tom Orr
