At the December Board of Trustees meeting, the district proudly recognized two outstanding educators as Mission First, Team Always Educators, honoring their commitment to student success, collaboration, and innovation.
The Mission First, Team Always Educator Award recognizes staff members who prioritize student success with purpose and integrity, foster collaboration and trust to strengthen their teams, and embrace innovation and lifelong learning to prepare students to be Future Ready.
Emily Hall, T.W. Ogg Elementary
Mrs. Emily Hall exemplifies Mission First, Team Always, and Future Ready through her dedication to students and leadership among her peers. Her classroom reflects high expectations, a positive learning culture, and a strong commitment to student growth. As a Grade Level Lead, Hall strengthens collaboration and professional growth across her team.
This year, Hall led her team to attend the Frog Street Conference and took the initiative to implement Response to Intervention (RtI) practices in Pre-K, ensuring students receive targeted support to build a strong foundation for Kindergarten readiness. Her belief in every student’s potential and her commitment to continuous improvement make her a standout educator.
Lawrence Garza, Freeport Intermediate
Mr. Lawrence Garza was recognized for his commitment to growth, innovative instruction, and continued learning. This year, he was selected to participate in the 2025–2026 Applied Mathematics Program (AMP) with Rice University and ConocoPhillips—an elite professional learning opportunity.
Through this experience, Garza has strengthened inquiry-based learning in his classroom, implementing strategies such as the Question Formation Technique to spark curiosity and deepen student engagement. His dedication to innovative teaching and campus leadership reflects the Mission First, Team Always spirit and positively impacts both students and colleagues.
The district congratulates Mrs. Hall and Mr. Garza for their exceptional service and thanks them for their unwavering commitment to excellence in education.
