Forest Trail EANESpiration Winners, 2021
Educational Impact
Those who display leadership and commitment to the district by making a positive, noticeable and significant impact.
Nancy Bettersworth, Special Education TA
Nancy is a model teaching assistant. She is so kind and respectful with all the students she serves. She has an amazing work ethic and is ALWAYS looking for ways to help and serve others. She is cheerful, kind, funny, considerate and an amazing asset to the staff at Forest Trail Elementary.
Laura Boone, Substitute Teacher
Laura Boone has played a pivotal role in the success of 5th grade this year at Forest Trail. Laura stepped into a substituting position for a teacher on medical leave at the end of the first quarter. Although she intended to only stay a few days, once Laura was in the classroom with the students, she decided to stay until a new teacher was hired in order to provide stability for our students. Laura learned how to teach in a blended classroom alongside the fifth grade teachers and put in many after school and weekend hours to provide a positive experience for the students in her care. Later, when half of our fifth grade team was required to quarantine (but students were still at school), Laura was there to provide the continuity and expertise that made success possible. Laura is more than a substitute teacher, she has become an integral part of our fifth grade team. Laura Boone’s dedication to the students and teachers in Eanes ISD is admirable and has made a significant impact on the education of our fifth graders.
Toni Rozzi, Special Education Teacher
Since Ms Rozzi has joined our team -amid a pandemic- she has shown dedication to our students who already had challenges facing them everyday, prior to COVID times. Ms Rozzi continues to rise to the challenges with professionalism, patience, determination and above all a very obvious passion and commitment to her students. Her love and diligence have made all the difference for those who have greater hurdles than most to reach their potential, and we are so grateful for her teamwork, cheerful attitude, and her natural abilities to relate to kids. She is loved by students and staff alike, and should be commended for her good work that will impact the rest of her student's lives.
Jenny Sutter, Substitute Teacher
It is no secret the 2020-2021 school year, at the very least, has been interesting. One of the consistent hurdles has been staffing the building. Throughout this year, FTE has had teachers out for one reason or another for varying degrees of time. We were fortunate to have outstanding help. One of these helpers was Jenny Sutter. She was the first person who said "where" and "when". She completed all of the steps required to become a substitute teacher and has proven to be a cornerstone allowing us to make it through quarantines and keeping FTE going. Our students received the structured, high-quality instruction, combined with the attention to the whole child we expect of our staff. Our students, staff, and families are better for having been served by Jenny Sutter.
Angela Woodbridge, Substitute Teacher
Angela's love of teaching and this community has come through in so many ways during this pandemic but none as much as when she stepped in as one of our very first *remote* substitute teachers. During a time when teachers were afraid to take time off for fear of having no one brave enough to Zoom remotely with a class full of kids, Angela stepped in and made it look easy. She took it one step further by supporting our Specials team by remote subbing for PE for an entire quarter. The kids loved her and she gained an enormous amount of experience that enabled us to create and provide better substitute support on our campus. She was absolutely amazing.
Heroes
Those who perform an outstanding achievement that brings prestige to Eanes ISD, or do something that goes above and beyond the call of duty.
Kara Brown, Teacher Assistant
Though Kara's main responsibility as a Teaching Assistant is to assist the K-1 teams at Forest Trail Elementary - she does much more. She assists in the copy room with material preparation, helps students during lunch periods, facilitates small groups, takes over teaching responsibilities in the classroom when asked to sub for absent teachers, assists new substitutes in the building when they first arrive in the morning, assists with the school store, and lends a smile and a hand wherever needed. Kara is scheduled to work part-time, but will work beyond her hours in order to complete projects and assist teachers. We are so grateful for the daily impact Kara makes not just on the students but in the lives of our teachers.
Stephanie Buchman, Teacher Assistant
Stephanie is one of the most selfless individuals to have ever graced our campus. Our school motto is to build leaders who are kind, courageous, and leaders in the community and I can't think of a better description for Stephanie Buchman. You will find her in the copy room laminating and cutting papers one minute, filling in for a 5th grade teacher the next, or doing car line duties and calling parents in the office when students get on a wrong bus. She is the jack of all trades that knows the in's and outs of our school and does her job with an effortless ease and always a gracious smile. We at FTE could not imagine our school without Mrs. Buchman and our school and lives are made better daily thanks to her enormous efforts!
Hillary Cumberworth, Parent Volunteer
As an accomplished artist herself, Hillary Cumberworth knows the power art has to uplift spirits and bring people together. Her work has graced the front of our building for everyone who drives through to see. Her talent and gift of time have raised awareness for EEF, advertised campus events, promoted our philanthropic traditions, and more importantly, given us all something to smile about. The need for fun and creativity has never been greater; Mrs. Cumberworth has ensured that FTE holds to those core tenants. Thank you for making our days better and giving us something in which to be proud. Additionally, Mrs. Cumberworth donated weekends to create art with our remote students by creating a safe, socially distanced opportunity enabling them to contribute to class art projects. I am proud to recognize Mrs. Cumberworth for her commitment to inclusiveness for all learners and that she does for the FTE community at large.
Innovation
Those who implement a creative or innovative program, teaching method, cost-savings, etc.
Joshua Allen-Flowers, CDC Teacher
"Mr. Josh" is chanted on the playgrounds as we switch recess from preschool to pre-kindergarten groups everyday. Josh works for the childhood development center as a "floater" teacher, seeing each classroom from 2-years-old to 6-year-olds. Aside from being a rare male role model, Mr. Josh is also a one-man enrichment program, creatively bringing music education to each classroom. He has modified lesson plans for each development level, and plays his guitar to the delight of every child. We are so lucky to have an educator that not only innovates an entire musical education program into our early education program, but a person who embodies creativity in teaching.