CFISD educators honored at 27th annual Salute to the Stars Gala
Aleah Tanner, Danish Elementary School Teacher of the Year honoree, stands on stage with Dr. Doug Killian, CFISD superintendent, during the Cy-Fair Educational Foundation’s (CFEF) 27th annual Salute to the Stars Gala on March 7 at the Berry Center. Tanner, along with 94 other Teacher of the Year honorees, two paraeducators and two support staff members, were recognized during the gala.
March 8, 2024—The Cy-Fair Educational Foundation (CFEF) held its 27th annual Salute to the Stars Gala in honor of CFISD’s 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year honorees March 7 at the Berry Center.
Gala underwriter Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union joined major sponsors Arcadis, Daspit Law Firm, First Financial Capital Corporation, Shutterfly Lifetouch, LLC, Howard Hughes, Netsync, PBK, Prime Contractors, Inc., Station & Ayers Insurance Planning Services, LLC, Community Impact and LED Partners in celebrating the accomplishments of 95 Teacher of the Year honorees, two paraeducators and two support staff members.
Christina Spoden, Emery Elementary School Teacher of the Year honoree, was selected to win $500 courtesy of All American Letter Jackets at the Salute to the Stars Gala held March 7 at the Berry Center. Each Teacher of the Year honoree was showered with gifts during the gala, with some lucky teachers being selected by random draw to win checks varying from $250, $500 and $1,000.
“The CFEF was thrilled to commemorate the 99 honorees at the 27th annual Salute to the Stars Gala,” said Marie Holmes, CFEF executive director. “The event’s success was made possible by the generous support of all the sponsors who contributed to our event.”
Honorees and guests were greeted by member of the Cypress Park High School Flairs dance team and enjoyed a performance from the Cypress Falls High School drumline. Butch Milks of Balfour served as the gala’s master of ceremonies and Don Ryan, former CFISD Board of Trustee, served as a guest emcee. Dr. Doug Killian, CFISD superintendent, individually thanked all honorees for their hard work and dedication. As each left the stage, every honoree was presented with a gift.
Members of the Cypress Falls High School drumline helped welcome Salute to the Stars honorees and guests to their seats as they entered the Berry Center arena on March 7.
Gala patrons were invited to participate in a raffle and silent auction, featuring different gift baskets and larger prizes, with all proceeds going towards CFEF scholarships. Several lucky teachers were also selected by random draw to win checks varying in amounts of $250, $500 and $1,000.
The gala ended with Marc Hofrichter, Frazier Elementary School Teacher of the Year honoree, winning the Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union car giveaway.
Teacher of the Year honorees are selected annually by campus principals for their outstanding dedication in providing valuable instruction to students in CFISD. Honored paraeducators and support staff members are also selected each year by supervisors for their outstanding dedication through their notable work throughout CFISD.
Members of the Cypress Park High School Flairs dance team helped welcome Salute to the Stars honorees and guests to the Berry Center on March 7.
The following educators were recognized as 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year honorees:
|
Name |
School |
|
Mia Vatuna |
Adam Elementary School |
|
Michelle Roycroft |
Alternative Learning Center – East |
|
Cyntrilla Alexander |
Alternative Learning Center – West |
|
Madyson Buhl |
Andre’ Elementary School |
|
Lisnorys Carbo |
Anthony Middle School |
|
Julie West |
Aragon Middle School |
|
Jeanique LaCour |
Arnold Middle School |
|
Emily McKian |
Ault Elementary School |
|
Raven Hayes |
Bane Elementary School |
|
Brittanee Coleman |
Bang Elementary School |
|
Amanda Newitt |
Birkes Elementary School |
|
Jessica Betancur |
Black Elementary School |
|
Chelsea David |
Bleyl Middle School |
|
Cynthia Thomas |
Brautigam Center |
|
LeAnna Davis |
Bridgeland High School |
|
Eric Rodriguez |
Brosnahan Elementary School |
|
Gloria Saldana |
Campbell Middle School |
|
Bernie Edwards |
Carlton Center |
|
Rebecca McNair |
Carpenter Center |
|
True Hernandez |
Cook Middle School |
|
JoAnn Burke |
Copeland Elementary School |
|
Jessica Smith |
Cy-Fair High School |
|
David Hunt |
Cypress Creek High School |
|
James Miller |
Cypress Falls High School |
|
Romy Moten |
Cypress Falls High School (Paraeducator) |
|
Brittani Juarez |
Cypress Lakes High School |
|
Tammy Raley |
Cypress Park High School |
|
Jullian Keggins |
Cypress Ranch High School |
|
Caylin Brashear |
Cypress Ridge High School |
|
Nika Maxwell |
Cypress Springs High School |
|
Genie Laskowski |
Cypress Woods High School |
|
Aleah Tanner |
Danish Elementary School |
|
Katherine Higdon |
Dean Middle School |
|
Mariangel Diaz |
Duryea Elementary School |
|
Christina Spoden |
Emery Elementary School |
|
Nasha Jackson |
Emmott Elementary School |
|
Page Kuykendall |
Farney Elementary School |
|
Katrina Finister |
Fiest Elementary School |
|
Griselda Ceballos Brown |
Francone Elementary School |
|
Marc Hofrichter |
Frazier Elementary School |
|
Meredith Fenley |
Gleason Elementary School |
|
Sulema Tamez |
Goodson Middle School |
|
Veronica Lopez Hernandez |
Hairgrove Elementary School |
|
Julia Hayman |
Hamilton Elementary School |
|
Kim Lloyd |
Hamilton Middle School |
|
Gabrielle Garrison |
Hancock Elementary School |
|
Marcus Johnson |
Hemmenway Elementary School |
|
Stephanie Vargas Monreal |
Holbrook Elementary School |
|
Ana Maxwell |
Holmsley Elementary School |
|
Katie Ayers |
Hoover Elementary School |
|
Brianna Reese |
Hopper Middle School |
|
Shakir Walker-Teal |
Horne Elementary School |
|
Dorothy Weust |
Jersey Village High School |
|
Katrina Chalmers |
Jowell Elementary School |
|
Christy Bellflower |
Kahla Middle School |
|
Shannon Andreas |
Keith Elementary School |
|
Marissa Irvin |
Kirk Elementary School |
|
DeMarcus Conner |
Labay Middle School |
|
Alyssa Hurban |
Lamkin Elementary School |
|
Brynae Love-Young |
Langham Creek High School |
|
Stacy Jamison |
Lee Elementary School |
|
Yarah Gonzalez-Hidalgo |
Lieder Elementary School |
|
Kendra Heider |
Lowery Elementary School |
|
Joe Ruffin |
Mark Henry Administration Building (Support Staff) |
|
Christine Rodriguez |
Matzke Elementary School |
|
Jalisa Christian |
McFee Elementary School |
|
Lisa Trewin |
McGown Elementary School |
|
Renny Villarroel |
Metcalf Elementary School |
|
Shannon McKee |
Millsap Elementary School |
|
Jennifer Clepper |
Moore Elementary School |
|
Fabiola Herrera-Huang |
Owens Elementary School |
|
Kelli Plummer Parsons |
Pope Elementary School |
|
Abigail Uriegas |
Post Elementary School |
|
Jessica Brocato |
Postma Elementary School |
|
Candice Jones |
Reed Elementary School |
|
Kaitlyn Calvin |
Rennell Elementary School |
|
Melinda Hahn |
M. Robinson Elementary School |
|
Kelli Kruse |
A. Robison Elementary School |
|
Corey Williams |
Rowe Middle School |
|
Brent Biggs |
Salyards Middle School |
|
Vanessa Landram |
Sampson Elementary School |
|
Tia McCoy |
Sheridan Elementary School |
|
Mark Weber |
Smith Middle School |
|
Makenzie Kellgren |
Spillane Middle School |
|
Maureen Raney |
Spillane Middle School (Support Staff) |
|
Tracy Spaulding |
Spillane Middle School (Paraeducator) |
|
Courtney Langham |
Sprague Middle School |
|
Michelle Nichols |
Swenke Elementary School |
|
Cassey Green |
Thornton Middle School |
|
Bria Davis-Howell |
Tipps Elementary School |
|
Tyisha Buffin |
Truitt Middle School |
|
Ginger Furlong |
Walker Elementary School |
|
Angela Turner |
Warner Elementary School |
|
Michelle Ortiz |
Watkins Middle School |
|
Jeri Adams |
Wells Elementary School |
|
Mary Bogart |
Willbern Elementary School |
|
Shauntey Smith |
Wilson Elementary School |
|
Tracy Northington |
Woodard Elementary School |
|
Mallory Makris |
Yeager Elementary School |
Frazier Elementary School Teacher of the Year Marc Hofrichter, third from left, poses for a photo after being selected to win the Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union’s new car giveaway at the CFEF’s 27th annual Salute to the Stars Gala on March 7 at the Berry Center. Joining Hofrichter, from left, Whitney Babineaux, general sales manager at Parkway Chevrolet; Cameron Dickey, Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union president and CEO; Dr. Doug Killian, CFISD superintendent; Marie Holmes, CFEF executive director; and Bryan Ginsburg, CFEF chairman.