Metzger Health Teacher and Tennis Coach Sheila Gibson was totally floored when Dr. Ball walked in with the Employee of the Month award for her. For years, Ms. Gibson has been not only teaching the important basics of staying healthy and listening to their bodies, but she is so good at helping all students feel valued and a part of the group. This was made crystal clear by a parent who communicated to Dr. Ball about how Ms. Gibson works students of all levels of abilities into the classroom process and makes them comfortable enough to participate and be themselves. Knowing how to keep students of all backgrounds and capabilities engaged in what's being taught is a real gift. Her Principal is Ms. Loretta Davidson. We thank Ms. Gibson for sharing that with our Metzger Students. She is our Employee of the Month for January 2020!

The November/December Employee of the Month was surprised recently at Judson High School. He is Mr. Michael Dominguez. He is versatile teacher who is an instructor in Social Studies, Personal Finance Literacy, and Mexican American Studies. He was basically floored by the presentation that was made by Dr. Ball in the administrative conference room on campus. Mr. Dominguez has been with JISD for five years and what makes this nomination special is that it came from one of his students. The nomination explained that he sets the bar high for his students and the majority of them meet the goals. Students feel comfortable talking to him about their goals and plans after graduation and he is always willing to help with college or military choices, and scholarship essays. Congratulations to Mr. Michael Dominguez, the JISD Employee of the Month.

Crestview Elementary Teacher Maria Bryan

The October Judson ISD Employee of the Month is Maria Bryan who is a Pre-K Bilingual Aide at Crestview Elementary School. Along with teaching some of our very youngest students, she is an accomplished artist and she uses that whenever she can to relate learning to her students. She also truly has such compassion for students. She created an almost life-sized painting of a tree in the school's front hall in memory of a first-grader lost to cancer. Ms. Bryan doesn't seek the limelight, but she is always willing to cheerfully do what's need like conducting language tests or writing out difficult translations. She is an all-star at not just Crestview, but in Judson ISD. Congratulations!

The month of September is a time to recognize one of Judson ISD's wonderful employees. She is Karen Robb. Ms. Robb has been an integral part of the Business Services Department at the district office for 42 years. She is a real team player with a caring heart and is always baking delightful sweets for the office. She was surprised by Dr. Ball with flowers, candy, and a recognition certificate. We thank her for her longstanding service to the district. She'll retire at the end of this calendar year.

The Judson ISD Employee of the Month for the month of June is Catherine Tuttle who works in the Transportation Department. She was surprised recently during a department meeting by Dr. Ball and members of senior staff to recognized her commitment to her work. Ms. Tuttle has been described as a person who rarely is absent and always has the happiest attitude in helping others.

Ms. Tuttle does a lot for the JISD Transportation Department. She has worked with the district for more than 12 years. As the Judson Transportation Field Trip Coordinator for all campuses and specialty staff trips she has, to date, coordinated 2,177 Field Trips which required more than 3,000 vehicles. In addition, Ms. Tuttle assigns each driver their route, works with the Dispatch Office to assign buses, calculates the trip cost for each school, and many times drives a bus route herself. When transportation has a high number of field trips at night or weekends, she is always willing to be the on-call person to make sure everything runs right.

Congratulations to her for being an example to all of us!

Ms. Wilisha Hardeway was surprised by Dr. Ball and Principal Tracey Valree who presented her with the honor.

Wilisha Hardeway, who is part of the counseling staff at Metzger Middle School, was blown away when she found Dr. Ball at her office to present her with the Employee of the Month award. Ms. Hardeway works as an 8th-grade counselor and is a huge advocate, confidant, and tremendous coworker at Metzger.  She was nominated by Donna Tucker who describes her as having a great attitude with her students each day.  Another description shows how she works with anyone who comes to her office.

"She is her student's number one advocate...she has built a relationship with her students since she first acquired them in 6th grade. She is an AMAZING and caring woman who loves children and being able to help them reach their potential. No one cheers louder for her 8th graders...she is right there encouraging them and letting her 8th graders know that they are more than capable."

Mr. John Lambert with Dr. Ball, Kirby MS Principal Jerome Johnson

Mr. John Lambert, who teaches history at Kirby Middle School was nominated and named the Judson ISD Employee of the Month.  He was one of 30 nominations this past month. Mr. Lambert was surprised by Dr. Ball this first day of April with the award, but it was not an April Fool's joke...it was the real thing.  Mr. Lambert was nominated by Melody Manescu also a Kirby Middle School teacher.  Mr. Lambert shows a great attitude on a daily basis and his classroom is a place that is decorated to pull students into history and the importance of it.  One way he does this is dressing the part of his lesson. When he began a lesson recently on The West, he dressed up as a cowboy and acted the part all day long. Congratulations Mr. John Lambert...our JISD Employee of the Month for April.