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Tyler ISD will honor the dedication and work of its teachers with a Teacher of the Year banquet set for 6:30 p.m. May 13 at Harvey Convention Center.

A teacher from each campus has been selected as Campus Teacher of the Year.

These teachers are now being considered for respective Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year honors. These two winners will be announced at the banquet.

Campus teachers of the year shared thoughts on why they became teachers.

Tracy Nash, first-grade teacher:

"I love first-graders because I love reading and I love watching a child when they first learn what print means and realize that they can read it by themselves. It is exciting and rewarding!"

Lisa Brown, third-grade teacher:

"From an early age, I was interested in teaching because of my grandmother. I spent countless hours 'playing school' and pretending to grade papers when she did." She was Teacher of the Year at Clarkston Elementary and a wonderful role model.

Jan Thedford, Reading Recovery teacher:

"My maternal and paternal grandmothers were my first teachers, both of whom set beautiful examples of women who were patient and kind, loving and nurturing. I spent many hours at their homes learning to cook and sew, and along with my parents, they instilled in me the value of hard work. It is because of the wonderfully dedicated people in my life that I made the choice to become an educator, and my choice to dedicate my life to children is a choice that I am thankful for every day."

Heather Gentry, art teacher:

"As a little girl growing up in East Texas, I was surrounded by creativity in our home as my family showed ingenuity in everyday life and encouraged me to do the same. Even when my mother's paint box tempted me to make a mess, she gently taught me how to create art instead. That environment nurtured a God-instilled gift that continued to bloom as I grew."

Yvonne Malmstrom, third-grade teacher:

"As a teacher, I try to hook the enthusiasm of my students the way so many of my teachers grabbed a hold of my heart and never let go. Because of all the amazing teachers and my wonderful parents, I am the teacher, person, and mom that I am today."

Stephanie Attebery, fifth-grade teacher:

"A former classmate told me that my dad had taught him more about the rock cycle when we were in the eighth grade than any of his professors did when he was in college. What a compliment to my dad and what a great teacher he was to me and so many others! When it came time for me to decide on a college degree, it was obvious I wanted to follow after Dad."

Connie Wood, Reading Recovery teacher:

"I come from a family of teachers, as far back as my great-grandmother teaching in a one- room schoolhouse. I grew up watching my mother and little brother struggle every night with his reading. There were no programs to help him with reading when we were in school. This is what drove me to go into education. I wanted to help children like my brother."

Kemle Barroso, first-grade bilingual:

"I want my students to know that there is nothing they cannot achieve. If they have determination and believe in themselves, they can accomplish just about anything. As a teacher, I believe that my role is to help them get there by demonstrating my love for learning."

Lisia Hampton, fifth-grade teacher:

"My philosophy of teaching is to empower the student, as well as the parents, with ownership of a quality education. As I answer my calling to the educational profession, I realize that I have to provide children with a positive learning environment and positive experiences; experiences that will help them develop socially, intellectually, physically and emotionally in a manner appropriate to their age and stages of development."

Tamara Colston, fourth-grade teacher:

"Being a teacher means opening up a world to children where they have never been, and going down that road with them. Although the road may be bumpy at times, there is nothing equivalent to the joy felt when I have truly made a difference by touching a child's life, academically as well as emotionally."

Linda Swindle, second-grade teacher:

"Teaching to me is not only my career, it is my vocation. I can't imagine not being involved in the daily lives of children. I feel like I didn't choose teaching, it chose me. It's a wonderful way to give back some of what you have been given."

Lynda Simpkins, resource teacher:

"I went into teaching because of my love for children and the desire to make a difference in the world in some small way. My teachers as a child were my heroes and I wanted to be like them. Their examples inspired me to want to be the example for someone else."

Kelley Smithson, first-grade teacher:

"Even above the joy I feel when I see students learn to read or learn their math facts, I feel a special excitement when I see students begin to develop into who they will become and learn to have confidence in themselves."

Sharon Christopher, fourth-grade teacher:

"The seeds of lifelong learning are planted by creating a safe, secure, and loving environment in our classrooms and communities in which we live and serve. The first impressions we make on our students foster an appreciation, interest, and desire to learn. We water the seeds through the development of curriculum that is fun, interesting, developmentally appropriate, and challenging."

Sha'Lindria Mariah Wade, third-grade teacher:

While in school, I was often asked 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' I never hesitated to reply 'a teacher.' This was often followed by the next question of 'Why? You could be so many other things.' My answer is 'That's where my heart is.'"

Stephen Ellis, fifth-grade teacher:

From a very early age, education was an important part of my life. My mother was a classroom teacher and loved incorporating her teaching with our family life. Her influence, both as a mother and a teacher, certainly is the reason I am being honored at this time. My younger brother is learning disabled, and seeing him struggle with simple tasks and finally grasp a concept, made me appreciate the value of learning.

Brooke Parker, Life Skills teacher:

"Being a teacher means being able to pour all of what I have into my students so that they leave my classroom not only with needed life skills, but also knowing that I have gone the extra mile to meet each of their needs. Having high expectations for my students and helping them reach their potential in every area of their lives is the key that opens my heart so that I can pour into their lives. Seeing their progress on a daily basis keeps me working harder and developing creative ways to teach them every motor, communication, and independent living skill that they need by the time they graduate in order to be contributing members of the community."

Kay Newberry, elementary Adv-anced Studies teacher:

"As a teacher, my goal is to create a safe and positive environment which nurtures self-initiated learning to equip my students with lifelong skills so that they may function effectively in their world."

Robin Stidham, physical education teacher:

"I've wanted to be a teacher since as far back as I can remember. I love getting to know students and being able to listen to their stories. I enjoy guiding them through their learning process whether it is physical education or math and reading. I am always excited to see them enjoy their successes and take themselves to the next level of learning."

Joel Enge, sixth-grade science facilitator:

"I am a teacher simply because Christ called me to be one. I moved from Houston to enroll in the Teacher Certification Program at UT Tyler. As I obeyed Christ, He poured into my heart His love for children. It is His compassion that motivates me each day to give my students my all."

Elizabeth Lade, art teacher:

"I am a teacher because I truly love working with young adults. The kids are fun to work with; I get to see life through their eyes. I also have an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. I think it is so satisfying to see a student be able to succeed at his goals and know that I was a part of that."

Tom Rhodes, sixth-grade math and AVID Teacher:

"I feel that education is not a profession or a job, it is a calling. We have the opportunity to touch a child's life and possibly set in motion, situations that will ultimately and positively affect a student for his or her entire life."

Julie Haley, seventh-grade reading/language arts:

"The best teachers have a passion for what they teach. They are 'full of learning' and they work to instill that same passion for learning in their students."

Brian Persinger, assistant band director:

"My goal is to educate the whole child. I have always believed that young people were in school to, first and foremost, get an education. Being in music is a way for them to have fun doing it, as well as a reason for them to want to come to school."

Christolyn Milligan, choir teacher:

"I love inspiring young singers into becoming great singers and people. Teachers have a way of shaping the minds of our students by what we teach them. It is not only an academic thing, but also just about plain living and good morals."

John Seiple, ninth- and tenth-grade ESL teacher:

"I feel connected to my students in being a mentor/teacher. It's so good to be working with other teachers that understand that, indeed, we are all in this together."

Dee Lower, elementary DAEP teacher:

"In the course of my education I had a number of teachers who formed a lasting impression on me, for better or worse. I cannot remember a time when I didn't think I would be a teacher. I grew up thinking 'When I am the teacher I want to be like Mrs. Miller, or Mrs. Kennedy.' These teachers, probably even more than the others, made me committed to teaching with kindness and compassion, and convinced me that every student deserves to be treated with respect and dignity."

Leona May, culinary arts teacher

"Education is my venue to make a difference in the lives of young people. It is a decision that I have never regretted or questioned."