Barbara Vaughan of Jennie Reid Elementary School and Eveline Bailey of La Porte High School were announced as La Porte ISD's Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year during the district's annual service awards celebration on May 10.

Soon after Superintendent Lloyd W. Graham made the announcement of the 2012-13 Teachers of the Year, the honorees were each presented with a $6,500 check from Pat Studdert of Buffalo Marine Service, Inc. Studdert, a former member of the La Porte ISD Board of Trustees, has helped to make the announcement even more special by providing a monetary award to the district honorees for the past 19 years.

Vaughan is a physical education teacher at Reid, and Bailey teaches English II Pre-Advanced Placement and English IV Advanced Placement classes at LPHS. The theme for this year's celebration was "Let's Take a Cruise!" Employees joined in the fun by wearing their cruise attire. La Porte Junior High School staff members, for example, wore the different uniforms of the cruise ship staff, while Jennie Reid Elementary representatives depicted "The Good Ship Lollipop." College Park Elementary staff wore orange life vests adorned with "Keeping College Park Elementary Afloat."

Campus Teachers of the Year also were introduced during the evening's activities. In addition to Vaughan and Bailey, they include Anna Canizales, Bayshore Elementary; Elaine Finnen, College Park Elementary; Catherine (Katy) Jordan, Heritage Elementary; Alicia Hodges, La Porte Elementary; Brittany Trosclair, Lomax Elementary; Amber Weatherford, Rizzuto Elementary; Tracy Rider, Baker Sixth Grade Campus; Zachary Bass, La Porte Junior High; Cristina Reyes-Hoffman, Lomax Junior High; Annie Szeto, De Walt School; and Amy Murray, La Porte High School (non-core areas).

In addition, Christopher Padron, teacher at Rizzuto Elementary School, was recognized as the district's Rookie Teacher of the Year.

Retiring employees as well as those with long-time service to the district also were honored during the event. Retiring employees include Diana Casper, Athletics; Charlotte Colburn, Lomax Junior High School; Janis Edwards, Human Resources; Andee Ann Elkins, Heritage Elementary; Virginia Fiala, Nutrition; Mary Kay Green, Lomax Junior High School; Jo Himel, Rizzuto Elementary; Jeanne Hines, La Porte High School; Ernest Howard, Lomax Junior High School; Deborah Loftin, Rizzuto Elementary School; Monika Tutt, Jennie Reid Elementary School; and Michele Yancey, Rizzuto Elementary School.

Three employees were recognized for 35 years of service to the district. They include Margaret Cox, La Porte Junior High School; Pinkie Ned, College Park Elementary School; and Rotina Shephard, Maintenance.

Honored for 30 years of service to LPISD were Sarah Delgado, La Porte Junior High School; Greg Hoff, La Porte High School; Tony Matzueff, Communications/Print Shop; Dalia Moore, Nutrition; and Sharion Parker, La Porte High School.

Twenty-five year honorees included Rebekah Amunson, Baker Sixth Grade Campus; Virginia Fiala, Nutrition; Carol Jetter, La Porte Elementary; JuleeAnna Lee, La Porte High School; Kathy Muston, La Porte High School; Rebecca Nail, La Porte High School; Andra Parchman, College Park Elementary; Monika Tutt, Jennie Reid Elementary; Carol Williams, College Park Elementary; and Elidia Williamson, Nutrition.
Recognized for 20 years of service were Margy Brand, La Porte High School; Amy Burrell, Transportation; Deron Entler, La Porte High School; Javier Gomez, Maintenance; Pamela Havard, Nutrition; Charles Hobbs, La Porte High School; Teresa Jones, Lomax Junior High School; Deborah Loftin, Rizzuto Elementary; Jill Miller, Jennie Reid Elementary; Michelle Napier, La Porte High School; Lisa Patterson, La Porte Junior High School; Mary Perez, Nutrition; Barbara Sader, Heritage Elementary; Ricardo Torres, La Porte High School; Michele Yancey, Rizzuto Elementary; and Martha Wiggins, Nutrition.

Those honored for 15 years of service to LPISD were Lisa Basile, Technology; Donna Batson, Jennie Reid Elementary; Yvonne Bennett, Nutrition; Kellie Blackwell, Nutrition; Gina Brunson, La Porte High School; Ali Carrizal, La Porte Elementary; Julia Carter, La Porte High School; Laura Hathorn, Bayshore Elementary; Laura Hayes, Bayshore Elementary; Thomas Herman, Maintenance; Catherine Jacobs, Nutrition; Melissa Johnson, La Porte High School; Cheryl Nasab, La Porte High School; Nancy Ojeda, Jennie Reid Elementary; Elise Oliver, Transportation; Tina Pettis, Lomax Elementary; Kimberly Poullard, La Porte High School; Kathleen Restrepo, De Walt School; Maria Rodriguez, La Porte Elementary; Rachael Samm, College Park Elementary; Ruth Scott, College Park Elementary; Judith Shore, Heritage Elementary; Monica Smith, Lomax Junior High School; Donna Spaugh, Bayshore Elementary; Deborah Stewart, De Walt School; Brandi Sweatt, Maintenance; and Allison Timm, Jennie Reid Elementary.

Employees also enjoyed a number of door prizes donated by local businesses.