District Winners
Paula Denese Auge
Belen Consolidated Schools, La Merced Elementary
Paula is a 19 year veteran of the Belen school system. She received both her B.A. and M.A. from the University of New Mexico. She currently is the Reading Resource teacher for grades K-3. Paula's philosophy of teaching, "is very straight-forward." [She] believes that all children can learn. It is up to [her] to find out how to reach each individual child.
Julia Chaney
Hobbs Municipal School District, Taylor Elementary
Julia is a finalist for 2007. She has been teaching for almost 30 years, with 20 years in the Hobbs municipal school district. She is currently a Reading specialist and says that, "every teacher is a reading teacher. Reading is at the heart of everything."
Annelle Hand
Las Cruces, Desert Hills Elementary
Annelle is a finalist for the 2007 competition. She is a 23 year veteran of teaching in NM and is a National Board Certified Teacher! Annelle also serves as a beginning teacher mentor for her district. Annelle says of teaching, "We are more than teachers of facts. We are teachers of children; are facilitators of learning."
Kathy Hines
CYFD/ Albuquerque, Foothill High School
Kathy's career has focused on at-risk youth both here in New Mexico as well as in California. Kathy currently teaches at Foothill High School, which is the state high school for incarcerated youth. Kathy says of her job, "We stand daily in the gap between failure and success, having been given the privilege to challenge, redirect, encourage, and celebrate with the young people of this century."
Terri Judah
Carlsbad Municipal Schools, Early Childhood Education Center
Terri received both her B.A. and her M.S. from the College of the Southwest. She is a kindergarten teacher with an inclusion class. Terri is also the SAT chairperson for her school. Terri says of her students, "Every child has the potential to be successful. As a classroom teacher it is my responsibility to build a love of learning and curiosity in that child, and to develop a plan for those children whose struggle may be a little more difficult."
Mary Anne Rogers
Pecos Independent Schools, Pecos Elementary
Mary Anne is a Kindergarten teacher in Pecos — she has been there for 14 years! She has served as a mentor for the past 6 years. Mary Anne's philosophy of education is that it "should be fun and hands-on, tempered with structure, discipline and love."
Melissa Romero
Clovis Municipal Schools, Bella Vista Elementary
Melissa has been a Kindergarten teacher in Clovis for her entire 13 year career. She is also a National Board certified teacher. Melissa is a strong believer in parental involvement and stresses that it is her job to "empower parents with knowledge."
Epifanio Solis
Gadsden Independent School District, Anthony Elementary
Epifanio is a bilingual teacher in Gadsden. He has been a teacher for 13 years. His B.A. is from UTEP and he is currently working on an M.A. in Math from NMSU. Epifanio says that he is able to connect to his students because he came from Mexico to attend college in the US. He says, "as an immigrant to the United States and as a teacher, I see the need my students have for learning more about the culture they left behind and the struggles they go through..."
Bob Sorensen
Santa Fe Public Schools, Capital High School
Bob has been a teacher for 16 years, he has a B.S. from the University of Texas and a M. Ed. From University of Georgia. He says, "I think what I teach; and who I teach; and perhaps even how I teach is a personal expression of professional goals and values."
Richard Walker
Estancia Municipal Schools, Estancia Secondary Schools
Richard is the Social Studies and PE teacher for Estancia Secondary schools. In addition, he coaches football, basketball and track. Richard's philosophy, he says, is simple. "We, as educators, cannot worry about the shortcomings of our schools (budgets, salaries, class size, attitudes, etc.) but instead concentrate our attention on the things we can control, like building relationships with our teenage students."
Allison Wedekind
Rio Rancho Public Schools, Mountain View Middle School
Allison was a state finalist for the 2007 competition. She has been a teacher for 8 years, and 2 in her present position teaching Humanities (both regular education and full inclusion) as well as Reading, Allison's belief is that the most important education issue is literacy. It is her goal to incorporate best practices in her work to integrate literacy across curriculum.
Pamela Worley
Roswell, Berrendo Elementary
Pamela has taught in Roswell for 20 years. She recently completed a M.A. in Technology for Teachers and enjoys being able to implement new ideas into her classroom. She says that, "Being a first grade teacher affords me the opportunity to often witness the 'lights come on' when they read for the first time. There is no greater reward than that!"