Staff report
Dahlstrom Assistant Principal Sally Foster – already HCISD AP of the Year – was recently named to lead a roster of honorees as HCISD Ambassador of the Year.
Elaine Howard, who had introduced each of the 17 honorees, Merideth Keller and Superintendent Mike McKie presented Foster with her award. It was Dahlstrom’s second consecutive honoree chosen to headline the district’s Ambassadors; Charlotte Peterson carried the honor since 2015.
The event was the 4th annual staging of the Ambassador of the Year Awards. HCISD’s Christina Courson oversaw the arrangements, which included a performance by the Charles Flores-directed Hays High School Jazz Choir, desserts from Lehman’s Ryan Georgi-directed Back Burner Bistro students, and a dinner presented by Chef Bryant Currie and HCISD Food Service.
The HCISD honorees included Maintenance & Operations Employee of the Year Tom Spillar, Professional of the Year Adrienne Rusk, Counselor of the Year Dr. Veronica Reyes, Administrator of the Year Ruth Ann Evans, Clerical Employee of the Year Debbie Bailey, Instructional Coach of the Year Maria Ortega-Aguilar, Child Nutrition Employee of the Year Brian Silvert, Substitute of the Year Joyce Smithey, Hays High Five Employee of the Year Rachel Rodriguez and Transportation Employee of the Year Elaine Hernsberger.
The honoree list also included Principal of the Year Tim Robinson, Nurse of the Year Michelle Hickey, AP of the Year Sally Foster, Custodian of the Year Josie Garza, Special Education Employee of the Year Shelli Cervenka, Teacher Assistant of the Year Amy Ventura, Technology Employee of the Year Stefani Dougherty and Librarian of the Year Carrie Bartsch.
