2019 Rising Stars
On May 21, 2019, family members, mentors, administration, and friends gathered together to celebrate SAISD’s finest first-year teachers during SAISD’s annual Rising Star Awards ceremony held in the Alamo Convocation Center.
Forty-nine first-year teachers were selected for this honor. Each of the Rising Stars received a $50 voucher for the Learning Zone, an SAISD star key ring, and a certificate of recognition. Out of the 48 teachers recognized, four were selected as Rising Star Teachers of the Year in one of four categories: early childhood, elementary, middle school, and high school.
Analaura Paez, kindergarten teacher at Advanced Learning Academy; Hannah Smith, special education teacher at Japhet Academy; Lloyd Pegues, LOTC teacher at Rhodes Middle School; and Caleb Loomis, computer science teacher at CAST Tech High School were named the 2018 SAISD Rising Star Teachers of the Year. They received a glass plaque and a $200 voucher for the Learning Zone.
To be nominated for a Rising Star Award, each school principal must submit an application that highlights four key areas in which the nominated teacher demonstrates excellence: effectiveness in the classroom, evidence of exceptional qualities, demonstrated leadership, and other qualifying information. The school-level applications are forwarded onto human resources, and a District-level committee makes the selection based on the criteria.