The 2017-18 Campus Teachers of the Year have been announced at all DSISD schools.
Those teachers are Laura Black (Dripping Springs Middle), Sara Freeman (Dripping Springs High), Capri Heintz (Rooster Springs Elementary), Nicole McGilvray (Sycamore Springs Middle), Reyna Sandoval (Dripping Springs Elementary), Kris Shmidl (Walnut Springs Elementary and Brandis Smoland (Sycamore Springs Elementary).
Campus winners were selected through a nomination and voting process of all staff at each school.
LAURA BLACK
Eighth-grade science teacher Laura Black is in her third year at Dripping Springs Middle School. Before coming to Dripping Springs, she taught for six years in the West Bridgewater Public Schools in Massachusetts and three years in Leander ISD. Ms. Black earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and a master’s degree from Cambridge College in Education.
SARA FREEMAN
Veteran teacher Sara Freeman is in her eighth year at Dripping Springs High School, after teaching 26 years at Plano High School. She teaches Calculus and Pre-Cal at the AP and GT levels. In addition to her math certification, Ms. Freeman also is certified to teach English at the secondary level. Ms. Freeman earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Baylor University and a master’s degree in Teaching/Mathematical Sciences from the University of Texas at Dallas.
CAPRI HEINTZ
Capri Heintz has been at Rooster Springs Elementary for nine years, and teaches fourth grade. She also taught one year at Mount Sacred Heart School in San Antonio. Ms. Heintz earned a bachelor’s degree of arts and sciences from Roosevelt University and a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix in education.
NICOLE McGILVRAY
Sixth-grade math teacher Nicole McGilvray is Sycamore Springs Middle School’s first-ever Teacher of the Year. She spent two years at Dripping Springs Middle School before the new campus opened. Ms. McGilvray taught in Denton ISD for 10 years before joining the DSISD team. She is certified in elementary and math for Grades 1-8. Ms. McGilvray earned her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of North Texas.
REYNA SANDOVAL
Reyna Sandoval is in her fifth year teaching at Dripping Springs Elementary, after coming to DSISD from Odom Elementary in Austin ISD. In her teaching career she has taught first grade, third grade, and kindergarten. Ms. Sandoval, who earned her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University, is certified in both elementary and physical education.
KRIS SHMIDL
Kris Shmidl is a veteran DSISD teacher, having served 12 years at Walnut Springs Elementary after two at Dripping Springs Elementary (Primary School). She currently is teaching preK, but also has taught kindergarten and physical education during her time in DSISD. Before coming to Dripping Springs, she taught kindergarten, first grade, and second grade in Goose Creek Consolidated ISD for seven years. Ms. Shmidl graduated from the University of Houston, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
BRANDIS SMOLAND
Brandis Smoland is the first-ever Sycamore Springs Elementary Teacher of the Year. She currently teaches third grade at the new campus, and previously spent four years at Dripping Springs Elementary. Ms. Smoland brought 12 years of teaching experience with her to Dripping Springs: four in Aiken County Schools in South Carolina and eight in Hutto ISD. In her career she has taught pre-K through third grade. In addition to her teaching certification, she also has her principal certification. Ms. Smoland earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina and her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin University.
The seven campus winners are now eligible for the DSISD Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year awards, which are chosen following an interview process with a district committee and will be announced at the May 28 Board of Trustees meeting.Those two winners will represent Dripping Spring ISD in the state Teacher of the Year contest.
