[dropcap]D[/dropcap]ripping Springs Independent School District (DSISD) announced earlier in the week the 2017 Campus Teachers of the Year.
The five Teachers of the Year are Rachel Barton, Jamie Biel, Megan Danz, Joe Davis and Molly McFee.
Campus winners were selected through a nomination and voting process of all staff at each school. The five campus winners are now eligible for the DSISD Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year awards. Those honors are chosen following an interview process with a district committee and will be announced at the May 22 Board of Trustees meeting.
The district elementary and secondary teacher of the year winners will represent Dripping Spring ISD in the state Teacher of the Year contest.
Below is a brief career summary on each of the five campus winners:
Rachel Barton – Walnut Springs Elementary, 1st grade
Rachel Barton has been an elementary teacher in DSISD for seven years, and currently teaches first grade. Before coming to Dripping Springs, she taught in Hays CISD for one year and Katy ISD for nine years after starting her career in Colorado. Ms. Barton earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Northern Colorado.
Jamie Biel – Dripping Springs High, Environmental Science
Jamie Biel is in her third year teaching AP Environmental Science and Pre-AP Biology at Dripping Springs High School. She came to DSISD after teaching in Lake Travis ISD for seven years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Texas State University, and is certified in Science Education for Grades 8-12.
Megan Danz – Rooster Springs Elementary, 1st grade
Megan Danz has spent her entire teaching career at Rooster Springs Elementary, as she completes her seventh year at that campus. She currently is teaching first grade. Ms. Danz, who earned her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Concordia University, is certified as a generalist for early childhood through Grade 4.
Joe Davis – Dripping Springs Middle, Special Education
Joe Davis is completing his third year teaching Special Education at Dripping Springs Middle School. Before coming to DSISD, he held a similar position in Spring Branch ISD. Mr. Davis graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and history; he is certified in Special Education, early childhood through Grade 12.
Molly McFee – Dripping Springs Elementary, Art
Molly McFee has been teaching art at Dripping Springs Elementary for four years, providing instruction to nearly 1,000 students. Previously she taught art in Klein ISD for four years. Ms. McFee earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Andrew’s University, with a double major in art and Interdisciplinary Studies, and received her master’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio in Education/Curriculum and Instruction.
