May 8-14, 2009 The Examiner
16 A
Recipients of the Inaugural Reaud Excellence in Education Award were honored at the John Gray Library on National Teachers Day.
Reaud Excellence in Education Gala
honors excellent local educators
By Jerry Jordan
News Editor
Held on National Teachers Day, a
day recognized for honoring those
who educate America’s children, the
Beaumont Foundation of American
presented the Reaud Excellence in
Education Award Inaugural Gala —
a first-of-its-kind ceremony in Southeast Texas bringing together 15 toprated educators to honor them for
their commitment to enriching the
lives of children by “opening their
minds” to learning.
The Reaud Excellence in Education Award bestows a prestigious
honor on extraordinary teachers —
teachers who change the lives of children by sharing a hug, a smile, saying
kind words, supporting their success
and encouraging students to pursue
their dreams. Each of the 15 teachers
was presented with a crystal trophy, a
portrait and a check for $10,000. The
gala and awards ceremony was the
vision of attorney Wayne Reaud, the
foundation’s founder and chairman,
because he wanted to reward the
people who have the most impact on
a child’s life.
“When I look at my life, there are
little more than a handful of teachers
that touched my life and molded my
mind and my character,” Reaud said
to the assembled educators. “These
people are heroes to me. They are
the people who touched my life and
they are the reason why, financially,
I wanted to touch yours. And it is to
them that this program says ‘Thank
you.’ God bless you all.”
Also speaking to the teachers and
their guests were foundation board
member and philanthropist Jon
Huntsman Sr.; keynote speaker, the
Dean of the Texas Tech University
School of Law, Walt Huffman; and
Master of Ceremonies, Jefferson
County Criminal District Judge John
Stevens.
Huntsman, who holds a similar
ceremony for teachers in Utah that is
in its 17th year, said he was honored
to be a part of the inaugural Reaud
Excellence in Education Award Gala.
He added that for years to come, the
children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of the 15 teachers in
attendance were part of an historic
Wayne Reaud and Jon Huntsman Sr.
moment honoring outstanding teachers for their outstanding contributions to education.
“Over the years this award will
evolve and develop in to one of the
most prestigious awards ever
bestowed on an educator,” Huntsman
said. “I just wanted to take a moment
to thank you great educators.”
Dean Walt Huffman said it was
teachers that shaped America’s children and he said he was honored to
See gala on page 17 A
Photos by Jerry Jordan
Inaugural Reaud Excellence
in Education Award Recipients
• Cheryl Adams, China Elementary School
• Lisa Edwards, Mauriceville Elementary School
• Amy Hoang, Robert E. Lee Elementary School
• Susan Pate, Fred Elementary School
• Belinda Taylor, Bingman Elementary School
• Deborah Amy, Henderson Middle School
• Shelly Burrell, Hamshire-Fannett Middle
School
• Elizabeth Domas, West Orange-Cove Middle
School
• Barton Gaskin, Vincent Middle School
• Desi Johnson, Kirbyville Middle School
• Maryann DeMayo, Monsignor Kelly High
School
• Carol Edgar, Vidor High School
• Elizabeth Harris, Nederland High School
• Suzan Schroeder, West Brook High School
• Sharon Woolley, Bridge City High School
The list of nominees was described as
“an impressive collection” of the best
teachers in Southeast Texas. In order to
qualify as a nominee, the teacher must
have been teaching for a minimum of five
years, be a full-time teacher at a public or
private school in Jefferson, Hardin, Orange,
Tyler, Jasper or Newton counties and complete the foundation’s comprehensive
application packet.
The candidates had to exemplify the highest standards and practices of the teaching
profession and exhibit dedication, knowledge and commitment to educating their
students, among a litany of other criteria.
May 8-14, 2009 The Examiner
17 A
Gala
from page 16 A
be in their company.
“No one can remember the
names of the last five Pulitzer
Prize winners or the last five
Heisman Trophy winners or
the last five winners of the
Nobel Peace Prize, for that
matter, but everyone can
remember the names of teachers who made a difference in
their lives,” Huffman said. “I
know that is certainly true in
my case. You all have names
of people of who you remember, of people who made a difference in your lives because
they were teachers who cared
about you and were good about
what they did. In many cases,
they may have been demanding of you, but they made you
a better student and gave you
the chance that you wouldn’t
have otherwise.”
Huffman told the group that
it was a teacher that taught him
more than he ever learned anywhere else about being a better
person.
“Thanks to my teachers and
my parents, who were also
teachers, I have been allowed
to pursue my own version of
the American dream through
the practice of law,” Huffman
said. “And the practice of law
has its challenges, but I will
not stand here and tell you that
being a lawyer is harder than
being a teacher. As educator
Donald Quinn said, ‘If a doctor, lawyer or a dentist has 40
people in his office at one
time, all of whom have different needs, some of whom don’t
want to be there and some of
whom are causing trouble and
Keynote speaker Walt Huffman
Photos by Jerry Jordan
From Right: Sharon Dozier-Davis, Mary Alice Jones, Catherine Spidle, Carole Moreno, Ann
that doctor, lawyer or dentist Campbell, Shirley Benson and Dianne Timberlake all came out to support their friends.
had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine
months, then he might have awards were nominated by a
some conception a teacher’s committee of fellow teachers
and students from each camjob in the classroom.’
“You know, we often say pus at schools from across
God bless America. I will tell Southeast Texas.
“This really means a great
you that God does bless Amerdeal
to me because the teachica and the greatest evidence of
ing
staff
we have here at
that is you awardees who are
Vincent
(Middle
School) is
here tonight. I salute you and I
just
top-notch
and
this very
thank you for your service to
well
could
have
gone
to any
our children, to our schools, to
of
them,”
said
honoree
Bart
our cities and to our nation.
Gaskin.
“I
am
just
very
fortuGod bless all of you and God
nate to have two of the best
bless those you educate.”
Following the ceremony, teachers in the state of Texas
many teachers were at a loss on either side of me, a history
for words at being honored for teacher Scott Jackson and art
doing the job they all love. teacher Jan Tekell. Just to be Foundation Chief Operating Officer Ed Keller and Senior
One teacher said she felt like considered along with teach- Program Officer Shirley De La Cruz flank Judge John Stevens.
she was at the Academy ers like these is truly an honAwards because of the atmo- or. When you teach in an acknowledged for doing some- tous occasion for us because
sphere and focus that was put environment like this and thing that I love. This is truly a teachers aren’t acknowledged
on the teachers who had been you can learn from the best, blessing and an experience on a grand scale like this. This
it just helps you to become that I will not ever forget.
is like the Grammys or the
honored.
“I just want to thank Mr. Academy Awards and an expeThose who received the the best teacher you can and
I am just honored that I was Reaud for recognizing the sig- rience that I will always
selected.”
nificance of teachers and I remember.”
Honoree Annely Domas pray that in all that he continJerry Jordan can be reached
said she has devoted her life to ues to do, that he will be at (409)
832-1400, ext. 225, or at
teaching children and never blessed. This is truly a momen- [email protected].
thought she would be presented with an award for her
efforts. “This is awesome, I
devoted my life to being a
teacher and this is my 25th
anniversary of teaching,”
Domas said. “I love being with
the children and I love what I
do. You know, you don’t go to
school to be a teacher so that
you can win an award but to be
recognized for what you do —
words can’t explain it, it is
truly an honor.”
Equally moved by the award
was honoree Belinda Taylor, Vincent Middle School Principal Randall Maxwell (left)
Beverly Taylor thanks the foundation’s founder, Wayne Reaud, who said, “It is just amazing to stands with honoree Bart Gaskin, an 8th grade math teacher
think that I could actually be at the school.
for his generosity and compassion toward teachers.