NIET leaders and Somerset ISD district and school leaders cheer as NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken (top row, third from left) and CEO Dr. Candice McQueen (top row, far left) announce the Somerset as the 2020 recipient of the District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness.
"Your advancements in educator effectiveness and student achievement just don't happen. They require intense focus, work, careful design, and execution," said Milken. "You are changing the trajectory of young people's lives. I applaud you for all that you've accomplished, and for all that you will accomplish in the future."
"Instructional excellence and high expectations are the cornerstone to your student achievement," said Dr. McQueen. "The most effective way to move to support students best is to have a high-quality teacher in front of them every day. You have spotlighted that for the rest of the country."
Participants pictured from left to right:
Top row: NIET CEO Dr. Candice McQueen; NIET Chief of Staff and Executive Director of Strategic Communications Sara Gast; NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken; and NIET President and COO Dr. Joshua Barnett.
Second row: Somerset Elementary School Teacher Elizabeth Sanchez; Somerset Elementary School Principal Tracy Padilla; NIET Texas Senior Specialist Amber Simpson; and Somerset ISD Associate Superintendent Sheila Collazo.
Third row: NIET Vice President of Virtual and Learning Technology Services Stephanie Mosqueda; Somerset ISD Superintendent Dr. Saul Hinojosa; Somerset ISD Master Teacher/English Language Arts and Reading Coordinator Dr. Anita Pickett; and NIET Senior Vice President of Services Vicky Condalary.
Bottom row: Somerset ISD Chief Academic Officer Kriesti Bunch; Master Teacher/Elementary English Language Arts and Reading Coordinator Dr. Teresa Sellers; Somerset High School Principal Justin Saunders; and Somerset High School Teacher Tiffany Cruz Barquero.
All photos should be credited to the "National Institute for Excellence in Teaching."
