AWARDS

The Foundation annually hosts and funds a celebratory breakfast for all principals and assistant principals of RISD and awards the Principal of the Year Award recognizing one elementary and one secondary principal for their outstanding leadership, student success and respect of their peers. Each principal receives a $1,000 award from the Foundation.

2019 Recipients:
Kerri Jones - Lake Highlands High School- Secondary Principal of the Year
Catherine Kelly- Mark Twain- Secondary Principal of the Year

The Fujitsu Teacher Trailblazer Award was established by Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. to honor and recognize two teachers in grades K-6 with a $5,000 award each who:

• Integrate creative and innovative use of technology instruction.

• Use innovative questioning and inquiry techniques to challenge students

• Student engagement indicates learning is at a high cognitive level

• Use instructional strategies to successfully engage students in the learning process

• Whose students have a high percentage of achievement based on assessments

• Engage in professional development, demonstrating leadership working with others to meet student needs

2021 Recipient:
Ashley Grimes – Richardson Terrace

The TI Innovations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Teaching Award is an annual award underwritten by Texas Instruments Foundation that honors instructors who enhance student achievement in STEM through the use of innovative teaching methods and technology. The goal of this award is to raise the profile and importance of quality STEM instruction among teachers and the community.  In addition, the award provides incentive for outstanding teachers to continue the quality instruction in RISD.  The two $10,000 awards are given to two secondary teachers in RISD. $5,000 each is a personal award and the other $5,000 for professional development and classroom needs.  

2020 Recipients:
Christine Liou
Heather Pineda
Matias Vargas
Sara Korotkow
Sherry Null

The STARS (Superior Teaching Achievements in RISD) Teacher Recognition Award recognizes and encourages innovation and creativity in the classroom. The Richardson ISD Foundation annually awards $1,000 to each recipient selected from nominations at all teaching levels. Awards are presented to two teachers in each of the four learning communities who have completed two years in RISD. More than 300 teachers, including this year’s recipients, have received this distinguished award since 1977.

2021-2022 Recipients

• Dawn Bird – Lake Highlands Elementary

• Tiffany Bunch – Apollo Junior High

• Stephanie Camacho – Springridge Elementary

• Nikki Clark – Richardson High School

• Marcy Dale – Prairie Creek Elementary

• Paige Houghtaling – Forest Meadow Junior

• Analisa Rangel – Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet

• Joe Sawyer – Pearce High School

The RISD Patti Kieker Servant Leader Award recognizes an exemplary central administrator who helps the district achieve its mission while exemplifying servant leadership, which is a commitment to the growth and development of others first.

Myron Stennett, Director of Visual Arts, received the inaugural award last year, and Chief Executive Director of Student Services Matthew Gibbins is the 2019 recipient. Each recipient recieved a personal award of $1000 each.