Kathy Meek, Region XI Secondary Teacher of the Year |
FORT WORTH , TX – Kathy Meek, a reading specialist at T.A. Howard Middle School was recently named the 2007 Region XI Secondary Teacher of the Year at an awards banquet. The banquet, held at the Petroleum Club in downtown Fort Worth and hosted by the Education Service Center Region XI, recognized all of the teacher of the year winners from school districts in the north central Texas region.
The Teacher of the Year Program, sponsored by the Texas Education Agency, allows districts to submit one elementary and one secondary candidate to compete at the regional and statewide levels. Twenty-three school districts and 42 teachers from Region XI participated in this year’s competition.
As part of the program, each school principal stood up and introduced his or her district teacher of the year winner. Each district winner had a moment in the spotlight as his or her principal described the unique qualities that made him or her an outstanding teacher.
(L-R) Kathy Meek, Jimmy Neal , T.A. Howard principal, Richard Ownby , ESC REgion Xi Executive Director |
District winners who competed for the regional award were required to complete seven lengthy essays describing their educational history and professional development, professional biography, community involvement, philosophy of teaching, education issues and trends, the teaching profession, and their message as state teacher of the year. The regional selection panel, comprised of teachers, principals, and assistant principals from school districts within Region XI, reviewed and scored all of the essays before selecting Meek as the secondary teacher regional winner.
Kathy Meek
Kathy Meek earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in education from the University of Oklahoma. She believes that her greatest contribution to education is her talent to make students believe in themselves. No more powerful force exists than the mind, she states, and teachers have the power to mold and challenge the minds of children. Kathy says that by caring about each student and his success, a teacher will be successful. She goes on to say that the viewpoint of teachers must encompass the possibility that together the goals to which we aspire can be achieved.
(L-R) Vernon Newsom, MISD Superintendent, Kathy Meek, Jimmy Neal |
Meek will now compete at the state level for the Texas Teacher of the Year award. The Texas Education Agency will meet with selection committees to review the applications of the regional winners on August 31, 2007. At that time, three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers will be named as state semifinalists in the competition.
These six semifinalists will then travel to Austin for an interview with the selection committees on September 22, 2007. The following week, the elementary and secondary state winners will be announced.
(L-R) Kathy Meek and MISD Board President, Dan Phillips |
Updated: August 29, 2007
Kathy Meek was honored at the MISD School Board's regular meeting on August 28 with a commendation along with well wishes and applause. |
