The Chamber’s 17th Annual Back to School Luncheon was held on August 9, 2018 at the Seekatz Opera House in downtown New Braunfels. The luncheon is a program of the Chamber’s Business and Education Partnership (BEP) Committee. The purpose of this event is to recognize and honor area Teachers of the Year from more than 13 schools and school districts in the central Texas area. The event is sponsored by area businesses to provide no charge to the teachers. The honorees are joined by family members, campus and central office administrators and school board members. The BEP committee members are involved in the planning and program for the day, and the teachers are presented with a certificate and yellow rose.
In an effort to show support for the schools in New Braunfels and Comal County, the BEP Committee created this event as a way to connect business and education thus achieving the goals of the Chamber’s committee. The honorees are selected by their home schools, and then compete at the district level for primary, elementary, and secondary Teacher of the Year, where some of these local teachers are forwarded to the Regional Level as nominees. This year’s event was fortunate to have both the 2018 Region 13 Teacher of the Year Allie Duffy and New Braunfels ISD’s own 2018 Teacher of the Year Lauren Bain, who was recently announced as the 2019 Region 13 Elementary Teacher of the Year!
This Chamber event showcases the heart and soul of public education—the teachers! This year’s honorees are shown below. For more information on this committee, or any of the Chamber’s committees, visit www.CommitteesInNewBraunfels.com.
Tracy Thompson - 2018 District Teacher of the Year
Amanda Bisbey – 2018 Elementary Teacher of the Year, Comal ISD
Dannette Young – 2018 Secondary Teacher of the Year, Comal ISD
Shannon Schimelpfening – 2018 Pacesetter of the Year, Communities in Schools of South Central Texas
Joanne Chambers – 2018 Primary Teacher of the Year, Marion ISD
Kelly Kilpatrick – 2018 Primary Teacher of the Year, Marion ISD
Deanna Roeder – 2018 Middle School Teacher of the Year, Marion ISD
Dwayne Reiley – 2018 High School Teacher of the Year, Marion ISD
Rebecca Borchardt – 2018 Elementary Teacher of the Year, Navarro ISD
Lori Shults – 2018 Intermediate Teacher of the Year, Navarro ISD
Ella Chase – 2018 Junior High Teacher of the Year, Navarro ISD
Kathy Seals – 2018 High School Teacher of the Year, Navarro ISD
Kate McCarthy – 2018 Elementary Teacher of the Year, New Braunfels Christian Academy
Nancy Zinkgraf – 2018 Middle School Teacher of the Year, New Braunfels Christian Academy
Fred Zinkgraf – 2018 High School Teacher of the Year, New Braunfels Christian Academy
Lauren Bain – 2018 Elementary Teacher of the Year, New Braunfels ISD
Sara Trammell – 2018 Secondary Teacher of the Year, New Braunfels ISD
Taylor Rogers – 2018 Teacher of the Year, Premier High School of New Braunfels
Omar Diaz – 2018 Elementary Teacher of the Year, San Marcos ISD
Lauren Wagoner – 2018 Secondary Teacher of the Year, San Marcos ISD
Mindy Rice – 2018 Elementary Teacher of the Year, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD
Carol Allen – 2018 Secondary Teacher of the Year, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD
Lori Wrenn – 2018 Norma Paschal Commitment to Children Award Winner, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD
Matthew Wagner – 2018 KENS-5 Golden Apple ExCEL Award Winner, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD
Tracy Post – 2018 Elementary Teacher of the Year, Seguin ISD
Samuel Parrott – 2018 Secondary Teacher of the Year, Samuel Parrott
Mary Ledford – 2018 Teacher of the Year, St. John Paul II Catholic High School
Jennifer Rompel – 2018 Teacher of the Year, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School