Barton Creek ES EANESpiration Winners, 2019

Educational Impact 

Those who display leadership and commitment to the district by making a positive, noticeable and significant impact.

Ms. Georgie Georgakis, Second Grade Teacher
One of the district's areas of focus this year is special education. It is amazing to see how Mrs. Georgakis includes all of her students in learning. She values all of their thoughts, answers, questions and opinions in a genuine way. Ms. Georgakis models authentic relationships with all of her students and as a result, her whole class strives to listen to each other and support one another. Ms. Georgakis is creative with her academic instruction and her lessons capture the attention of all of her students. She is passionate about educating the "whole" student. She incorporates "SEL" into academic lessons by using self-talk and questioning students about how words or actions may make others feel. Ms. Georgakis is making a truly positive and significant impact on all of her students. Through her work and her smile, she sets an excellent example for our Barton Creek community. 
 
Ms. Heather Granson, Fourth Grade Teacher 
Ms. Granson goes above and beyond to reach all the different academic and social-emotional needs of her students. She varies her math instruction to accommodate different learning styles by using math centers and teaching in small groups. To meet the social-emotional needs of her students, she provides lunch bunch groups in her classroom to encourage relationship building. She creates engaging learning experiences for the student, even transforming classrooms into Harry Potter's magical world, an Italian pizza house, and life in the 1980s. She not only decorates the rooms but also creates engaging, hands-on lessons to go with the specific theme. 

Additionally, she effectively communicates with parents in a caring and professional manner in an effort to do what's best for each student.  She inspires other teachers to think outside the box and be creative in their teaching.  As a team member, Ms. Granson is always quick to jump at an opportunity to help or take on a new challenge. We are grateful to teach with such a dedicated and inspirational teacher.  

Ms. Monica Stelly, Child Development Center Site Specialist
Ms. Stelly has always shown compassion, patience, and love for her students. She has built trust and rapport that continues on long after they graduate from her classroom. SEL has recently become a focus in EANES, but Ms. Stelly has always made it a priority for her and her students. In her interactions with students at the BCE CDC, she is always thinking about what is best for the whole child. She goes above and beyond by not only serving as the on-site director, but also filling in when classes are short-staffed. 

She can also often be found in the classrooms in order to interact with the students and teachers- it isn’t a job for her, she truly wants to be there. Because she takes the time to get to know each and every CDC student, they know and feel comfortable with her. Students that graduate from the CDC program are well-rounded and ready for kindergarten. The BCE CDC is an amazing place to be with Ms. Stelly overseeing the program.

 

Good Samaritan 

One who displays compassion, selflessness, or courage by taking initiative. 

Ms. Lisa Kutchman, Fifth Grade Teacher
As one of the teacher-leaders of the Barton Creek Elementary student council, Ms. Kutchman helped push the students to lead a successful "Neighbors in Need" clothing, food, and toiletries drive for our homeless neighbors. Going beyond her work in student council, she responded to student requests for more volunteer opportunities outside of school. She researched places to help our homeless neighbors in Austin and set up BCE family volunteer night at the Central Texas Food Bank. An inspiring gathering of students, parents, and teachers spent two hours at the Food Bank sorting and packing over 2,000 pounds of food for folks in Austin who need it. Beyond her work in Student Council, Ms. Kutchman is an inspiring teacher who both pushes her students academically and expands their horizons to see and experience the world beyond their classroom and neighborhood.

 

Heroes 

Those who perform an outstanding achievement that brings prestige to Eanes ISD, or do something that goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Ms. Julie Whipple, Parent Volunteer 
Ms. Whipple has volunteered for 9 years at BCE as the chairperson for the yearbook committee. She has spent countless hours taking photographs of students/staff, editing pictures and organizing pictures. She also makes sure every child at BCE is fairly represented with an equal amount of photos in the yearbook. The students look forward to receiving their yearbooks every spring. They enjoy seeing their year of memories in pictures. Ms. Whipple is the main reason that the yearbook is a huge success at BCE! Her son will move on to middle school next year so we will have a tremendous loss without Ms. Whipple’s help. We are so thankful for all she has done for BCE! 

 

Innovation Award

Those who implement a creative or innovative program, teaching method, cost-savings, etc.

Ms. Karen Wager, Counselor
Ms. Wager implemented the No Place for Hate program, including organizing activities and events and overall positivity to BCE. Her work has been a huge success! The program has allowed students and staff to actively participate in spreading kindness wherever they go. It has made such a positive influence on the campus for both staff and students. Her work to implement the program has encouraged students and staff to promote a respectful school environment. She has led this program with such passion and it has been amazing to see the incredible transformation campus-wide. We thank her for all of her hard work!