West Ridge MS EANESpiration Winners, 2020
Educational Impact
Those who display leadership and commitment to the district by making a positive, noticeable and significant impact.
Emily Kraus, Math Interventionist
Ms. Kraus goes above and beyond not only for students but also for her teachers. She is always willing to work with everybody until the task at hand is accomplished. Her dedication to help kids strive in math as well as ALL subjects is impressive. She constantly is creating new educational tools to help her colleagues teach, re-teach, assess, or review concepts. During our remote learning experience, she made an 8th Grade Escape room that reviews hardy mathematical topics. The lessons were engaging as well as innovative for our current situation. She always is communicating with her students, teachers, parents, and administrators about students who may need additional support while providing materials for each individual. Emily is a wonderful role model teacher in Eanes ISD.
Pat Martinez, Librarian
Pat Martinez works with and supports almost every teacher on the WRMS campus. providing resources to help teachers with materials for lessons as well as providing her library expertise to help teach lessons. She has never turned down an opportunity to help. Honoring the students and embracing learning would be her specialty! She holds book clubs with the kids and is constantly motivating and challenging them to become better readers. Pat has a way of supporting the kids and encouraging them to love reading. She helps teachers find creative ways to incorporate new ideas into our lessons. Pat's expertise is more than evident...just visit the library! And if you can't, she'll do what she can to bring it to you! She ignites curiosity, passion, and creative/critical thinking. Pat is amazing and so deserving of this honor!
Nicki Sablatura Smith, Special Ed Teacher
Nicki goes above and beyond for her students and their families every day to make sure that they receive the best education possible. She loves all of her students beyond measure! She is able to adapt and be on her toes as the need arises while making the lessons of the day seem seamless. There are so many moving parts to her day trying to tailor her interactions to connect with each personality. Nicki handles these tasks as a professional impacting her students every day.
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.
John Arellano, Special Ed Teacher
As a first-year teacher, John has done an exceptional job with his students who are in the life skills class. He is always kind and compassionate, and you can tell his students love him. The parents sing his praises as well! He is an outstanding individual, and he goes above and beyond the call of duty to be there for his students and their individual needs. What an incredible impact he has made on so many! The WRMS staff is honored to get to work with him and his kids.
Life Skills Teacher Assistants, Katie Armbruster, Julia Hall, Briana Nunez, Maddie Patzner, Kevin Percival, Katie Walsh
The West Ridge Lifeskills TAs go above and beyond the call of duty each and every day. Kate, Kevin, Katie, Maddie, Briana and Julie each possess their own strengths and talents. Each of them is talented, compassionate, open-minded, big-hearted, competent and filled with love and joy as they are working with each child. They do not back down from anything they are asked to do, no matter how difficult the challenge may be. They are always asking how they can help and are 110% willing to learn new skills constantly. Each of these TAs represent the best of us! They are willing to go above and beyond. The students are their number one priority and it shows. Students rely on these TAs just as much as they do their classroom teachers. The staff at WRMS couldn’t do their jobs without their consistent love and support each day.