Shining Stars Award of Excellence
KPSF Shining Stars Award of Excellence!
Shining Stars are Kerrville ISD employees who exemplify excellence by their dedication and contributions toward shaping our students and building a better district. These are our everyday heroes who make a difference and impact lives. KISD employees who are selected as Shining Stars will be recognized with a monetary award and were honored on the football field at KPSF Night during the first Tivy home game, September 4, 2026!
KISD staff or faculty members can be nominated for the award by their peers, KISD parents, students, or members of the general public. A selection committee composed of KPSF board members will review the applications and select award recipients.
Beginning April 1, 2027, nomination forms will be available electronically through the link below. Nomination forms are due no later than 5:00 pm on April 30, 2027. Please email kpsf@kerrvilleisd.net with any questions. Thank you for supporting our community!
Eligibility of Nominees:
- Current KISD employee in good standing
- Open to all faculty, staff, support staff, and auxiliary services staff
- Administrators are ineligible for this award
- Has not been recognized this year as a Campus Teacher of the Year
- Has not been recognized as a Shining Star in the past three years
Congratulations to the 2026 Shining Star Awardees
Melissa Bennett
Cristina Botello
Pamela Boyer
Joanna Caraballo
Naomi Carter
Whitney Cravey
Amber Davis
Sadie Lynn Fullen
Emerald Garcia
Olivia Gonzales
Leticia Graham
Rachel Jordan
Genie King
Riley Langthorp
Tristan McGonigal
Justus Mouton
William Oates
Sue Prater
Aubrey Pruitt
Andrea Reynolds
Jonathon Roach
Lori Rowan
Dee Sieger
Doris Sieger
Vickie Stuart
Ashley Taylor
Krista Thorpe
Missy Van Hoozer
Amy Waiser
Josie Zuniga
2025 SHINING STARS
Roy Baccus – Custodian – Tivy High School
Dr. Jennifer Clark – Orchestra – Multiple Campuses
Debra Cloud – Librarian – Tally Elementary School
Yvette Covington – Instructional Aide – Nimitz Elementary School
Mason Daggett – Agriculture Teacher – Tivy High School
Carolina Espinosa – Spanish Teacher – Tivy High School
Dana Gruver – US History Teacher at Tivy High School and Coach at Hal Peterson Middle School
Whitney Hershey – Art Teacher – Starkey Elementary School
Lauren Jette – Public Relations Specialist – Kerrville ISD
Alex Johnson – History Teacher and Coach – Hal Peterson Middle School
Justin Legg – Lead HVAC Technician – Kerrville ISD
Thelma Lopez – 3 year olds class teacher – Early Childhood Center
Kelly Manchee – Statistics Teacher – Tivy High School
Bridgette Michon – 5th Grade Teacher – Tally Elementary School
Julie Pancake – Receptionist – Hal Peterson Middle School
Jade Rodriguez – Life Skills – Tom Daniels Elementary School
Stephanie Rodriguez – Cafeteria – Hal Peterson Middle School
Rebekah Sonnenberg – P.E. Assistant Coach – Tally Elementary School
Donna Tolbert – AP World History Teacher – Tivy High School
Melissa Zirkel – 2nd Grade Teacher – Tom Daniels Elementary School
In addition to our Shining Stars, this year we also recognize our “KISD Heroes” whose courageous actions on July 4-5 rescued hundreds of children by driving district school buses to aid in evacuating area camps. Their actions exemplify the true spirit of heroism and community service. We are incredibly grateful and proud to recognize this extraordinary bravery as a KISD Hero. Their willingness to put others’ safety above their own not only saved lives but also inspired all of us.
Shelby Balser
Vincent Clark
Thomas Gough
Jeff Kubacek
Amanda Nicholson
Micky Pelletier
Hal Poorman
Aubrey Pruitt
Chris Ramirez
Don Randall
Dr. Brent Ringo
Rick Sralla
Monica Umfress
Geri White
Congratulations to the 2024 Shining Star Awardees
Travis Butler – History Teacher, Tivy HS
Katie Dalglish – 8th Grade Teacher, Hal Peterson MS
JuJu Evans – Childcare Worker, Early Childhood Center
Jennifer Geisel – DHH Teacher, District-wide
Dana Grona – Reading Specialist/Interventionalist, Tom Daniels ES
Jenny Hendricks – ESL Teacher, Hal Peterson MS
Brisa Hernandez – 3rd Grade Bilingual Teacher, Nimitz ES
Cristy Jackson – Assistant PE Teacher, Nimitz ES
Becky Likin – Debate/English Teacher & Mock Trial Coach Tivy HS
Jimmy McCrae – Instructional Coach, Tivy HS
Lolly Mican – Kindergarten Teacher, Tally ES
Hope Mills – Kindergarten Teacher, Tom Daniels ES
Daphne Morris – Dyslexia Specialist, Tally ES
Joseph Moylan – Bus Driver, District-wide
Megan Ray – Inclusion Aide, Tom Daniels ES
Mandi Sprayberry – Librarian, Tivy HS
Adelina Villarreal – Bilingual Paraprofessional, Tivy HS
Leah Westra – Aide, Starkey Elementary
Caroline Williams – 1st Grade Teacher, Starkey ES
Jessica Williams – Special Ed Paraprofessional, Tom Daniels ES
Congratulations to the 2023 Shining Star Awardees
Candice Dominguez – Kindergarten Teacher, Tom Daniels Elementary School
Amanda Galindo – 3rd Grade Teacher, Nimitz Elementary School
Carol Gelsone – 5th Grade Teacher, Tally Elementary School
Heather Grace – Librarian, Starkey Elementary School
Amy Harris – Kindergarten Teacher, Starkey Elementary School
Kathy Morrow Ingram – Instructional Aide, Early Childhood Campus
Terry Jaimes – 8th Grade Teacher & Baseball Coach, Hal Peterson Middle School & Tivy High School
Mary Johnson – Recently Retired Music Teacher, Starkey Elementary School
Jerry Lewis – Bus Driver, KISD Central Office
Julie Mangold – Superintendent Executive Director, KISD Central Office
Kathleen McKee – 7th Grade Teacher, Hal Peterson Middle School
Hunter Miller – Challenge Lab Teacher, Tally Elementary School
Kathryn Riederer – College & Career Advisor, Tivy High School
Norberto Robles – Custodian, Hal Peterson Middle School
Sally Smithson – PE Teacher, Tally Elementary School
Carla Sullivan – Bus Driver, KISD Central Office
Sarah Thomson – Science Teacher, Tivy High School
Leah Tull – Social Worker, KISD
Shirley Valentine – Instructional Aide, Tally Elementary School
Michelle Yanez –Government Teacher, Tivy High School
Congratulations to the 2022 Shining Star Awardees
David Cahela – General Maintenance Supervisor for KISD
Alicia Campoy – Head Custodian, Tally Elementary School
Austin Clarkson – English and Creative Writing Teacher, Tivy High School
Stephanie Drake-Woods – Occupational Therapist for KISD Special Education
Kelly Dunigan – Physics Teacher, Tivy High School
Michael Freeman – 8th grade Math Teacher, Hal Peterson Middle School
Sandra Gonzalez – Special Education Paraprofessional, Nimitz Elementary School
Jennifer Haas – 1st grade teacher, Tally Elementary School
Sharon Harris – Principal Secretary, Tom Daniels Elementary School
Tacy Heath – English Teacher, Tivy High School
Katie Jachade – Nurse, Starkey Elementary School
Rachel Jordan – 8th grade English Teacher, Hal Peterson Middle School
Xochitl Medina, Custodian for Disciplinary Alternative Education Program & Hill Country High School
Francy Neal – Special Education Administrative Assistant, Kerrville ISD
Alysse O’Brien – Music Teacher, Nimitz Elementary School
Laurie Rees, Mentor Coordinator for Tom Daniels and Nimitz Elementary Schools
Jessica Sturm – English and Technical Theater Teacher, Tivy High School
Hillarie Swanner – 8th grade Math Teacher, Hal Peterson Middle School
James Wessels – Special Education Paraprofessional, Tivy High School
Tammy Wren – Discipline Secretary, Tivy High School
