Superintendent's Leadership Award
Raye-Allen Elementary School Safety Patrol - April 2024
Leadership is the attitude assumed by those with a vision to raise expectations, who are committed to achieving a goal, and whose conviction inspires others through enthusiasm and optimism to reach that goal.
Safety Patrol serve as campus leaders at Raye-Allen. Students apply for the position and receive recommendations from their teachers. They must show good citizenship, perseverance and good work ethic. Students must show good study habits and growth mindset.
Safety Patrol help unload cars each morning, helping students get out of cars quickly with all of their supplies. When it is raining, the SP will help hold umbrellas, as well. Safety Patrol also helps run breakfast in the mornings by guiding students in line and helping them locate their seat. These students help others open packages. They also help with spills and cleaning tables.
During special events, they often help lead pledges and greet visitors.
Patricia Benoit - March 2024
Leadership is the attitude assumed by those with a vision to raise expectations, who are committed to achieving a goal, and whose conviction inspires others through enthusiasm and optimism to reach that goal.
Patricia Benoit’s passion for preserving the stories of our past is both contagious and unparalleled. Not only is she gifted at telling these stories, but she is also a master of uncovering stories that have almost been forgotten and giving them new life.
Evidence of her work has been felt across the district. Take for instance the board room and second floor of the administration building. We have tried to honor and preserve the history of Temple ISD with photographs of buildings that depict our timeline going back to 1883. If you have studied these, you may have noticed that many of the narratives reference Patti as the source. Back when I began researching these buildings to decorate our new building and help tell our story, it became clear very quickly that that task would have been nearly impossible without the work that Patti had done to help preserve their history. She had already done the work and we were just able to incorporate the stories she compiled into our district story exhibit.
Most recently Patti’s the impact of Patti’s historical research and archivism are on full display as we prepare to open our new elementary school. In 2019, Patti penned a backroads article in the Temple Daily Telegram “Temple educator led efforts to improve black schools” that told the almost forgotten story of Cornelius Carl Sampson who was a Temple native, teacher and principal of Dunbar High School who went on to become state-wide leader and civil rights advocate. Patti’s article prompted a facilities naming nomination to be submitted to the district for Professor Sampson and his name along with the Jean & Durwood Howard were ultimately selected as the namesakes for the newest Temple ISD campus.
But Patti didn’t stop there. About 18 months ago, Patti approached the district to ask if she could submit applications for Historical Markers with the State historical commission for Cornelius Sampson and Jean & Durwood Howard. With full district support, she pulled together extensive research and submitted these applications – one last year and the other this month. And we are pleased to announce that the initial application for Cornelius Carl Sampson has been approved! The award decisions for the Howards application will not be made until later this year.
Patti – As you documented in your research, Professor Sampson was attributed with the quote “Deeds not words” as he emphasized to students that it was actions that set people apart and defined their beliefs. I am not one to argue with such wisdom but I think in your case it gives me pause…. Because it is through your words that so much of our history has been preserved because you refused to let these stories be lost. But I guess therein lies the beauty and wisdom of our Professor Sampson as you not only have the passion to pen these stories but to also share these stories so that they are not forgotten. Your desire to inspire others to embrace the history around us so that we can build on this for a better tomorrow is what truly sets you apart.
Rod Henry - December 2023
For the last 10 years, Rod Henry has been the champion for business and industry across our community as the President of the Temple Chamber of Commerce. But he has also been an equal champion of Temple ISD as well!
He has speared numerous programs and initiatives that support our students as they prepare to move into the workforce and/or continue their post-secondary education. He has been committed not to let financial barriers prevent students from attaining business and industry certifications through our CTE programs and has dedicated funding through Temple Futures to insure this. He has also been a strong legislative advocate for public education often facilitating conversations with elected officials across the region to come together and support our schools and students.
And let’s not forget arguably the most visibly impactful demonstration of support for Temple ISD was the change from red to Blue Coat Ambassadors. Rod may not ever have come out on the record to say why he made this change, but I think the electric Wildcat blue hue selected speaks for itself. The sparkle in his eye when he dons the garment provides further evidence of what we here have all come to know and that is that Rod Henry is a true Wildcat at heart.
Some people support with words and others with deeds. Rod has truly demonstrated his support of Temple ISD through both words and deeds over the last 10 years. Through small and large professional partnerships and quiet personal donations from the Henry family to say it out loud electric blue coats.
Isabella Rodriquez - December 2022
Matthew Corley - October 2021
Matt has been a soccer coach and a teacher at THS for 19 years. While he excels both in the classroom and on the field, his time spent above and beyond those roles is what sets him apart.
Matt and his students have taken on the task of operating the videoboard system at THS this year. They produce content, provide video footage and program the graphics that we all enjoy so much on Friday nights and even on Thursdays sometimes for JV events. In addition, his players walk the stands and clean up trash in the stadium after each Thursday and Friday night home game. You probably also see Matt at just about every THS event where he can be found taking pictures for the annual school yearbook.
Aniyah Smith - September 2021
Jose Zacarias - July 2021
Jose Zacarias recovered 3 credits this summer. He rode his bike from North Temple, got to school and worked tirelessly on his coursework, went to work from 4-11 PM and rode his bike home. He would not let his mother drive him to school because he had to go to work and did not want her to have to pick him up so late. His mother states that he saves every penny so he can buy a car. His perseverance has him caught up in school and no doubt ready to tackle his Junior year of high school.
Jalyah Collins - April 2021
Amy Scopac, Roger Smith, George Bell, Lindsey Davis, Diane Daly, John Daly, Jolene Pruitt, Steven Howell, John Kuper and Clarence Ball - April 2021
February 12 – 19, 2021 has been dubbed by some as “Snowmagedon”, “SNOVID”, “Snowpocalypse” and many other names that attempt to describe that fateful week. Extended power outages coupled with unprecedented temperatures, snow and ice created a situation that made homes unlivable for some in our community. The opening of warming shelters across our area provided much hope but with the roadways undriveable how would people get there?
Sacrificing their own safety, that is when these individuals literally came to the rescue. Working with the City, our transportation department picked up people in need across the city and brought them to warming centers where they could safely wait out the winter storm.
From the elderly to the medically fragile to some furry friends and everyone in between, these men and women provided hope for the hopeless in their most desperate hour. And if you know these individuals you know that they even provided some much needed cheer, compassion and kindness along the way.
Amy Hayes, Kim Glawe and the Health Services Department - March 2021
It has been eight months since we welcomed students and staff back into our buildings mid-pandemic. During this time, Temple ISD has not had to close a single campus or facility due to COVID spread inside our walls. This can and should be largely credited to Amy Hayes, Director of Wellness and Benefits, Kim Glawe, Director of Health Services, and our school nurses.
Amy and Kim have been at the helm of case reporting and monitoring and have worked with Senior Leadership Team and outside agencies like the Bell County Health District and Baylor Scott and White Health
throughout the pandemic. They have worked around the clock and through weekends and holidays without hesitation or reservation.
Our nurses have served in a very similar capacity at each of their campuses as they were designated as the COVID-19 contact on their respective campuses who have supported staff, students and families with questions and concerns—easing their fears every step along the way. They have volunteered to help administer vaccines across the county and to assist in medical facilities that were inundated with patients early on in this pandemic.
Perhaps the best example to illustrate the commitment of this collective group standing before us is the vaccine clinic they organized and executed in less than 24 hours during the severe winter storm resulting in the vaccination of 300+ Temple ISD staff members.
These ladies know no bounds and deserve more thanks than we could even begin to muster.
Dr. Janice Smith and Dr. Amanda Robison-Caldwell - December 2020
Planning for the needs of our staff and students during a pandemic is not easy. However, we are fortunate to have experts in our community like Dr. Smith and Dr. Chadwell of the Bell County Health Department whose leadership roles have been critical the last nine months
Dr. Smith and Dr. Chadwell have been constant sources of knowledge and insight since March. They have given countless hours to review district protocols and procedures providing feedback and suggestions for how we can best implement health and safety measures and have truly partnered with the district every step of the way.
Since this summer they have met with Temple ISD, and all Bell County school districts, on a weekly call with superintendents to provide advisement and guidance on specific situations. Early in the morning or late in the evenings, they are always responsive to our needs and questions because they know how critical it is to mitigate the spread while providing educational continuity.
Their acts of service above self is what defines true leadership.
Dr. John Midturi - September 2020
Jacob Bates - April 2020
Salons at Tuscan Square - February 2020
Sam Maxon - December 2019
When Coach Clark worked with the opposing coach to set the match, he knew that Sam would approach it as an opportunity to demonstrate respect and leadership but not even he imagined the outcome Sam chose.
Sam's extraordinarily selfless act inspired people in ways that even he may not realize. For his competitor, his family and fellow classmates, Sam encouraged and reminded them that anything truly is possible regardless of circumstances far beyond our control. For Sam's coach, fellow athletes, and Wildcat fans, he challenged and reminded us that “winning” shouldn’t be defined by numbers on a final scorecard/scoreboard and that “winning” in life is more important than any stats could ever be.
Chester Harrison - September 2019
For nearly 3 decades, Pastor Harrison has been welcoming students, families and staff on their way to and from school. He has uttered countless words of blessing and encouragement; and he has showered the campus — his mission field –with abundant prayer.
Danny & Rebekah Little - June 2019
Madeleine Ruth Norman - December 2018
Her passion for and commitment to this cause is extraordinary.
Steve Prentiss - December 2018
Carl Pleasant - August 2018