The Answer - A blog about Education, Preparation, and Commitment.

Five YES Prep teachers receive the Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award

August 22, 2010 by Allison Poarch

Last night over 700 faculty and staff from YES Prep, KIPP and TFA gathered at the Hilton-Americas for the Be the Change Dinner. After a cocktail hour and three-course meal, five teachers from each organization were recognized with the Kinder Excellence in Teaching award. This is the second year that Nancy and Rich Kinder have funded this award, and we are truly grateful for their generosity. Below are the 5 YES Prep teachers that went home with a much-deserved $20,000 check for their outstanding work in the classroom:  

Karen Autrey

Ms. Autrey started teaching at YES Prep eight years ago and has since become a role model for YES Prep Southeast. She teaches classes ranging from AP Language and Literature to Spanish III, and her students consistently rank among the highest on campus with outstanding test scores. Additionally, Ms. Autrey has shown great commitment to her students in other areas outside of her language classes, writing countless letters of recommendation for college admission, scholarships and summer opportunities. She is very active in clubs and is constantly searching for interesting cultural activities for her students whether it is taking a group to Puerto Rico or to a Flamenco class downtown. In the classroom Ms. Autrey always pushes her students to take academic risks and coaches them through the process with positive reinforcement and immediate feedback. She does an exceptional job at adjusting instruction to meet her student’s needs, and her enthusiasm for teaching is evident through everything she does.

Jennifer Greene

Ms. Greene began teaching at YES Prep Gulfton three years ago and has since become an integral part of the school. A social studies instructor for multiple grade levels, she currently serves as the eighth grade Grade Level Chair. Her ability to connect with students and families led school directors to create her new High School Advisory position where she facilitates smooth transitions from middle to high school. In the classroom Ms. Greene shines, as demonstrated by 100% of her students passing the Social Studies TAKS tests and over 65% earning a Commended score. Outside of the classroom Ms. Greene plays an active role in planning spring trips and other extracurricular activities. Most recently she had students create a complete resume of their time in Middle School along with a letter of intent to compete over the 68 coveted spots for last year’s spring trip to Washington D.C. Ms. Greene has had a huge impact on the growth of YES Prep Gulfton and we are confident that she will continue to do so in the coming years.

Sally Houston

Ms. Houston joined the YES Prep Southwest team three years ago as a 6^thgrade social studies instructor and has now taught 8^thgraders as well. She has served as the social studies course leader for both grade levels and is currently the campus instructional support specialist. Ms. Houston sets high goals for her students and does whatever it takes to achieve them. Last year she set a classroom goal of having 100% of her students pass the social studies TAKS test, and they did just that. Ms. Houston dedicates herself completely to addressing areas of student weakness and works closely with students one-on-one to ensure that all improve. But she also pushes herself to improve as an instructor, requesting meetings with the dean of instruction to analyze her observation data and develop strategies for improvement. Ms. Houston is a great asset to YES Prep Southwest as demonstrated by the admiration others have for her.

Joel Muñoz

An alumnus of YES Prep Southeast Mr. Muñoz returned to YES Prep to serve as YES corps member before beginning his teaching career as a dedicated English instructor in 2006. In that first year Mr. Muñoz was asked to teach two Spanish classes and his students scored the highest in the district on rigorous exams. He excels on the same level in his English classes, with over 90% of students from the past three years passing the TAKS exam. Mr. Muñoz leads his fellow English teachers as well, leading them in the creation and design of new curriculums to best fit their students’ needs. He is a masterful example of classroom management and welcomes many teachers into his room to help them do the same. Outside of the classroom Mr. Muñoz spends time coaching basketball, coordinating school clubs and planning new trips to positively build culture among his students.

Erin Palkot

Ms. Palkot has been a valued member of the YES Prep North Central team for five years now. She is a one-of-a-kind World History instructor who shows a true commitment to her students and their constant growth. She strives not only to prepare them for college but to also prepare them for competition in the global marketplace. Ms. Palkot does a wonderful job of inspiring students to practice on their own and develop a sense of  independence. Over the past two years 100% of her tenth graders have passed the TAKS test with almost 70% earning a commended score. This is particularly impressive due to Ms. Palkot’s maternity leave at the beginning of spring. A first-year teacher substituted for her class, but because of the focus she had instilled in her students, all were still able to score highly on the exam. Ms. Palkot is looked up to by her fellow teachers and students alike. Although AP classes are relatively small in number, Ms. Palkot’s reputation is so strong that over 30 students signed up for her most recent AP World History class. She is a passionate teacher whose dedication shines through in all aspects of instruction.

Congratulations again to Karen, Jen, Sally, Joel and Erin...our 2010 Kinder award winners!

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