Bridge Point Elementary School has announced its 2018 EANESpiration winners, bestowing the Educational Impact Awards, the Heroes Award, and the Innovation Award.
Honoring those “who display leadership and commitment to the district by making a positive, noticeable and significant impact,” the Educational Impact Awards recipients include Tracie Mojica, Shannon Pipkin, and a team made up of Meg Green, Meredith Joseph, and Joshua Root.
Mojica was honored for her ability to inspire her students and her colleagues to do their best. “Ms. Mojica spends extensive time getting to know each and every student’s specific learning style, personality, and what makes them ‘tick,’” said an Eanes Independent School District release. “She helps students navigate through their academic day, as well as any social situations that may arise, such as being inclusive with peers, being aware when someone is feeling left out, especially at lunch and on the playground, and how to communicate effectively when faced with friend challenges.”
Pipkin was honored for her work with the SPED team. Known to “make excellent decisions without delay,” Pipkin “is a pro at knowing when to keep pushing and when to provide a break” for students who are struggling or having a bad day.” A vital member of the Bridge Point community, she “makes every day better with her presence.”
Green, Joseph, and Root are a collaborative team of fourth grade Language Arts/Social Studies teachers and were honored for inspiring students, as well as teachers across the district, with their workshop model of teaching that equips students with strategies for reading a variety of genres and developing a love of reading. As a result, “Students who once saw reading as a chore look forward to independent reading time,” said the release.
The Heroes Award honors those “who perform an outstanding achievement that brings prestige to Eanes ISD, or do something that goes above and beyond the call of duty.” Recipients include Leslie Boldrick, Anthony Diaz, and Kate Ricter.
Boldrick was honored for making “an incredible impact on our school every day … Leslie handles it all … cuts, bruises, ice packs, band aids, medication and emergencies for all our students and also our staff at BPE. She handles all this with a smile on her face. She makes time for everyone even if it is a splinter that needs to be taken out or a tooth that needs to be pulled. She is patient, knowledgeable, and is so relied upon. Bridge Point students and staff are so very lucky and fortunate to have her be a part of our team.”
As part of the Bridge Point family for a little over a year, Diaz “has made a tremendous impact in our community among students and staff.” He is known to “offer salsa lessons to staff in the lounge after school, pick up debris in the middle of the road during the drop off rush, and even helped when a teacher was having an emergency craving for Cheetos. He’s brought out new talents, humor, and personality traits in students, such as culinary expertise and joke telling. Mr. Diaz is a visionary and is always looking for ways to improve himself, his team, and our school.”
Ricter was honored as “an amazing educator who just so happens to be an even more amazing librarian.” She “inspires kids to think, connect, learn, and be delighted about the world around them,” while “inspiring kids to love and adore reading.” Ricter “incorporates technology into her lessons: inviting students to tinker with copper tape and paper circuitry, build and construct with STEM items, leave designs on a Lego Wall, and learn about apps that make reading, thinking and creating come alive!” She also has worked with puppeteers and authors, created events like Typewriter Rodeo, and partnered with the Thinkery for stop-motion animation fun.
Photo courtesy Eanes ISD release.