It was a magical evening for several Duncanville ISD employees during this year’s Employee Appreciation Celebration. The district honored Teachers of the Year, Spirit of a Champion winners, employees who have reached a milestone, and retirees at the annual event, which has not been held in person for two years.
The night began with food, fellowship, and fun as honorees and their guests entered the Shine Performance Hall on a red carpet. Staff and their guests mingled with Disney characters and smiled for the 360-degree camera inside the Hall’s foyer, which was transformed into an enchanting space complete with fairy lights, rich fabric draping, and bubbly balloon garland.
The evening continued with a formal ceremony where each employee was presented an award and shook hands with district board trustees and Superintendent Dr. Marc Smith. Also, every honoree was photographed. View and download photos from this gallery: Employee Appreciation Celebration 2022.
“I stand before you tonight and want to take a moment to acknowledge that you’ve been through more than any other generation of educators,” Dr. Smith said during the ceremony. “You have done more than you’ve been asked. You’ve continued to make students a priority, even when it’s most challenging.”
Throughout the ceremony, guests were treated to videos highlighting Teachers of the Year, Spirit of a Champion winners, and retirees. Guests were also entertained with classic Disney tunes, lip-synced by Teachers of the Year and Spirit of a Champion winners.
Watch videos from the celebration by clicking on the following links:
The event concluded with the announcement of this year’s elementary and secondary teachers of the year. Jessica Thomas of Acton Leadership Academy and Myronda Mays of Kennemer Middle School were crowned the 2022 winners. The two teachers were also surprised with a video honoring their win. Watch their videos by clicking on the following links:
“Education is a heart business,” said Kathleen Brown, chief human resources officer. “People choose this career for the love of students and the opportunity to positively impact the lives of children.”