Tomball ISD Names Teachers of the Year; Celebrates Students and Staff at 2024-25 Academic Awards Ceremony

TOMBALL - Tomball ISD recognized high achievement and celebrated the 2024-2025 school year by honoring exemplary students, teachers and staff at the 39th Annual A+ Academic Awards Ceremony held at Tomball Memorial High School.

The District wrapped up the event by announcing Julia Flores from Canyon Pointe Elementary as its Elementary Teacher of the Year and Israel Moorer from Northpointe Intermediate School as its Secondary Teacher of the Year.

“The Board of Trustees has made a formal commitment to recognize the outstanding achievement of our students, and to encourage and reward quality instruction, dedication, and professionalism of our teachers and staff,” said School Board President Dr. Michael J. Pratt. “The 38th Annual A+ Academic Awards Ceremony affords us the opportunity to celebrate outstanding academic achievement bringing excellence in education to our classrooms.”

2024-2025 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

Elementary Teacher of the Year: Julia Flores
Canyon Pointe Elementary | Bilingual Reading Specialist

Julia Flores serves as a Bilingual Reading Specialist at Canyon Pointe Elementary and has dedicated 17 years to education in Tomball ISD.

Why education? What makes your job so special?
“I believe education chose me. While it was never part of my original plan, every step in my journey pointed me toward the classroom. I became a teacher to give back what was given to me: encouragement, support, and the belief that every child can succeed regardless of their background or circumstances.

“Teaching is more than a job...it’s a calling. What makes it so special is the ability to shape not just minds but hearts. Every day, I can build relationships, spark curiosity, and help students believe in themselves. It’s a privilege to be part of their journey.”

Why Tomball ISD?
“Tomball is more than just the place I work. It’s a community I’m proud to be a part of. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and supported. Tomball values diversity, fosters innovation, and deeply cares about its students and educators. Here, I’ve had the chance to grow, to serve, and to make a difference in the lives of students who remind me of why I chose this profession in the first place.” 

What does it mean to be named Elementary Teacher of the Year? 
“Being named Elementary Teacher of the Year is an incredible honor. It’s a celebration of resilience, of every student I’ve taught, and of every colleague who has inspired me. This recognition means I get to represent the voices of so many who, like me, never imagined themselves in this role but found purpose and passion in serving others. It’s a reminder that through hard work, love, and dedication, we can truly change lives.”

CPES Principal Karina Avila on Julia Flores…
“At Canyon Pointe Elementary, we are absolutely thrilled that Mrs. Flores has been named Elementary Teacher of the Year! Her passion for teaching, unwavering commitment to her students, and ability to create a warm, engaging classroom environment make her truly exceptional. Mrs. Flores brings energy, creativity, and heart to everything she does—and our school is better because of her.

“What truly sets Mrs. Flores apart is her dedication to meeting students where they are. She sees each child as an individual and provides the support, encouragement, and instruction they need to grow, no matter the academic challenge. Her belief in every student’s potential is evident in her daily work, and the impact she makes is both powerful and lasting.”

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Secondary Teacher of the Year: Israel Moorer
Northpointe Intermediate School | Special Education Teacher

Israel Moorer has served education for four years, three in Tomball ISD, and currently teaches special education at Northpointe Intermediate.

Why education? What makes your job so special?
“I chose education because it saved my life. Growing up in a home marked by chaos and instability, I learned early how to survive—but not how to thrive. Literature became my lifeline, helping me reframe pain into purpose. As a special education teacher, I try to show students that education is more than academics—it’s a path for moving beyond reactive patterns and developing self-dominance. What makes this work meaningful is helping students build the inner strength to shape their own lives—not just to succeed in school, but to grow into individuals who contribute with purpose to the world around them.”

Why Tomball ISD?
“I chose Tomball ISD because I believed in the vision of Dr. Cain and Mrs. Deelsnyder, the leaders who interviewed me for my role. Their emphasis on educating the whole child—not just in theory, but in daily practice—aligned closely with my own philosophy as an educator. I’ve remained in Tomball because I continue to see that commitment reflected throughout the district’s leadership.”

What does it mean to be named Secondary Teacher of the Year? 
“I am a mosaic of a triad of men who have passed. Before their passing, I was never afforded the chance to say thank you. Being named Secondary Teacher of the Year is more than an award—it is another note in a lifelong series of thank yous. It honors the lessons they left behind, the perspectives they shaped, and the quiet strength they modeled. This recognition affirms that their influence lives on—not only in who I’ve become, but in the work I do and the students I serve.”

NIS Principal Holly Searcy on Israel Moorer…
“We’re incredibly proud of Mr. Moorer for being named Secondary Teacher of the Year! He goes above and beyond to individualize instruction, making sure every student feels seen, supported, and challenged. He leads from the heart, brings positivity to our campus, and inspires everyone around him. This recognition is so well deserved!”

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A+ TEACHERS, PARAS & STUDENTS FROM ALL TOMBALL ISD CAMPUSES

Photo Gallery

Canyon Pointe Elementary

• Teachers: Julia Flores, Gretchen Gray
• Para: Jessica Contreras
• Students: Jackson Aitken (2nd), Nihel Guerrouche (3rd), Hudson Caslen (4th)

Creekside Forest Elementary

• Teachers: Jennifer Guerra, Heather Moseley
• Para: Olga Dodson
• Students: Alexandra Berchan (2nd), Vincent Kaldau (3rd), Elanor Kim (4th), Andrew Seelhoefer (5th)

Creekview Elementary

• Teachers: Cameron Arthur, Karla Soto
• Para: Sadia Akbar
• Students: Mia Novoa (2nd), Avelyn Germann (3rd), Andrew Walker (4th), Hannah Huber (5th)

Decker Prairie Elementary

• Teachers: Meghan Cooney, Jessica Crager
• Para: Cynthia Wallace
• Students: Norah Purser (2nd), Kahlan Wicker (3rd), Courtney Tietjen (4th)

Early Excellence Academy

• Teacher: Sarah Wade
• Para: Shannon Galindo-Islas

Grand Oaks Elementary

• Teachers: Jessica Hampton, Noreen Maxson
• Para: Bianca Flores
• Students: Kai Lara (2nd), Joshua Lukens (3rd), Abdurrahman Tai (4th)

Lakewood Elementary

• Teachers: Nicole Durling, Stacy Moore
• Para: Tiffany Trivette
• Students: Audrey Madsen (2nd), Liam Moran (3rd), Emily Rust (4th)

Rosehill Elementary

• Teachers: Anaid Flores, Nancy Syed
• Para: Rosa Urbaez
• Students: Lane Snow (2nd), Kingsly Davis (3rd), Logan Conklin (4th)

Timber Creek Elementary

• Teachers: Alaa Inzawi, Susan Kuehn
• Para: Elisse Knepper
• Students: Gavin Li (2nd), William Weeks (3rd), Tiago Boscasanta Dal Zotto (4th), Everett Moore (5th)

Tomball Elementary

• Teachers: Brittany Huggins, Stephanie McLennan
• Para: Nicole Nixdorf
• Students: Thea Nichols (2nd), Rylee Boles (3rd), Kaylee Nauck (4th)

West Elementary

• Teachers: Susan Hundersmark, Stephanie Reily
• Para: Lindsey Lewis
• Students: Ophelia Stevener (2nd), Jaxson Welch (3rd), Janice Ho (4th)

Wildwood Elementary

• Teachers: Jennifer Johnson, Jaden Pearce
• Para: Cachet Briggs
• Students: Colin O’Sullivan (2nd), Austin Lynch (3rd), Avery Jahn (4th)

Willow Creek Elementary

• Teachers: Roseann Miller, Ashley Nations
• Para: Heather Roper
• Students: Rayna Patin (2nd), Ethan Ramirez (3rd), Phu Luu (4th)

Northpointe Intermediate

• Teachers: Angelle Farrell, Israel Moorer
• Para: Monica Cardenas
• Students: Jackson Bowling (5th), Lydia Chang (5th), Nhung Luu (6th), Christopher Parr (6th)

Oakcrest Intermediate

• Teachers: Cartinia Bivens, Jason Lancaster
• Para: Claudia Zapata
• Students: Dominic Tsserkus (5th), Laura Zhu (5th), Angelia Jin (6th), Josephine Williams (6th)

Tomball Intermediate 

• Teachers: Brittany Hicks, Hilary Vining
• Para: Marina Moysen
• Students: Kylle Pasajol Gonzales (5th), Grace Wicker (5th), Jackson Gandre (6th), Hannah Lagaly (6th)

Creekside Park Junior High 

• Teachers: Christa Schultz, Halie Summers
• Para: Kolby Voelkel
• Students: Seeyad Hasnine (6th), Rachel Ke (6th), Eli Kim (6th), Isabelle Ames (7th), Molly Kuneman (7th), Roman Tutino (7th), Isabella Berchan (8th), Cereza Mun Yui Lee (8th), Valentina Tatavek (8th)

Grand Lakes Junior High

• Teachers: Montana Hart, Renee Kelley
• Para: Ann Skyles
• Students: Yara Hamden (7th), Calyx Millano (7th), Tyagi Yashaswi (7th), Eva Mena Gonzalez (8th), Ahil Qazi (8th), Sahen Tapar (8th)

Tomball Junior High

• Teachers: Melanie Hajek, Dezmond Scott-Doughty
• Students: Emma Alleweireldt (7th), Johanna Gomez (7th), Noah Suazo (7th), Ethan Bardin-Berenger (8th), Jayden Gomez (8th), Samantha Stahlin (8th)

Willow Wood Junior High

• Teachers: Darren Brinkley, Christianne Hechler
• Para: Theresa Kindley
• Students: Natalia Bui (7th), Varun Kamath (7th), Aneesh Mohan Kumar (7th), Tamasi Ellendula (8th), Melanie Van Dyke (8th), Annalise Waller (8th)

Connections Academy

• Teacher: Kris Peyton
• Para: Kathleen Seaman

Tomball High School

• Teachers: Kami Faldyn, Jana Gainey, Jackie Schrant, Jamal Wortham
• Para: Diane Whittlesey
• Students: Lillian Bardo (9th), Louise Janssens (9th), Sana Kale (9th), Sam Prince (9th), Matthew Dixon (10th), Nicholas Doan (10th), Quin Marcello (10th), Claudia McLendon (10th), Eshan Jolly (11th), John Lezama (11th), Carson Pogach (11th), Kaavya Veligeti (11th), Isabella Alvarez (12th), Olivia Alvarez (12th), Brody Hoge (12th), Anand Julapalli (12th)

Tomball Memorial High School

• Teachers: Todd Carrigan, Irma Sibert, Janet Stackhouse, Shelley Stout
• Para: Vanessa Alvarez
• Students: Madison Mai (9th), Benjamin Nguyen (9th), Julene Shyju (9th), Eshaan Sinha (9th), Shantanu Patil (10th), Ethan Purba (10th), Moiz Shaikh (10th), James Wu (10th), Aubrie Austin (11th), Tanmayi Kumar (11th), Mason Lopez Martinez (11th), Kyle Storey (11th), Jessica Ho (12th), Heath Luebsen (12th), Peyton Mueller (12th), Lauren Taylor (12th)

Tomball Star Academy

• Teachers: Elicia Moody, Kelly Stahmer
• Para: Holley Guy
• Students: Priya Christian (9th), Christian Pham (9th), Zoee Clesi (10th), Sophia Suazo (10th), Austin Fontenot (11th), Tyler Ashton Tran (11th), Elizaveta Khudorozhkova (12th), Giselle McLean (12th)

 

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PARAPROFESSIONALS OF THE YEAR, PRINCIPALS OF THE YEAR, ESL/BILINGUAL TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

Instructional Paraprofessional of the Year: Claudia Zapata
Oakcrest Intermediate | Bilingual Instructional Aide

Administrative Paraprofessional of the Year: Mabelle Reis
Technology | Secretary to Technology Services

Elementary Principal of the Year: Tara Bailey
Timber Creek Elementary

Secondary Principal of the Year: Dr. Kelly Marchiando
Tomball Intermediate

ESL Rising Star: Taylor Reeves
Canyon Pointe Elementary

Bilingual Rising Star: Jessica Zampierin
Oakcrest Intermediate

Bilingual Teacher of the Year: Nancy Syed
Rosehill Elementary

Elementary ESL Teacher of the Year: Stephani Golden
Grand Oaks Elementary

Secondary ESL Teacher of the Year: Jennifer Keogh
Creekside Park Junior High

Leadership Champion: Dr. Kelly Marchiando
Tomball Intermediate

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ABOUT TOMBALL ISD
Tomball ISD educates students to become responsible, productive citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous, and personally valuable educational experiences. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates over 23,000 students across 24 campuses.