Two Tomball ISD Educators Honored as HAABE Award Winners

TOMBALL - Tomball ISD was well-represented at the 2025 Houston Area Association for Bilingual Education (HAABE) Teacher of the Year ceremony as Creekside Park Junior High teacher and Tomball ISD’s Secondary ESL Teacher of the Year Jennifer Keogh and Tomball Intermediate Principal and Leadership Champion Dr. Kelly Marchiando were honored for their commitment to bilingual education as the HAABE Secondary ESL Teacher of the Year and Leadership Champion for the Houston region, respectively.

Keogh becomes the third overall HAABE Teacher of the Year winner for Tomball ISD in the last four years, joining Maria Alejandra Martinez (2023-2024) and Araceli Salinas (2021-2022). Dr. Marchiando becomes the first Leadership Champion award recipient as this is a brand new honor for HAABE.

As a representative of Tomball ISD's commitment to excellence in all areas, including multilingual education, Keogh will now advance to represent HAABE and Tomball ISD at the Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) Teacher of the Year competition in the fall. 

Tomball ISD Director of Multilingual Programs, Dr. Paloma Moreno: 

“Jennifer Keogh from Creekside Park Junior High has been named HAABE's Secondary ESL Teacher of the Year. This award acknowledges her passion and effective strategies in supporting multilingual students, including building strong relationships, developing targeted language instruction, and collaborating with all campus staff. Her efforts have demonstrably contributed to significant improvements in her students' language proficiency and academic growth.”

“Dr. Kelly Marchiando has been honored with the newly created HAABE Leadership Champion award, a testament to her influential role in establishing and maintaining high-quality multilingual programming. Her advocacy and support were particularly vital in ensuring a smooth transition for the initial cohort of the Two-Way Dual Language program this year as it moved into Tomball Intermediate School. She was instrumental in providing teachers with the necessary professional development, resources, and tools for success. This inaugural win positions Tomball ISD as a leader in multilingual education within the Houston area.”

HOUSTON AREA SECONDARY ESL TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Jennifer Keogh | Creekside Park Junior High

A veteran educator with 15 years of experience, Jennifer Keogh has spent the last nine years as an Emergent Bilingual Specialist/ESL Teacher in Tomball ISD, currently teaching ELLA Newcomer classes at Creekside Park Junior High. Her certifications include ELA and Reading (4-12) and ESL (K-12).  Ms. Keogh, named Tomball ISD’s Secondary ESL Teacher of the Year, was also the recipient of the CPJH Teacher of the Month award (March 2024), former Tomball Innovation Grant winner, and former Teacher of the Year (Owasso Public Schools).

What makes teaching so special to you?
“I value the connections made with students and fellow teachers. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to make a positive impact on my students’ educational experiences, especially since they come from a variety of backgrounds and have diverse language needs. I also value the camaraderie among and collaboration with my fellow teachers; I work with a dedicated group of educators, and these relationships are what makes teaching truly special.”

Why do you continue teaching?
“​​You’re only as good as the people around you, and I am surrounded by amazing people at CPJH. My students inspire and humble me. Even on the craziest, most stressful days, there is no better feeling than knowing that you have helped a child succeed.”

Why Tomball ISD? 
“Tomball ISD has been my home for the past nine years, since moving to Texas from out of state. In spite of being a large district, it has a small-town, close community feel, and I appreciate the support and educational opportunities that are available here.”

HOUSTON AREA LEADERSHIP CHAMPION
Dr. Kelly Marchiando, Principal | Tomball Intermediate

Dr. Kelly Marchiando, Principal of Tomball Intermediate, was named the Houston Area Leadership Champion for the 2024-25 school year after being recognized as the TISD Leadership Champion. This new award recognizes leaders who champion emergent bilingual students and educators. Dr. Marchiando fosters an inclusive environment, supports educators with resources and professional development, builds strong family and community relationships, and prioritizes equity for all students. She is a passionate advocate dedicated to student growth and success for all at TIS.

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.