Maurine Richter

Maurine Richter, who teaches seventh grade at Cornerstone Academy,   has been named one of five finalists at the secondary level in the   Annual Region IV Teachers of the Year competition. A dinner and awards ceremony will be held Aug. 20 at the Westin Galleria Hotel.

Honored as SBISD’s Secondary Teacher of the Year in May, Richter learned that she had moved to the next level of competition after returning with her family from a vacation trip to Arkansas. Her finalist interview was held at the Region IV Education Service Center on July 30.

“I was absolutely overwhelmed,” she said after first hearing at home that she was a regional finalist for top teacher honors. “I screamed and my husband ran into the room and asked, ‘Has someone died?’ I had to tell him ‘No,” and then explain.”

Richter and Edgewood Elementary’s Maria Solórzano, a bilingual teacher, were named the 2008 SBISD Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year during the annual Service Awards and Teacher of the Year Reception, held May 7 at the Omni Westside Hotel. Teacher of the Year nominations were received from all 46 district campuses.

“I really do believe that I was born to be a teacher. The classroom is where I believe that I am supposed to be,” Richter says.

“My message to teachers is to build relationships beginning with the students, fellow teachers, parents, administration and the community. By establishing relationships, we can bring value and greater recognition to public education as we experience increased success,” she adds.

Cornerstone Academy Director Jill Wright was thrilled, but certainly not surprised, to learn that Richter was a regional finalist. “She is a teacher of the highest quality who is deeply passionate about her profession. When you spend a few minutes in her classroom, you see and hear overwhelming evidence of that passion. She represents SBISD beautifully,” she said.

The Cornerstone Academy language arts and social studies teacher has taught for four years at the district’s award-winning and top-rated public charter middle school. An educator for 27 years, she has also taught at three SBISD elementary schools and at both Spring Forest and Spring Woods middle schools.

In an interesting twist, Richter’s sister, Valley Oaks Elementary fifth-grade teacher Marcia Looper, was named SBISD Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2004. Looper was also named a regional finalist.As district Teachers of the Year, both Richter and Solórzano received a trophy-style Golden Apple award, a $2,000 professional growth stipend from the district, $1,000 from the Spring Branch Education Foundation and $250 from First Community Credit Union.

Spring Branch has named Teachers of the Year who went on to win regional honors in 1990, 1994, 1999 and 2000. Spring Branch educators were named Texas Teachers of the Year in 1983, 1985, 1989 and 2000.

To read more about this year’s SBISD Teachers of the Year and campus nominees, please visit http://www.springbranchisd.com/news/050808toy.htm.

posted 05-08-08