Harlingen CISD has 31 campuses. Every year, each campus selects a teacher to represent their school. Out of that group of teachers, one elementary teacher and one secondary teacher are selected to represent the entire district as Teachers of the Year.
District administrators kicked off Teacher Appreciation Week with surprise visits to Long Elementary and Coakley Middle School to announce Cynthia Rountree as Elementary Teacher of the Year and Darlene Hernandez as Secondary Teacher of the Year.
At Long Elementary, Cynthia Rountree was surprised with the recognition in the school gymnasium, where students and staff cheered her on.
“I have known Ms. Rountree for a very long time, and she is a fabulous teacher,” Superintendent Dr. Alicia Noyola said. “We are super happy that she is our Teacher of the Year for Long Elementary, and we congratulate her for being selected to represent the entire district.”
Rountree was filled with emotion as she reflected on her 37 years as an educator.
“This is beyond my dreams; this moment right here,” she said. “And I’m so happy that all of you are here to share it with me. This moment that I am having with you is one that I am going to treasure for the rest of my life.”
After announcing the Elementary Teacher of the Year, the group of administrators headed to the Coakley Middle School Library to announce the Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Hernandez was greeted by the school drumline.
Administrators and students took turns congratulating her on her recognition.
“We have some amazing teachers in this district and some amazing teachers at the secondary level,” Dr. Noyola said. “But there was one teacher who stood out as that type of teacher that we wanted in every classroom in this district, and that was Ms. Hernandez.”
When Hernandez had a moment to speak, she spoke directly to her students and shared her appreciation for them.
“You guys make me never want to retire,” she said. “I just want to let you know that I appreciate you guys and I know you are going to do great things.”
