Dripping Springs ISD unveiled its 2023-24 Campus Teachers of the Year this week, with surprise visits to each school.
Campus winners were selected through a nomination and voting process of all staff at each school. They are now eligible for the DSISD Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year awards, which are chosen by a volunteer committee comprised of retired educators. The District Teachers of the Year will be announced at the April 22 board meeting.
Below is a brief career summary on each of the campus winners.
ELEMENTARY
Caroline Massey, Cypress Springs Elementary, 3rd Grade
Fourth year teaching at DSISD and sixth overall
Certified in Core Subjects (EC-6) and ESL Supplemental (EC-6)
Graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies
Adriana Suazo, Dripping Springs Elementary, Special Education - Inclusion
Seventh-year teacher with three years at DSISD
Certified in Special Education (EC-12), Bilingual Education-Supplemental-Spanish (EC-12) and ESL Supplemental (EC-12)
Graduated from Loyola University with a Bachelor of Science in Education
Audrea Ross, Rooster Springs Elementary, Special Education - ACC
First-year teacher who previously served as an instructional aide for DSISD
Certified in Special Education (EC-12)
Graduated from Western Governors University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies
Raschel Wagstaff, Sycamore Springs Elementary, Special Education - Inclusion
Teacher for 22 years including eight years at DSISD
Certifications in Elementary Early Childhood Education (PK-6), Elementary Self-Contained (PK-6), Special Education (EC-12) and ESL Supplemental (EC-12)
Graduate of Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Karalise Moreno, Walnut Springs Elementary, Pre-Kindergarten
Teacher for 15 years, all at DSISD
Certifications in Generalist (EC-4) and ESL Generalist (EC-4)
Graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning & Development
SECONDARY
Jolene Kokemoor, Dripping Springs Middle School, Math (6th Grade)
Teacher for 23 years including 14 years in DSISD
Certifications in Generalist (4-8), Generalist (EC-4) and ESL Supplemental (EC-8)
Received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Sociology from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Texas State University
Dawn Schafer, Sycamore Springs Middle School, Choir
Second year teaching at DSISD with 26 total years of experience
Certified in Music (EC-12)
Received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Hartford and a master’s in Music from Boston University
Libby Geisinger, Dripping Springs High School, Special Education - Math Inclusion
Fourth year teaching at DSISD and sixth overall
Certified in Mathematics (7-12) and Special Education (EC-12)
Graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics