2026 Staff Appreciation Banquet
The Joshua ISD family gathered last Friday night for its annual Staff Appreciation Banquet and Auction. It was a wonderful celebration highlighting our staff.
Click here to view more photos on the Joshua ISD Facebook page.
The event recognized our employees’ dedication this school year. During the banquet, employees were treated to dinner courtesy of Roscoe's Barbecue and numerous sponsors. Superintendent Corey Hickerson acknowledged the JISD Board of Trustees and the Joshua ISD Education Foundation, and then announced the 2026 Employee Scholarship recipients and recognized our Teachers of the Year, Support Staff of the Year, Service Award recipients and retirees.
Education Foundation Executive Director Julie Pool announced this year's instructional grant recipients. The Foundation donated a record-high total of $127,256.86, including student-enrichment grants.
The auction featured 55 gift baskets and raised around $8,500. All proceeds will go towards scholarships for seniors.
Thank you to our partners at Roscoe's, Edward Jones Investments, for the trophies that were presented, the JISD Education Foundation and all departments that helped make this event possible. We also appreciate Prime Source Construction, WRA Architects, Texas Air Systems, Rice Drywall, Crossland Construction Company, Vector Concepts, Double Eagle Electric Virco Manufacturing and Ray Noteboom Paint Company for sponsoring.
Employee Scholarship Recipients
Delani Barth, Kyndell Bethell, Brenlee Burns, Isabella Hernandez, Madison Jenson, Hudson Lyon, Kynli Miller, Presley Pate, Trey Pennell, Adelia Vogelgesang and Evi Walker.
Education Foundation Grant Recipients
Celeste Strain | $1,135.16 | Rising to Excellence
Cinnamon Geddie and Nicole DeTommaso | $7,390 | Community Based Instruction
Angela Sigmon & Loflin Middle School Math Department | $10,150 | IXL Student Licenses
Collette Rose & Loflin ELAR Department | $3,300 | Scholastic for Scholars
Nicole Hammons | $1,500 | My Short Answer
Carmen Pena | $10,000 | Spanish Town: El Pueblo
Hattie Roberts, Kellie Kirkpatrick and Alyssa Keenom | $3,328 | Early Childhood
Jennifer Cates | $6,480 | Erase & Elevate
Jacie Dean and Shannom Byrom | $1,770 | STAAR Connections
Kami Yeilding and JHS Art Department | $8,193 | Art Deserves to be DISPLAYED
Lauren Everett and Stephanie Cypert | $2,200 | SLC and Rise
Sara Pair | $5,000 | AP Exam Fee Assistance Program
Victoria Stanley and Morgan Morris | $4,532 | Equipping Our Space for Sensory Motor Success
Lt. Colonel Davidson and Master Chief Linville | $13,770 | Summer Leadership Training
Bria Bird and Justin Jones | $1,253.70 | Smart Carts for Physics Classrooms
Greg Clark and JHS Ag Department | $9,150 | Cattle Squeeze Chute
Aaron King and Rebecca Hunter | $6,458 | Going Into Business
Aaron King and JHS, LMS and NMS Robotics | $2,997 | Teachers Can Learn Too
Janine Quinn and NGC English Department | $1,600 | Classics Novel Study
Amber Morgan and Caddo Grove Elementary Fourth Grade | $6,000 | Ice Age Texas
Support Staff of the Year
- Caddo Grove Elementary - Lizette Sandoval
- Elder Elementary - Sandra Ozuna
- North Joshua Elementary - Tessie Smith
- Plum Creek Elementary - Ashley Moseley
- Staples Elementary - Alma Torres
- Loflin Middle School - Jennifer Heskett
- Nichols Middle School - Melissa Pate
- Ninth Grade Campus - Carolina Martinez
- New Horizon High School - Darlene Dickerson
- Joshua High School - Sherrie Morton
Teachers of the Year
- Caddo Grove Elementary - Dianna Kleeman
- Elder Elementary - Stacey Moore
- North Joshua Elementary - Malisah Ziemak
- Plum Creek Elementary - Lacey Gee
- Staples Elementary - Morgan Morris
- Loflin Middle School - Heidi Berg
- Nichols Middle School - Matt Miller
- Ninth Grade Campus - Alma Puga
- New Horizon High School - Margo Rader
- Joshua High School - Charles Linville
Service Award Recipients
Caddo Grove Elementary
- 5 Years - Emily Christiansen, Courtney Davidson, Bibiana Espinosa, Alma Hannah, Amber Morgan, Angela Plunk, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Amy Sharp, Kayce Smith, Carol Turner and Glenda Worthington
- 10 Years - Erika Hernandez and Gloria Orosco
Elder Elementary
- 5 Years - Betys Bassa Gonzalez, Joie Bryant, Jeane Eads, Stephanie Flinn, Haley Fogarty, Nicole Hammons, Anna Hicks, Amber Manshack, Kailey McRay, Katy Shipley, Nicole Trotter and Heather Wright
- 10 Years - Estefana Limas, Barbara Lund, Jessica Martin and Janey Mendoza
- 15 Years - Laurell Ibarra and Maria Ibarra
- 20 Years - Misty Worbington
North Joshua Elementary
- 5 Years - Katie Hassell and Kristin Morrison
- 10 Years - Sudona Lombard and Jennifer Rodgers
- 15 Years - Victoria Bardwell and Karla Hutchison
- 20 Years - Micah Gutierrez and Christine Plowman
Plum Creek Elementary
- 5 Years - Shannon Byrom, Christin Ellis, Alexis Hoffman, Kayla Marksbury, Ashley Moseley, Kisteen Rotermund and Ellen Watson
- 10 Years - Jourdan Adrian, Nikki Febinger, Jennifer Pyles, Jennifer Stensby and Holli Vargas
- 25 Years - Christy DiBartolomeo
- 30 Years - Susan Swinney
- 35 Years - Suann Howington
Staples Elementary
- 5 Years - Amanda Pate and Veronica Torres
- 10 Years - Katy Brooks, Katie Graves, Angie Hamm and Athena Phillips
- 15 Years - Erica Braden and Barbara Schuman
- 20 Years - Elizabeth Bleeker and Christa Marlar
- 25 Years - Lorie Porter
Loflin Middle School
- 5 Years - Carmen Alvarez, Blake Birdwell, Bonnie Brooks, Kelly Dennington, Jennifer Heskett, Michael Huston, Kylie Maxfield, Desirre McClurg, Colette Rose and Kyle Smoke
- 10 Years - Justine Bustillos, Crissy Latham, Yvonne Landers, Quisha Spann and Ashley Watts
- 15 Years - Rosibel Ordonez
- 20 Years - Jeana Allen
Nichols Middle School
- 5 Years - Christi Butler, Matt Miller, Kevin Moore, Jessica Moreno, Stephanie Snapp, Stacy Hopingardner, Lucresia Tucker and Breanne Zuniga
- 10 Years - Stephanie Ball, Ellen Colbert, Helen Williams and Julie Wood
- 20 Years - Sandra Adams and Stephanie Clements
Ninth Grade Campus
- 5 Years - Barron Wortham
- 10 Years - Michael Dean, Emilia Garcia and Shana McCollough
New Horizon High School
- 5 Years - Meagan Barlow
- 25 Years - Tonya Long
Joshua High School
- 5 Years - Ashley Aaron, Sarah DeArman, Jason Denhartog, Travis Dougherty, Nicole Fielder, Adrianne Haskins, Israel Hernandez Segura, Rebecca Hunter, Evan Meyer, Brooke Middleton, Electra Ray and Kari Trevino
- 10 Years - Ashley Benson, Greg Clark, Mike Clayton, Johnny Hamm, Shellee Key, Aaron King, Yam Roberson and Christopher Seymore
- 15 Years - Mike Walker
- 20 Years - Tara Barnett, James Davidson, Thomas Grant, Haley Hoeflein and Angela Nichols
- 25 Years - Danny Elam
- 35 Years - Sherrie Morton and Karen Yancy
Maintenance & Custodial
- 5 Years - Cindy Elder and Maria Turrubiartes
- 15 Years - Guadalupe Martinez, Maria Moreno and Doug Pyles
- 20 Years - Alma Torres
- 25 Years - Destiny Scott
Child Nutrition
- 5 Years - Stacy Lowrey, Yessica Popa and Connie Smades
- 10 Years - Yuliana Vidal
- 15 Years - Marisol Robles
- 20 Years - Jamie Sanders
- 25 Years - Carmen DeGracia and Bonnie Ovando
Central Office
- 5 Years - Nicole DeTommaso, Jasmine Hill-Hooks, Trey Nance and Ramona Nelson
- 10 Years - Katie Beth Miller, Samantha Torres and Lisa Walles
- 15 Years - Lacy Brown, Julie Hampton, Angel Kidd and Stacy Smith
- 20 Years - Christal Bookhamer and Tracy James
Retirees
Not Pictured:
- Judi DeShong who has 30 years of service to JISD.
- Lorie Porter who has 25 years of service to JISD.
- Susan Reyna who has 6 years of service to JISD.
- Sherrie Morton who has 35 years of service to JISD.
- Mike Nichols who has 24 years of service to JISD.
- James Roberson who has 27 years of service to JISD.
- Pam Alenik who has 27 years of service to JISD.
- Al Sanchez who has 7 years of service to JISD.
Pictured:
- Robin Loflin who has 31 years of service to JISD.
- Christy DiBartolomeo who has 25 years of service to JISD.
- Mindy Stanley who has 19 years of service to JISD.
- Debbie Dunlap who has 36 years of service to JISD.
- Johnny Hamm who has 10 years of service to JISD.
- Starr Heath who has 31 years of service to JISD.
- Melia Fellers who has 12 years of service to JISD.
- Toby Cox who has 31 years of service to JISD.
