ETBU Honors Two Teachers of the Year

MARSHALL, Texas (10/10/12) -- Two East Texas Baptist University alumni were honored Wednesday afternoon for being awarded the last two Region 7 Teacher of the Year honors.

Sharone Woolen, a 1997 graduate of ETBU who also completed a Master of Education from ETBU this past May, was named the 2013 Region 7 Teacher of the Year this past August. Also recognized on Wednesday was 1998 ETBU graduate Lisa Carroll, the 2012 Region 7 Teacher of the Year.

"We feel like we are a part of this with you," said ETBU President Dr. Dub Oliver in presenting the two teachers with a gift from their alma mater during a reception in their honor at Robert E. Lee Elementary School. "We are extremely proud of you and the work you have done."

Both Woolen and Carroll are teachers at Robert E. Lee Elementary, which is the oldest elementary school in the Marshall Independent School District.

Woolen, a native of Marshall and 1993 graduate of Marshall High School, finished her B.S. in Education at ETBU in 1997. She has 15 years of teaching experience, including the last 10 in MISD. She is an eight-time recipient of the District Elementary Teacher of the Year.

"Each day I am given the opportunity to see my students excel," she said. "My goal as a teacher is to provide every child in my classroom with the confidence to conquer anything."

Carroll earned a B.S. in Education from ETBU in 1998. She has 14 years of teaching experience, including 11 in Marshall. She has been named Robert E. Lee Teacher of the Year three times.

"I want to do for children what the great teachers I have come across have done for me," she said. "I want to motivate and inspire them, have a positive impact on their sense of self-worth, their learning and their lives."

As this year's Region 7 Teacher of the Year, Woolen will serve as the region's nominee for 2013 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor the state of Texas can bestow upon a teacher. Facilitated by the Texas Association of School Administrators with assistance from the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Teacher of the Year program annually recognizes and rewards teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching.