Posted Date: 08/25/2016
Patricia Baroody, Paris High School Spanish teacher, was recently named the Region VIII Education Service Center Secondary Teacher of the Year. She will be honored at the Texas Teacher of the Year awards ceremony in Austin on October 14.
Baroody holds a Bachelor in Spanish Education and a Master in Elementary Counseling from Oklahoma State University (SOSU), and a Master in Spanish Literature from Texas A&M-Commerce. In her 28-year teaching experience, she has taught Spanish at Paris High School for two years and at Valliant High School for 16 years where she was named Teacher of the Year five times. She also taught in Hugo, OK for six years and has taught Spanish through the Continuing Education Departments at Paris Junior College, SOSU, and the Kiamichi Technology Center.
Having come from Medellin, Colombia, Patricia brings to her classroom a view of another culture. Empathy for her students allows her to discover ways to make learning less frustrating. Patricia states, “Learning another language is very difficult. Through me, they can see possibilities they never considered before. My goal is not to just teach the language but to mold my students into better citizens by increasing their sensitivity to other cultures.”
Through the years, Paris ISD has had 22 Regional Teachers of the Year, five state finalists for Texas Teacher of the Year, and one Texas Teacher of the Year. Honorees include: Patricia Baroody, 2017 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year; Allison Hanley, 2016 Region 8 Elementary Teacher of the Year; Jennifer Ray, 2012 Region 8 Elementary Teacher of the Year; Beth Dennis, 2009 Region 8 Elementary Teacher of the Year and 2009 state finalist for Texas Teacher of the Year; Debbie Perry, 2009 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year and 2009 state finalist for Texas Teacher of the Year; D’Anna Graham, 2008 Region 8 Elementary Teacher of the Year; Alva Mason, 2008 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year; Debra Fleming, 2004 Region 8 Elementary Teacher of the Year; Tammy Haislip, 2002 Region 8 Elementary Teacher of the Year and 2002 state finalist for Texas Teacher of the Year; LeAnn Barbee, 2002 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year; Helen Martin, 2001 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year and 2001 state finalist for Texas Teacher of the Year; Ken Norris, 2000 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year; Deann Lee, 1999 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year; Deidre Alsup, 1998 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year; Connie Dodd, 1997 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year; Butch Milford, 1996 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year; Judy Alspaugh, 1995 Region 8 Elementary Teacher of the Year; Sue Hays, 1995 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year; Anna Mathews, 1994 Region 8 Secondary Teacher of the Year; Terry Taylor, 1993 Region 8 Teacher of the Year; Sandra Gifford, 1991 Region 8 Teacher of the Year, 1991 state finalist for Texas Teacher of the year, and 1991 Texas Teacher of the Year; and Ann Norment, 1989 Region 8 Teacher of the Year.
Click here to view news release.