Aldine ISD “Teachers of the Year” announced

Purnell Harvey

Gabe Cancino was named Aldine ISD’s Secondary Teacher of the Year, while Purnell Harvey was named the Elementary/Intermediate Teacher of the Year during AISD’s Teacher of the Year Breakfast, held March 12 at the Hotel Sofitel.

Cancino, the band director at Grantham Academy, and Harvey, a fifth-grade science teacher at Houston Academy, were two of six finalists chosen for the prestigious award by a committee of fellow teachers, administrators and community members.

The four other finalists were Vicki Maclies of Goodman Elementary, Kristine Rinaldi of Smith Academy, Jocelyn R. Adams of Aldine Middle School and Brenda Brewer of Aldine Senior High School.

Cancino and Harvey, along with the semifinalists and each campus teacher of the year, were also honored by a number of businesses in the Greenspoint area that donated gifts for the two winners and the others.

Continental Airlines presented Cancino and Harvey each with a round trip airline ticket to anywhere Continental flies in the continental United States and Halliburton presented each of the winners $500. Additionally, Cancino and Harvey each received a $100 gift certificate good at any store in Greenspoint Mall, each received dinner for two at Oakley’s Restaurant in the Hyatt Regency Airport, and each winner received two tickets to the Houston Rockets game on April 9 against the Denver Nuggets. The four finalists each received a $25 gift certificate from Greenspoint Mall, a weekend night stay and breakfast at the Holiday Inn Airport and two tickets to the April 9 Rockets game.

The campus teachers of the year each received a gift bag compliments of Greenspoint Mall, gifts from Gallery Furniture and an appetizer card from Friday’s Restaurant on Greenspoint Drive.

The campus Teachers of the Year were also eligible for a number of gifts that were made available to them via a drawing. Those gifts included a weekend nights stay and breakfast at the Holiday Inn Airport (four were awarded), a gift certificate to Jimmy G’s Restaurant (two were awarded), a Pappasito’s gift card (four were awarded), a $25 gift certificate from Office Depot on the North Freeway at West Road (four were awarded) and a $20 gift certificate from Academy on the North Freeway at West Road (one was awarded).

Cancino his goal as an educator is to help his students strive to be their best.

“I teach my students to strive to the highest in all their endeavors,” he said. “Outstanding teachers believe in what they are doing and make the students believe in what they are learning. My mission is to do everything I can to show them the importance of hard work and of continuing their education.”

Harvey said he believes all teachers have the responsibility to take an active role in seeing their students get the most out of themselves.

“My educational philosophy is based on the following principles: 1) an outstanding teacher is an evolving learner, 2) communication is an integral part of the teacher-student relationship, and 3) you must have a vested interest in your students’ success.”

For full story, see your local copy of the Northeast News.