Dominique Roose, an eighth-grade Social Studies teacher at Folks Middle School, was told by her principal, Shawn McKenzie, to bring her students to the gym for an 8th-grade goal-setting pep rally Tuesday morning. She had no idea it was all a ruse.
Toward the start of the assembly, Superintendent Dr. John Craft walked into the gym to address the crowd about what they thought were some thoughts about the importance of goal-setting. After a few comments, Dr. Craft stopped what he was saying and introduced News Reporter Barry Davis. Davis explained the real reason for the assembly -- the announcement that Roose is the 2023-24 EXCEL Award winner for NISD.
The EXCEL Award is given to outstanding teachers in San Antonio by KENS5TV and Human Credit representatives, who joined the assembly and presented Roose with a crystal apple and a $1,000 check.
Roose, who is in her 6th year of teaching at NISD, said that her passion for teaching is rooted in the inspirational teachers that she had growing up.”
“I was raised by a single parent, so the teachers who saw me as more than just a name on their rosters left an impression on me,” she explained. “I had the opportunity to be a ‘teacher for a day’ at Ross Middle School in 7th and 8th grade. “This was my first opportunity to understand the role of a teacher.”
She chose to shadow her Orchestra teacher Ms. Yeates both years. “Ms. Yeates’ had the ability to ensure that I not only mastered my lessons but that my social and emotional needs were met. This ability set the tone for who I wanted to be as a teacher.
Roose went on to attend Holmes High School where she had more amazing educators, but one stood out among the rest.
“Martha Singleton was one in a million,” she said. “Her classroom was a safe haven because Mrs. Singleton taught each of her “Gillsbies” as if we were one of her own children. Her encouragement to complete college and become a teacher was the inspiration that drove me to pursue a higher education.”
The story will air on KENS 5 on Tuesday, Sept. 19, and then will be posted on the KENS 5 EXCEL webpage.
Additional pictures from the surprise presentation can be found here.