Gems of Appreciation

We are proud to recognize Kayla Kastner as our Gem of Appreciation! Kayla is an invaluable part of our Athletic Department and is often the person working behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly. She consistently goes above and beyond to support our coaches, athletes, and staff, providing timely information, answering questions, solving problems, and helping others find the resources they need.

ES is proud to recognize Garrett Lange as our GEM of Appreciation. Mr. Lange consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every student has the opportunity to be successful. As a 5th grade Reading teacher, he holds himself to high standards and puts tremendous time, thought, and effort into planning and delivering meaningful, engaging instruction. He is intentional about making sure every student is included in the learning, including those who need additional support to access rigorous, grade-level content.

We are excited to recognize Mrs. Jowers as our GEM of the Month! In a short amount of time in her new role, she has made an incredible impact on our students. She stepped into her ISS/Focus role with patience, compassion, and a heart for helping students succeed. She not only supports students through challenging moments but also celebrates their victories, big and small!

Burnet Middle School is proud to announce that our Gem of Appreciation goes to Coach Matias Patino!

Although Coach Patino is new to BCISD, he has already made a lasting impact on students at Burnet Middle School. Within the first few weeks of school, students were leaving his gym sweaty and red-faced while exclaiming, “That was the best class ever!” Coach Patino takes great pride in keeping all students active and engaged every day.

Congratulations to Barbara Wolfe, Route 20, our newest GEM of Appreciation recipient! Barbara is an amazing team player, always ready to float between different bus routes and step in as a bus monitor. Her dedication shines through in everything she does, including her constant willingness to help clean our buses and white fleet to keep them looking great for our district. Thank you for always going the extra mile!"

Facilities & Operations October Gem of Appreciation goes to Roman Espinoza, High School Lead Custodian.

Roman has done an exceptional job stepping into his new role as a Lead. He has truly taken the bull by the horns, embraced the challenges of the position, and consistently gotten the job done. Even while short-handed, Roman has demonstrated strong leadership, accountability, and dedication to the team. His ability to step up and deliver under challenging circumstances has been impressive.

We would like to present this Gem of Appreciation to Efigenia Cruz, our lead custodian for keeping our campus clean, safe, welcoming, and well-maintained!

The Food Service team is recognizing a second Gem of Appreciation for April - Ms. Amanda Babiarz!

The Food Service team is excited to recognize Joann Chapa as their April Gem of Appreciation.