Alumni Awards
Baylor School of Education alumni are impacting the world in many fields and in many ways. While most educators serve without recognition, here are just a few who have been honored recently for outstanding service.
(We know there are many, many more alumni awards, so please help us share! If you are an SOE alumna or alumnus who has received recognition — or if you know of another alum who has been honored — please let us know by emailing BaylorImpact@baylor.edu. Photos welcome; please send as attachment!)
2022
National Recognition
Dr. Jennifer Nivin Williamson, MSEd ’98, PhD ’05 (Educational Psychology)
Dr. Daniel Williamson, BBA ’98, PhD ’05 (Educational Psychology)
Diplomats in Adlerian Psychology
North American Society of Adlerian Psychology
Drs. Williamson were both named Diplomats in Adlerian Psychology by the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology.
The Diplomat in Adlerian Psychology is the highest professional recognition offered by The North American Society of Adlerian Psychology to its members. The Diplomat in Adlerian Psychology is awarded to those NASAP members who demonstrate the highest level of professional accomplishment in and contribution to Adlerian Psychology through the many fields in which it is applied — counseling and psychotherapy, clinical practice, education, parent education, theory and research, and organizational leadership.
State Recognition
Dr. Ashley Gibson, EdD ’21 (Curriculum & Instruction)
2022 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching Award
Humanities Texas honored Ashley Gibson, EdD ’21, as one of 15 recipients of the 2022 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching Award. Gibson received a $5,000 cash award, with an additional $1,000 for her school to purchase instructional materials. Gibson is a graduate of Baylor’s online EdD in Learning and Organizational Change. With a classroom career spanning 15 years, Gibson teaches English at Galena Park High School in Galena Park ISD.
Dr. Trena Wilkerson, professor and interim chair of Curriculum & Instruction, said Gibson was “not only an exemplary doctoral student, but insightful and a leader. She exemplifies our mission to prepare educators for leadership in a changing world; he is a transformative leader.”
Local and Campus Recognition
Belinda Powell Neal, EdD ’05
TVCC Distinguished Alumna
Associate Executive Director of Instruction
TEPSA
Belinda Powell Neal, EdD ’05, is among six alumni of Trinity Valley Community College chosen for the Hall of Distinguished Alumni Class of 2022. Having earned an EdD in Educational Administration, Neal is currently the associate executive director of instruction for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA), based in Austin. She has served as an assistant principal and principal in Round Rock and Lindale ISDs and was assistant superintendent of Lindale ISD. At TVCC, she won two national titles as a member of the cheer team and was named Who’s Who.
Lisa Longenecker, BSEd ’06 and BS Math
Campus Teacher of the Year
7th and 8th grade Engineering and Animation Teacher
Cobb Middle School, Frisco ISD
Lisa has been teaching for 16 years in Frisco ISD. After 12 years as a sixth and seventh-grade math teacher, she has been teaching engineering and animation for the last four.
“When I was deciding what kind of teacher I wanted to be, I never thought I’d do anything different than what I was trained for. Baylor prepared me so well to be a middle school math teacher, and I loved that job for many years. But what I find out the longer I taught is that change is actually good. It pushes you and makes you a better educator. Switching to the STEM/CTE courses I now teach is the biggest gift of my career.”
Gabriela Ortiz Haynes, BSEd ’17
Campus Teacher of the Year
PreK Teacher, O. C. Taylor Elementary School, Grapevine Colleyville ISD
Gabriela is in her third year of teaching pre-K in Grapevine Colleyville and fifth year teaching overall, after two years in Waco ISD.
“Everything that I have implemented in my classroom is due to what I learned at Baylor! I am so blessed to have been a part of such a wonderful program,” she said.
Dr. Vivian Baker, EdD ’89
Belton ISD Superintendent, 2001 - 2010
Distinguished Baylor Woman of Central Texas
Central Texas Baylor Club
Temple, Texas
2021
Statewide and Regional Recognition
John Bullion, EdD ’20 (K-12 Educational Leadership)
Special Education Liaison to TEA
Region 12 ESC
Dr. John Bullion is co-host of Region 12's podcast, "SPEDTalk with Pam and John," which received a Barbara Jordan Media Award from the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities. The awards video also features an introduction by Baylor President Dr. Linda Livingstone. Dr. Bullion's award recognition is at minute 52 of this video and includes an excerpt of the winning podcast episode:
Barbara Jordan Media Awards
As a 2020 EdD graduate of the SOE's Educational Doctorate in K-12 Educational Leadership, Bullion was among the program's first graduates. Seven members of Cohort One graduated in May 2020.
Special education teachers may listen to the Region 12 podcast on Apple Podcasts or the Anchor platform.
Local and Campus Recognition
Amy West, BSEd ’16
Campus Teacher of the Year
Fifth-Grade Math Teacher
Woodgate Intermediate
Midway ISD
Amy has been teaching at Woodgate for two years. Prior to that, she taught for three years at Connally Elementary in Connally ISD. Both districts are near Waco.
Fun Fact: Amy did her student teaching at Woodgate in the VERY classroom where she now teaches!
“The Woodgate and Midway family have played a huge role in shaping the teacher that I am today,” Amy said. “Huge shout out to Sara Teichelmann (my mentor at Woodgate) and Dr. Rachelle Rogers, who has been a mentor and friend through my time at Baylor and still is to this day. It’s always a great day to be a Midway Panther, and Sic ’Em Bears forever!”
Amy Feind, BSEd ’16, MA ’17
Campus Teacher of the Year
Special Education Teacher
Seven Hills Elementary
Northwest ISD
Amy said, “I love my job immensely because I get to work with the most incredible team, coworkers, and students every single day. This year has been HARD, and I know that every one of the teachers on our staff is worthy of this title. I am so honored!”
Amy earned her Baylor MA in the Dept. of Educational Psychology after finishing her bachelor’s with a major in special education.
Emily Rice, BSEd ’14, MSEd ’15
Campus Teacher of the Year
Fourth-Grade Math, Science & Writing Teacher
Blackland Elementary
Round Rock ISD
“I love my campus because of the supportive team,” Emily said. “Baylor prepared me to take initiative and be a valuable team member from year one,” she said. “I think the GT track also prepared me to handle students with very diverse needs. I’m so grateful for all of my teaching mentors from Baylor and my school district!”
Fun fact: Blackland is the school where Emily attended fourth and fifth grade herself! “I even got to teach my fifth-grade teacher’s daughter,” she said. “It has been cool to see things come full circle.”
Erica Amos Scalf, BSEd ’16, MSEd ’17
Campus Teacher of the Year
Algebra Teacher and Coach
Wylie East High School
Wylie ISD
Erica is in her fourth year teaching at Wylie East, her own high school alma mater. “I love giving back to the community that gave so much to me,” she says in her teacher profile.
In addition to teaching mathematics, she also coaches the freshmen volleyball and girls basketball teams and is the EdTech Coach, delivering tech training to teachers on her campus.
Hannah Turney Vess, BSEd ’15, MSEd ’17
Campus Teacher of the Year
First-Grade Teache
Howard Dobbs Elementary
Rockwall ISD
Hannah gives credit for this honor to her “many colleagues and members of administration who have believed in and encouraged me,” she said. “Howard Dobbs Elementary has been a supportive and kind workplace, and I cannot imagine a better environment to grow in.”
Hannah loves science education and said, “It has been a privilege to work on the Science Curriculum Design Team. I am so thankful to be able to utilize my passion for science. My cognate in graduate school was science, and I was able to work with and learn so much from Dr. Nesmith.”