From left, Tim Farias, MITRE Corporation; Robert LeBlanc, Jay High School Mentor; Andy Kline, Raba Elementary Principal; Dorothy Ellis, Clark High School Athletics Booster Club; Lenore Kaiser, Kaiser Medical Management; Elia Martinez, Radisson Hill Country Resort & Spa; Judy Mullins, Milberger Nursery; Terry Snow, Primrose School; Carmela Pantoja, Passmore Elementary Mentor; Kimberly Dolejsi, Harcourt Assessment; Nancy Reed, Communities in Schools; Helen Tiseth, Valley-Hi Elementary mentor; Henry Fields, Audie Murphy VA Hospital; and Bill Stiteler, Jordan Middle School Teacher.

Northside saluted hundreds of school, business, and community volunteers at the 2007 Partnership Awards Reception held May 8 in conjunction with ArtFest at the Paul Taylor Field House.

In addition, Northside’s “Outstanding Partnerships” were honored individually with help from Eileen Teves of KENS-TV, who served as mistress of ceremonies.

The “Outstanding Partners” were selected by a group of judges coordinated by Doug McMurry, executive vice president of the San Antonio Chapter of Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America. All winners had previously been named a “campus partner of the year” at an NISD school.

“Northside depends on literally thousands of volunteers who help Northside keep education paramount,” NISD Partnerships Director Bonnie Ellison said.

Winners are as follows:

• High School Mentor of the Year – Robert LeBlanc, an electronics engineer for the U.S. Air Force who has mentored a Jay High School student since he was in elementary school.
• Middle School Volunteer of the Year – Bill Stitler, teacher and volunteer at Jordan Middle School.
• Elementary Mentor of the Year – Carmela Pantoja, 20-year mentor and volunteer at Passmore Elementary School.
• Partnerships Program of the Year – Communities in Schools of San Antonio, led by Executive Director Nancy Reed, for its work with at-risk Northside students.
• Elementary Program of the Year – Harcourt Assessment Inc., led by employees Kimberly Dolejsi and Ursula Willing, for its pen-pal program with students at Villarreal Elementary School.
• High School Partnerships Program of the Year – The Early Childhood Professions Internship program in which Warren High School students go to Raba Elementary School to learn how to become elementary and pre-school teachers.
• Non-Campus-Based Partnerships Program of the Year – Primrose School, which enrolls Northside pre-school students with disabilities. Owners are Monica and Terry Snow and director is Emily Simpson.
• Business of the Year – Elia Martinez, director of Human Resources at Radisson Hill Country Resort and Spa, for the Hospitality Internship program with Warren High School.
• Middle School Business of the Year – Judy Mullins and Charles Martelli of Milberger Nursery for their work with the Connally Junior Naturalist Club.
• Elementary Business of the Year – Lydia Menchaca, administrative assistant and her employer, H-E-B Store No. 37, who have adopted Fernandez Elementary School.
• Special School Business of the Year – Audie Murphy Veterans Administration Hospital and Supervisor Henry Fields, who work with the Northside Vocational Transition Program to train disabled students to be self-sufficient.
• Elementary Coordinator of the Year – Helen Tiseth, first-grade tutor at Valley Hi Elementary School.
• Middle School Coordinator of the Year – Lenore Kaiser of Kaiser Medical Management, who helps schools, Pease Middle School in particular, coordinate health fairs for students and teachers.
• High School Coordinator of the Year – Dorothy Ellis, president of the Clark High School Athletic Boosters.
• Partnerships Coordinator of the Year – Tim Farias, employee of the MITRE Corp., organizer and primary fundraiser for the Texas Regional Science Bowl.

Also participating in the annual Partnerships Awards event were Clark High School music students led by teachers Francisco Licon and James Hare; Consumer Science students at Stevens High School led by teacher Benita Campos; and Stevens High School Valedictorian Chris Rodgers, who led guests in the pledges of allegiance.