DeChaumes ES principal celebrates 20 years

Sandy Gaw first joined Team HISD back in 1993 as a substitute teacher, but now she is calling the shots from the principal’s office. Over the past two decades, she has also served as a teacher at Herrera ES, an assistant principal at Smith ES and Hohl ES, and a dean at Grady MS. She became the principal at DeChaumes in 2007.

Gaw said it was a surprise to realize she had been with the district 20 years, but the one thing that has remained the same over the years is the pleasure she takes in watching children grow and learn.

“Interacting with students is the best part of my job,” she said. “It always has been.”

Gaw officially marked her 20th anniversary with the district on Oct. 21, but several other employees are also marking theirs this week (Oct. 20–26). See if you know anyone on this list:

45 years

• Linda Carlson, teacher, Briarmeadow Charter  

40 years

• Maria Puente, teaching assistant, Brookline ES          

35 years

• Johnnie Thomas, clerk, Sterling HS       

30 years

• Michael Rideaux, teacher, Bellaire HS               

25 years

• Jesse Martinez, senior plant operator, Construction & Facility Services      
• Pamela Wilson, teacher, Milne ES          
• Anne Okorie, teacher, Vision Programs

20 years

• David Sepulveda, officer, Police Department   
• Linda Trejo-Todd, nurse, Seguin ES      
• Lynda McQuarn, teacher specialist, Reagan K-8         
• Cherlyn Pinkney, clerk, Sterling HS       
• Randall Mae, teacher, Peck ES   
• Delcy Rochez, teaching assistant, McNamara ES       
• Emma Fernandez, teaching assistant, Furr HS           
• Nancy Cintron, senior student info. representative, Multilingual/Special Programs         

15 years

• Marilyn Williams, attendant team lead, Food Services
• Rosalinda Martinez, teaching assistant, Park Place ES 
• Tammie Baines, clerk, Yates HS 
• K’lah Flannel, clerk, Madison HS
• Joseph Provost, substance control representative, Worthing HS      
• Gwendolyn Andrus, teacher, Henry MS 
• Sonia Rodriguez, teacher, Westside HS
• David Salisbury, teacher, Berry ES         
• San Juana Coronado, attendant, Food Services         
• Secundina Espinosa, attendant, Food Services          
• Juana Garcia, attendant, Food Services
• Maria Salmeron, custodian, Construction & Facility Services           

10 years

• Jessica Abarca, secretary, Liberty HS     
• Eugene Redic, senior plant operator, Construction & Facility Services       
• Amado Campos, repairer, Construction & Facility Services   
• Karen Jones, counselor, Milby HS          
• Anh Nguyen, school business manager, Ortiz MS      
• Gregory Franklin, associate teacher       

5 years

• Elizabeth Barba, teacher, Gregg ES       
• Yousha Tijuana Hilliard, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Estela Gutierrez, custodian, Construction & Facility Services           
• Maria De Los Angeles Cisneros, attendant, Food Services   
• Reginald Longmiles, bus driver, Transportation Services      
• Laura D Rodriguez, bus driver, Transportation Services         
• Graciela Valenzuela, attendant, Food Services
• Marvin Tibbs Jr, warehouser driver, Food Services      
• Diana De Leon, teacher, Park Place ES
• Asma Akhter, teacher, Worthing HS       
• Lakeith Hunt, teaching assistant, Woodson ES           
• Tamara Sarver, associate teacher           
• Bryan Paule, teacher, Lanier MS 
• Valencia Hackett, bus driver, Transportation Services
• Veronica Zuñiga, aide, Sutton ES           
• Consepcion Zapata, custodian, Construction & Facility Services     
• Rosa Maria Guzman, attendant, Food Services           
• Patricia Ann Worthy, teaching assistant, Roosevelt ES          
• Stephanie Denise Walker, clerk, Construction & Facility Services   
• Jennifer Lynn Jackson, budget clerk, Accounts Payable       
• Jasmine Giron, teacher, Madison HS     
• Imelda Rivera, teacher, Garden Villas ES          
• Shawn Grimm, retirement programs administrator, Benefits 

Check back next Friday for more October Milestones. Leave a comment below if you’d like to congratulate any of the above employees.