‘The little ones’ keep teacher in the classroom for 40 years

Patricia Hunt has been an elementary school teacher for the past 40 years in HISD, first at Kelso ES, and later at Southmayd ES. She transferred to Sánchez ES when that campus first opened in 1985, and she has been there ever since.

“I started out as a fourth-grade teacher at Kelso,” said Hunt, “but once I switched to first grade, I stayed. I just like working with the little ones—you see the growth and it’s very rewarding. They’re so happy to learn! It’s fun to see it in their eyes. This is my first year of pre-K.”

The New Jersey transplant moved to Houston with her family while still in college, and completed her studies here at the University of St. Thomas. And while Hunt has no plans to retire just yet, the city’s recent cold snap did make her a bit sentimental for her old home town.

“That was the hardest thing,” she said. “Missing the seasons. It’s hard to teach students about fall colors when the leaves are still green here in October. And describing snow’s even harder.”

Hunt officially marked her 40th anniversary with the district on Jan. 3, but several other employees are also marking theirs early this year (Jan. 1–11). See if you know anyone on this list:

35 years

• Nancy Buechel, teacher, Cage Elementary
• Patsy Cavazos, school support officer, Elementary Schools Office 
• Vicki Domaschk, speech therapist, deaf campus
• Joyce Hobbs, teacher, Vision Programs

30 years

• Barbara Gilson, evaluation specialist, Child Study 

25 years

• Patricia Butler, teacher, MCLIMS 
• Kenneth McClellan, teacher, T. H. Rogers MS 
• Lindsey Tela,  teacher, Bellaire HS 

20 years

• Charlotte Bellard, student information representative, Reagan K-8
• Deborah Blocker, secretary, Curriculum 
• Otis Davis, senior HVAC repairer, Construction & Facility Services
• L. J. Jenkins, plant operator, Construction & Facility Services

15 years

• Larry Boisley, teaching assistant, Westbury HS 
• Maria Flores, teacher, Ketelsen ES 
• Jessica Hodge, secretary, Multilingual/Special Program 
• Jennifer Logan, teacher, N. Q. Henderson ES 
• Deborah Phillips, custodian, Construction & Facility Services 
• Leticia Sifuentes, teacher, Briscoe ES
• Rachel Taylor, teacher, Condit ES
• Tehani R Trejo, teacher, Roosevelt ES 
• Regina Williams, Magnet coordinator, Durham ES  

10 years

• Martha Alvarez, teaching assistant, Braeburn ES
• Cara Boynton, Magnet coordinator, Lovett ES 
• Blair Brown, teacher, Twain ES 
• Raquel Escamilla, teacher, Briscoe ES 
• Ermic Gaston Jr, teacher, Jackson MS 
• Juana Gonzalez, teaching assistant, Ketelsen ES 
• Gwendolyn Johnson, manager, Health and Medical Services 
• Marcella Melancon, teacher, Herod ES
• Jennifer Stokes, teacher, Elrod ES 
• Hortencia Varela, student information representative, Las Americas MS 
• Patricia Villalon, teacher, Mitchell ES
• Sandy Ward, teacher, Gross ES  

5 years

• Juan Batrez, teacher, Southmayd ES
• Nardo Dominguez, teacher, Elrod ES 
• Tresa Milton, teaching assistant, Chávez HS
• Erin Van Pelt, instructional specialist, Briargrove ES 

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