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Classroom Teachers

Voting was held recently and the staff of Memorial chose Seema Shah as Experienced Teacher of the Year and Mayra Trejo as Beginning Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Trejo was born in Harbor City, California and was raised in the San Fernando Valley. Mrs. Trejo graduated from California State University, Northridge with a major in Psychology. She wanted to work as a child psychologist. She knew that she wanted to make an impact in young lives. It was then that she decided that the best way to accomplish her goal was to become an elementary school teacher. 

Mrs. Trejo received her teaching certification through an alternative certification program. She began her teaching career in October of 2006 as a substitute teacher. On January of 2007 she was hired as a 4th grade bilingual teacher at Memorial Elementary. She has since been part of the Marvelous Memorial Staff. 
On her free time she enjoys spending time with her 2 year old daughter and husband.

Ms. Shah began her teaching career by first substituting in Carrollton, Texas. After 6 months, she taught 5th and 6th graders in Dallas.  Then she landed a job at Memorial Elementary where she has taught 4th and 5th graders.  Now, she gets to work with all ages of children as a Literacy Support Specialist. 

In her spare time, Ms. Shah enjoys eating at restaurants, hanging out with her friends, and keeping up with the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks. 

Ms. Shah was born in Boston, Massachusetts.  She moved to Texas when she was in first grade. She always had a heart for teaching, but she took the unexpected route to get there.  Ms. Shah studied business at The University of Texas at Austin and upon graduation she realized that teaching truly was her passion!

Memorial has a WONDERFUL staff of teachers

The Kindergarten Team Leader is Carla Armstrong. Other members of her team are Lois Mimms, Tiye Young, Indira Curtis, Maria Sucre and Erica Fernandez. They have such a love for these children starting out in school. This is such a special time and full of so many changes for these kids. 

In First Grade, Denise Salazar and Katie Wright are CO-Team Leaders. Working with her and a happy bunch of First Graders are Nancy Rich, Karen Davison, Allison Kaplan,Leslie Aponte, and Gloria Martinez.

Our Second Grade team is led by Sharon Corzine. The other members of the team are Leslie Nichols, Tammy Froman, Sandy Lucas, Danae Delgado. Hugh Madrigal and Cecil Candelario.

Third Grade's team leaders is Jessica Brice. Other teachers are Mandy Brock, Millie Lebron, Bill Blatz, Veronica Rodela and Tejal Dave.

Fourth Grade team leader is Erin Gorves. Other team members are Mayra Trejo, Jenny Owen, Anita Smith, Lileana McCallion and Tara Brandenburg. They have been busy planning for an exciting year. Aligned with the Fourth Grade team year is Evie Tomlinson teaching a Newcomers class of students.

The very active Fifth Graders are directed by Tera Harrison, team leader, Michelle Janah, Karen Sanabria, Bethany Benton, Lislia Padilla and Krystal Grundmeier.

P.E. is a fun time for the students with Coaches Brook Reeves, Kelly Eichelberger and in his first year as a certified teacher, Jason Cobb, who has spent many years at Memorial as an assistant.  P.E. is always an active place!

Along with the regular classroom teachers, there is a team of support staff that no school could do without. The terrific Memorial Library is directed by Betty Koonce. Preparing students for learning are Victoria Cole, the Literacy Specialist along with Seema Shah, Literacy Support for grades 3-5 and Pilar Westfried as Bilingual Literacy for grades K-2. Christy Pine and Gregi Lopez are the Math Support Specialists. Lillian Stankunas is the PACE teacher and Dolores Kotara leads the Discovery program. Beverlea Gilbert and Roxie Daryapayma are our ESOL teachers. We also have a great music program led by Kristen Roemer and our new art teacher this year is Anali Boquete. We are served by Jennifer Erp as our counselor.

Memorial's Special Education staff prides itself in encouraging our students to be life-long learners by tailoring their instruction to meet individual academic needs.  Members of the team include: Lanette Brunott, , Ruby Duenas-Vergel, Mary Heislen, Donna Hougen, Rosario Juarez, Linda Millen, Marilyn Oliphant, Michelle Phillips, Reggi Smith, Erik Thode, Carol Truscott, Angela Williams, Marisa Apodaca, Elizabeth Matthews, Lydia Asuluda, Elba Sifonte, Flora Figueroa and Susie Bardin.  This teams educational background and individual diversity lends itself to the betterment of our school-wide community. 

All of these great, devoted teachers make Memorial what it is!