Navarro Independent School District

GERONIMO, TX – May 29, 2025 – Navarro ISD proudly honored its exceptional educators and staff at the annual Service Awards Breakfast on Friday May 23, a joyful occasion recognizing years of unwavering dedication and outstanding contributions to the district and its students. The event, held at Navarro High School, brought together faculty, staff, and the Navarro ISD Board of Trustees to celebrate a year of remarkable achievements and to acknowledge the invaluable impact of every individual.

The breakfast commenced with a warm welcome from emcee Dr. David Kauffman, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and School Leadership, who highlighted the collective pride in the Navarro ISD family and the vital role each member plays in fostering an exceptional learning environment. Dr. Kauffman also extended gratitude to the Navarro ISD Board of Trustees for their tireless commitment and leadership. Trustees attending were Dr. Lacey Gosch, Mr. Joel Frederick, Secretary Donna Gilliam, Assistant Secretary Dan Reinhard, and Superintendent Dr. Mandy Epley.

A highlight of the morning was the recognition of Navarro ISD's "Survived and Thrived" first-year teachers. Dr. Kauffman commended these new educators for not only navigating the challenges of their initial year but for flourishing in their roles, bringing fresh energy and perspectives to the campuses. Honorees included: Scott MacDonald (elementary music), Nancy Rendell (early childhood special education), Xzavier Ayure (junior high history and coach), Alyssa Stanush (high school English), Sarah Casey (high school CTE technology applications), Lilian Odale (high school math), and Allison Stremple (high school CTE health sciences).

The ceremony then celebrated long-standing service milestones, with principals from each campus taking the stage to acknowledge their dedicated staff. Honorees were recognized for 5, 10, and 15 years of service, demonstrating the profound commitment of individuals across the district. A truly extraordinary milestone was celebrated as Deborah Wolter from Child Nutrition was honored for an incredible 20 years of service to Navarro ISD.

The event also paid tribute to six beloved colleagues taking a final walk across the purple carpet embarking on new chapters in retirement, acknowledging their indelible mark on countless students and the community. With 174 years of combined experience in public education, the district expressed profound gratitude to:

• Kathleen Taddy, Navarro High School Teacher, 31 years in public education, 6 in Navarro ISD
• Susie Sanchez, Navarro Elementary Secretary, 37 years in public education, 10 in Navarro ISD
• Sheri Stevens, Navarro Elementary Teacher, 24 years, all in Navarro ISD
• Charlotte Trapp, Navarro Elementary Teacher, 29 years in public education, 24 in Navarro ISD
• Lisa Zepeda, Elementary Child Nutrition, 26 years, all in Navarro ISD
• Darrell Harborth, Navarro High School Teacher and Basketball Coach, 30 years in public education, 27 in Navarro ISD

The annual Campus Awards recognized outstanding individuals selected by their peers for consistently demonstrating excellence. This year's recipients included:

• Navarro Elementary: Teacher of the Year Troy Spanton, Paraprofessional of the Year Matt Pullin, Support Staff of the Year Kat Champion.
• Navarro Intermediate: Teacher of the Year and Navarro District Teacher of the Year Liz Munster, Paraprofessional of the Year Amy Anderson, Support Staff of the Year Keli Seidel.
• Navarro Junior High: Teacher of the Year Hailey Herzog, Support Staff of the Year Nicole Francis.
• Navarro High School: Teacher of the Year Stephanie Jeffery, Support Staff of the Year Dana Andrews.

Superintendent Epley concluded the event by extending her deepest gratitude to all Navarro ISD staff for their commitment, resilience, and reflected on a year of remarkable growth and achievement, emphasizing that these successes are a direct result of everyone's combined efforts and shared vision. She offered a heartfelt encouragement for everyone to truly “turn off” their work, take some much needed time to recharge, and to have a fantastic and richly deserved summer break.

On behalf of the entire Panther Family and Navarro ISD, the district extends its warmest congratulations and well wishes to all the retirees for their service and legacy to our students and community. We wish you all the very best in your well-deserved retirement!