We are in complete awe of the teachers who were nominated in Alamo City’s Amazing Teacher contest! We asked our readers to nominate teachers who have made an impact in their and their children’s lives. With over 7,000 teachers in one San Antonio school district alone, there are thousands of wonderful educators in the San Antonio community, and we are honored to be featuring some of them today.

We will be introducing you to our finalists through a series of posts throughout the day. We want our readers to help us determine who will receive the title of Alamo City’s Amazing Teacher!

Voting will open Monday, May 4 and continue through Thursday, May 7 at noon. To cast your vote, simply scroll down to the bottom of this post. Our winner will be announced on Friday, May 8.

Without further ado and in alphabetical order (because teachers love order, right?), here is our fourth group of Amazing Teachers!

Jenii Pena

First Baptist Academy Universal City; Pre-K 3

Nominated by Andrea Day

Harper, our daughter, is a VERY active child. She is busy from the moment her eyes open until her head hits the pillow at night. I was concerned at the beginning of the year with putting her in this private academy that has a reputation for being strict when it comes to behavior. I sat down with her teacher before school started to discuss how Harper can be very active and how sometimes when she is not properly engaged, can be prone to roughhousing. Mrs. Pena was so sweet, kind, and excited to have Harper in her room. She has been a saving grace to our family. Harper adores her and loves going to her class each day. Mrs. Pena clearly loves Harper and spends extra time with her working on things that need improvement and is always finding new ways to keep her engaged and on task in a classroom full of students. I’m sure she does things like this for each child, but it means so much to us knowing how she cares for our daughter. When she does have to send home a note on a behavior issue day, it’s always full of grace and forgiveness and LOVE. She’s always available for our family, and we will desperately miss her next year![hr]

Dorian Reeves

Winston School San Antonio; A Core (K-2)/Faculty

Nominated by Melissa Leonard

My son, Will, had Ms. Reeves for a teacher last year. Will is not your average student: he has significant ADHD, dysgraphia, and other learning disabilities. He was in a public school for first grade, and his self esteem was really down. He had anxiety and behavioral problems in school as a result. Enter Ms. Reeves. Her warmth and interest in all of her students promote a positive self image, which in turn promotes school success and a sense of “I can do it!” She is nurturing and kind and involves her students in charitable activities and citizenship, such as environmental awareness, animal welfare, and giving back to others. There are a lot of great teachers out there, but Ms. Reeves is among the very best.[hr]

Stephanie Robinson

BASIS San Antonio North; Biology/Chemistry

Nominated by Maggie McMahon

Awesome. Kind. Comforting. Exciting.

That’s how my fifth-grader describes his science teacher, Stephanie Robinson. Before this year, my oldest rarely talked about what he was learning in school, always avoiding my questions. Now after school, Davis talks about what he’s learning—electromagnetism, the human circulatory system, and the composition of the planets in our solar system.

Davis has science during the last period of the day. By then, he has frequently depleted many of his ADHD coping mechanisms. Ms. Robinson recognized that he needs to have something hands on to do—every day—to stay engaged. Instead of ignoring his needs, she invited him to help advance her Power Point slides. Not only did it make him feel like she understood him, like she “got him,” it kept him engaged in class and focused on learning.

Ms. Robinson has combined awesome hands-on science, fascinating subject material (intro to Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy), compassion, and creative problem solving to ignite a passion for science that had previously been dormant. Davis’ confidence has grown, and his desire to learn more has skyrocketed. I couldn’t ask for much more![hr]

Charlotte Rowe

North East ISD, Harmony Hills; 5th Grade

Nominated by Yvette Ojeda

Ms. Rowe is a dedicated and passionate educator. Ms. Rowe was unanimously voted “Teacher of the Year” at Harmony Hills because she demonstrates a sincere and genuine interest in teaching her students the importance of not just getting an education, but how the choices they make during these formative years will affect them now and in the future. Ms. Rowe takes the time to prepare her students for a “real world” experience. Ms. Rowe challenges her students to be their best, to be respectful and polite. I am new to working in a school and have seen many different types of teachers. It has been an eye-opening experience, and I am so thankful that my child has a teacher like Ms. Rowe.

Jennifer Sanchez

North East ISD, Coker Elementary; 3rd Grade

Nominated by Angie Cox

I’m nominating my son’s third grade teacher, Ms. Sanchez, for the Amazing Teacher contest because it is one way I can try to say thank you for all she has done for my son this year. My son, Sam, suffers from Anxiety Disorder, ADHD, OCD, and other behavior disorders. He is an extremely bright child and can be very loving and compassionate, but when his anxiety takes over, he is impossible to reach. We made it through Kinder because, although he spent a lot of time in “time out” (separated from the class), he was still able to hear most lessons and had no problem doing them. First and second grades were a nightmare. Ask the staff of the two schools he went to, and they will agree with me. I prayed so much that somehow God would help us find someone that would be able to reach him, teach him, and push him (because he won’t push himself). His confidence was gone from all his failures (disciplinary experiences), and before starting third grade he said he just wanted to die because he didn’t think he could do it. Very hard words for a mom of a nine-year-old to hear.

And then he met Ms. Sanchez. She looked past his problems and looked for the good in Sam. She was firm and fair, but also flexible and understanding. She got to know my son in such a way that she could push him past what he thought he could do without frustrating him. His anxiety still creeps up now and then, but he knows she won’t let him fail, and his trust in her is so great, he is actually succeeding. Do you want to know how many times he has gone to the principal’s office this year? Not once! This is a kid that used to LIVE there. I don’t know the magic she must weave, but I do know she loves all her students and works tirelessly to help them all succeed. She is the answer to my prayers, and I wish she could be his teacher forever. But, because of all she has taught him this year, I actually believe he will be OK in his future classes. Her influence on my son will extend further then she will ever know. He told me the other day when he grows up, he might want to be a teacher too, so he can help kids that are like him. For giving my son a chance to succeed, I believe she should win the Amazing Teacher contest. And if she doesn’t, it’s OK because I know untold treasures await her in Heaven.[hr]

Debra Seaman

Northside ISD, Thornton Elementary; Kindergarten

Nominated by Christy Almaraz

Mrs. Seaman has made an impact on the life of my child in so many ways. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom since my son was born. Until he was five, when he went to preschool, we spent the majority of our time together. Once he started attending preschool twice a week, he would cry each morning because he didn’t want to be there. With Kindergarten around the corner, this was concerning. Something very important to my husband and me is our children’s Kindergarten teacher. We both feel that Kindergarten sets the foundation for school for the rest of their lives, and it’s extremely important to have a positive teacher that makes learning fun. My husband and I were very concerned about his transition to Kindergarten.

When he started Kindergarten with Mrs. Seaman, we realized our concerns would be short lived. He has not cried once this year, and each day when I pick him up there’s a smile on his face! She has brought my son out of his shell and he has so much more confidence because of her.

Academically, I’ve seen significant improvements in my son thanks to Mrs. Seaman. He is learning so much, and I see it every day! When I pick him up from school, he loves to tell me everything Mrs. Seaman taught him that day. When we get home to do homework, he is excited to start his assignments. Each morning he gets so excited to go to school, and on the first day of Spring Break he was already asking when he was going back to school! He truly enjoys school, and I know that is because Mrs. Seaman makes Kindergarten so wonderful!

I have been a substitute teacher for eight years, and I had the honor of subbing for Mrs. Seaman’s class back in October. I have to say her class was so well behaved! I have never seen such a well-behaved KINDERGARTEN class! I could just tell that she was more than just a great teacher; she is an AMAZING teacher!

She has made each and every holiday so memorable by having the kids make a unique project, and she always includes a picture with it! She goes out of her way to make it so special for the parents! It warms my heart to know that when I drop him off each day, I know he is in THE BEST hands having Mrs. Seaman teach him.

I believe Mrs. Seaman deserves to win Alamo City’s Amazing Teacher contest because she is a teacher that I WISH all teachers were like! She truly enjoys her job each and every day! I see it in my child daily, and I know parents who have had her in the past and to this day they say she is by far the best teacher their child has ever had! She is the most positive person and would drop everything to answer any concerns you may have of your child.[hr]

One lucky teacher will be voted to be Alamo City’s Amazing Teacher and will receive a two-night stay and spa package for two at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa!

Built in 1993, the AAA Four-Diamond resort features a 500-room luxury hotel, championship 27-hole golf course, and a full-service state-of-the-art spa. The resort also boasts a tennis court, award-winning dining, a walking/jogging path and a nature trail, a 24-hour fitness center, and a five-acre water park with a FlowRider^® wave machine, tower water slide, three swimming pools and cascading waterfalls, two outdoor whirlpools, Camp Hyatt children’s program and a 950-foot Ramblin’ River intertwined with lush gardens. Located just 16 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio and the San Antonio International Airport, Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa offers a retreat that feels a world away, with the convenience and fun of San Antonio right outside its doors.

Alamo City’s Amazing Teacher will also receive a complimentary family photo session with the fabulous Amanda Gentis of ARG Photographs!

Her talent is obvious through her gorgeous photographs, but what you don’t see is how kind, fun, and wonderful the lady behind the camera is. She makes taking pictures a wonderful experience. Amanda’s work is fantastic and she truly captures the beauty in each of her clients, as seen in our Motherhood: More Than Skin Deep series.

Vote for Alamo City’s Amazing Teacher below!

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