The Bee Cave Bee

Lake Travis Independent School District (LTISD) recently announced that Lakeway Elementary School fifth?grade teacher Brekka Larrew and Hudson Bend Middle School social studies teacher Dana Schrader have been selected as the 2012/2013 District Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year, respectively.

“Brekka and Dana are truly the best of the best at Lake Travis ISD,” stated Dr. Lancaster. “They represent the passion and devotion for student success shared by teachers across our district, and we are fortunate to have professionals of their caliber in our classrooms who care about doing what’s best for all students each and every day. We congratulate Brekka and Dana on this well?deserved recognition.”

A native of Houston, Mrs. Larrew earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction/Gifted Education from the University of Houston. She began her career in education in 1995 as an English teacher at Sharpstown Middle School in Houston and then taught for seven years at the Houston Independent School District’s T.H. Rogers School. Mrs. Larrew joined Lakeway Elementary in 2008.

When asked about her philosophy of teaching, Mrs. Larrew stated, “A teacher is a like a salesperson. The products a teacher sells are knowledge and skills, and we must successfully sell 100 percent of our products to 100 percent of our customers. In other words, a good teacher is a mind bogglingly amazing sales person. How a teacher accomplishes this incredible feat is by doing a variety of tasks with extraordinary skill.”

Originally from Houston, Mrs. Schrader holds a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University. She began her professional career in 1993 as a fourth? and fifth? grade teacher at Jowell Elementary in the Cypress/Fairbanks school district. Mrs. Schrader transitioned to secondary education in 1997 at Hamilton Middle School before moving to the Klein Independent School District in 2009. She and her family relocated to Austin in 2010, and a year later, Mrs. Schrader assumed her current duties at Hudson Bend Middle School.

“I want students to leave my classroom with a great understanding of the material and a desire to always learn more,” stated Mrs. Schrader when asked about her philosophy of teaching. “What a privilege to wet the palate of young learners and give them a thirst for learning. We have a unique opportunity as educators to learn the language of our students. This language is rapidly changing, and I enjoy the challenge of learning from my students the best ways to engage and teach them.”

Ms. Larrew and Ms. Schrader were selected from the 2012/2013 LTISD Campus Teachers of the Year announced in April. The criteria required that recipients be an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher who plans to continue in an active teaching status; inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn; has the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues; plays an active and useful role in the community, as well as in the school; and be poised, articulate, and possess the energy to withstand a taxing schedule.

Ms. Larrew and Ms. Schrader will now be considered for the regional/state Texas Teacher of the Year program.