Barton Creek ES EANESpiration Winners, 2025
Educational Impact
Those who display leadership and commitment to the district by making a positive, noticeable and significant impact.
William Abbott, Life Skills Teaching Assistant
Mr. Abbott started as a special ed TA just this school year. He came into Life Skills ready to work with any child and make a difference. He has shown repeatedly that he has a very patient and kind personality. He stays calm and ready to jump in to help in anyway he can. This may not be his career path, but he has an exceptional knack for genuinely caring for all the children in the school. Thank you for choosing BCE as a jumping off spot for your next life choice. You are meant for education!
Tasha Butler, School-Based Therapist
Ms. Butler goes above and beyond every day to meet the needs of the students at BCE and she does it positively and with a willingness that reflects genuine connection. She has met with every single fifth grader to help them learn self-advocacy skills, how to use a combination lock and prepare for the challenges of middle school. She regularly meets with students in all grade levels that need friendship skills, sometimes in small groups and sometimes tossing a ball with them. She is passionate about supporting our families as well, never hesitating to reach out to ensure that a team approach is in place. Because of her approachability, staff members often seek her out for guidance and ideas to help their students and themselves. BCE would not be the same without Mrs. Butler!
Brooke Fulks, Kindergarten Teacher
This year Ms. Fulks took on the roles of team leader, mentor teacher and collaborative classroom teacher for the first time and is absolutely shining! She spent the summer working on getting resources set up for her team and invests time to make sure they are supported. She is always kind and compassionate with her students and colleagues as well as being open to learning from others and trying new things. It is evident she loves her students and job and deeply cares about others. The resilience and dedication she displays are truly inspirational!
Carley McNicholas, First-Grade Teacher
Ms. McNicholas is being recognized for her fun and exciting Friday Morning Assemblies. She goes above and beyond her First Grade Teacher duties by facilitating singing and dancing activities at every single morning assembly for the whole entire school. Along with the engaging activities, she often reminds students of morning assembly expectations and begins leading the school in the daily announcements. Carley’s efforts to create an upbeat Friday morning vibe showcase her leadership and commitment to serving the students of BCE as well as the Barton Creek Community as a whole!
Jen Scholtz, Third-Grade Teacher
Ms. Scholtz has an unwavering dedication to her students and coworkers. She consistently demonstrates exceptional patience and calmness, especially during challenging situations, which sets her apart as a role model. She is always eager to support her students, tailoring her approach to meet their individual needs while ensuring that learning is engaging and enjoyable. Her commitment to both her students’ success and creating a positive environment makes her truly deserving of this recognition.
Sydney Snyder, Life Skills Teacher
Ms. Snyder has taken on a lot this year and handled it expertly with organization, great communication, and outstanding leadership. With several high needs students, she has arranged supports and academic practices for her students that has resulted in their continued progress in a positive direction. She has also overseen the Special Education team as team leader and is quickly responsive and solution oriented to all issues. She has done a phenomenal job supporting students and staff and we are so thankful for how she has supported our school community!
Lainey Squire, Kindergarten Teacher
Ms. Squire embodies the leadership, commitment, and positive influence that this award celebrates. From the very beginning of her teaching career, she has risen to every challenge with grace and determination. Even while managing a larger class, adapting to unique student dynamics, and building her classroom resources from the ground up as a new teacher, she has consistently exceeded expectations. Her approach is marked by patience, kindness, and an unwavering dedication to understanding each student as an individual. Lainey takes the time to recognize the unique strengths, gifts, and qualities that each child brings to her classroom, ensuring that every student feels valued and supported. We are particularly impressed with her preparedness and innovative spirit during student support team meetings. She consistently comes equipped with data and well-thought-out intervention strategies that have led to remarkable improvements in both the social/emotional and academic growth of her students. The measurable progress in her classroom is a testament to the hard work and commitment she brings to her role every day and speaks to how passionate she is about helping her students succeed. The impact of her dedication is most evident in the affection her students have for her. Lainey’s calm presence and positive energy not only create an teammate environment of trust and respect in her classroom but also extend throughout the entire Barton Creek community.
Her passion, dedication to excellence, and heartfelt commitment to her students have already made a lasting impact on our campus and district."
Julienne Thorp, Campus Support Specialist
Mrs. Thorp is the definition of a dedicated educator—someone who goes above and beyond to ensure that every student has the support, encouragement, and resources they need to thrive. As a Campus Support Specialist, LPAC Coordinator, Dyslexia Service provider, and ESL Specialist, she pours her heart and soul into her work, helping students reach their full potential both in and out of the classroom.
Mrs. Thorp’s commitment to her students is unwavering. She meets each learner where they are, tailoring her instruction to their unique needs and celebrating every milestone they achieve. Her impeccable organization and attention to detail ensure that no student falls through the cracks, while her passion for education drives her to continuously seek new ways to engage and inspire young minds. Beyond academics, Mrs. Thorp is a compassionate advocate for students who require additional support. She is a kind and thoughtful communicator, ensuring that students, families, and colleagues are a part of her team. Whether she is guiding a struggling reader, supporting an English language learner, guiding a Destination Imagination team, leading the Safety Patrol program, or stepping in to assist wherever needed, she does so with a student-focused mindset and positive attitude, a true role model for students and people of all ages.
Mrs. Thorp is truly a beacon of excellence in education. Her selfless commitment, tireless advocacy, and unwavering belief in her students make her more than deserving of this recognition."
Brandy Vasher, Teaching Assistant
Ms. Vasher has been an incredible addition to our school this year and has already made a huge impact on our kids. She is collaborative, understands the various learning needs of her students, and is always willing to be flexible so the kids can get the supports they need. Brandy is reliable and holds high standards for students. She is kind and makes genuine connections with students whether she works directly with them or not. Brandy goes above and beyond to make our school a place that kids want to come to and we are so lucky to have her!
Good Samaritan
One who displays compassion, selflessness, or courage by taking initiative.
Leslie Abbott, Art Teacher
Ms. Abbott has the impeccable ability to notice how someone is feeling and know exactly what she can do to lift their spirits. She has a great sense of humor and is able to use it to make BCE a fun and positive place. She uses her creativity to expand the minds of our students and spends countless hours working hard and thoughtfully planning for her classes to build a passion for the Arts within our kids. Ms. Abbott is a huge point of positivity on our campus and we are so happy to have her at BCE!
Advika Gunturu, West Ridge MS Student Volunteer
Advika, a dedicated student at West Ridge Middle School, has exemplified the true spirit of service, leadership, and generosity through her Eagle Scouts service project, focusing on enhancing our outdoor learning space at Barton Creek Elementary.
Advika took on this project with passion and determination, committing countless hours to planning, coordinating, and executing improvements to our outdoor learning environment. She has displayed remarkable leadership and communication skills and her ability to engage others with kindness and respect has been truly inspiring, making her an excellent role model for younger students. Her efforts will benefit generations of students to come, and her selfless contributions exemplify the values of service, responsibility, and compassion.
For her outstanding leadership, dedication, and generosity, we wholeheartedly nominate Advika Gupta for the EANSpiration Good Samaritan Award. She is a shining example of what it means to be a community leader, and we are incredibly grateful for the difference she has made at Barton Creek Elementary School."
Innovation
Those who implement a creative or innovative program, teaching method, cost-savings, etc.
Alissa Fehr, Campus Support Specialist
Ms. Fehr consistently goes above and beyond for her students and teammates. She incorporates innovative teaching methods and personalized learning strategies to ensure all students with dyslexia feel valued and empowered in the classroom. This year she was challenged with teaching several groups of students in the same grade level on different days. This balancing act she performed with grace. Daily she goes above and beyond to create a supportive environment that addresses the unique challenges faced by dyslexic learners and struggling readers, fostering their confidence and academic success. She makes a huge educational impact with our students.
Heroes
Those who perform an outstanding achievement that brings prestige to Eanes ISD, or do something that goes above and beyond the call of duty.
Kristen Morrow, Parent Volunteer
Ms. Morrow is a BCE parent volunteer who has worked behind the scenes on a multitude of efforts serving our school. She can be found at BCE early in the morning, on holidays and after school creating experiences for all of us to enjoy. Her dedication as a room parent, STEAM Day volunteer, and BCE Booster Club member is valuable and appreciated. Our gratitude goes out to you, Kristen. Thank you for supporting BCE!
Ginger Nelson, Parent Volunteer
For at least nine years Ms. Nelson has gone above and beyond the call of duty in making the BCE hallway come to life for the campus book fair. Each year the book fair has a theme and she uses the entire hallway around the front of the entrance to the library to convey the theme. Ms. Nelson not only decorates the walls, she decorates the ceiling, and areas on the floor. She leads and facilitates a group of different parent volunteers each year to make the BCE hallway an incredible artistic installation using of a variety of materials. Over the years, there have been small mushrooms less than foot to two feet tall decorating the floor, a shark floating in the ocean above our heads. This year was a variety of beloved video games like PacMan, Tetris, and Mario complete with PacMan ghosts hanging from the ceiling and Piranha Plants from Mario lining the hallway. Ginger's installations bring excitement for the book fair each year!
Matthew Vargas, CDC Teacher
Mr. Vargas is a shining example of the dedication, kindness, and advocacy that define an Eanes Care professional. He first joined us part-time, sharing his passion for dance with our students, and we were overjoyed when he chose to become a full-time member of our team. His commitment to protecting and uplifting children extends beyond the classroom, demonstrating a deep sense of responsibility and care. His advocacy for the well-being of our students is unwavering—even beyond school walls. He has shown this through his attentiveness and willingness to act when concerns arise, including a moment when he reached out to ensure my own children were safe while in another’s care. His words in that moment reflect the heart of who he is: “I am so thankful that I was there to be able to make sure they were safe. It’s a small world, but sometimes the universe aligns for little moments like that.” Matthew embodies the spirit of Eanes, bringing warmth, protection, and genuine care to every child he encounters.