The Phi Delta Kappa Chapter at Texas A&M-Commerce honored several educators at their annual banquet, held in Rockwall at the Luigi's Restaurant. The Association's chapter at Commerce celebrated its 51st anniversary by recognizing educators. The chapter has been making these awards since 1978.  This year awards were presented to the following educators:

Dr. Casey Brown received the PDK Service Key, for her dedicated service to Phi Delta Kappa over the last seven years. Dr Brown has served as chapter president and chapter treasurer in recent years and has provided leadership to many of the chapter’s initiatives and programs.  She was also recognized as one of seven Emerging Leaders in 2007-08 by PDK International. She has served as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and professor during her career thus far. 

Dr. Sheri Vasinda was selected for this year’s Distinguished Service Award by the chapter.  As a teacher in Allen ISD, Dr. Vasinda has been instrumental in staff development and research in her areas of interest: reader’s theatre, podcasting, literacy and dyslexia.  She has done many presentations at scholarly conferences, has been a teacher researcher with several articles and book chapters.  Dr. Vasinda has also served as adjunct professor with the Curriculum and Instruction Department at A&M-Commerce. She was Allen ISD’s teacher of the year in 2005.

Dr. Bob Riley was named the recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Leadership Award by the chapter. Dr. Riley has been the President of the East Texas Baptist University in Marshall for the past 17 years. He earned his doctorate with the Educational Administration department in 1976 where he served as assistant instructor and as graduate assistant for the East Texas School Study Council. After graduating he served on the faculty of Sul Ross State University, as a dean at Clarendon College, Vice President and President of Big Spring Community College, before becoming President of East Texas Baptist University. He has been a SACS higher education commission member and leader in the accrediting agency in Texas universities.

Dr. Harry Fullwood received the PDK Ideals Award for his work over his long career at TAMU-Commerce in the three precepts of PDK. Leadership—Research—Service.  Dr. Fullwood is professor of Special Education in the department of Psychology and Special Education.  His career has spans 41 years there and he is also now serving as Special Assistant to the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services.

Dr. Keith McFarland, President of A&M-Commerce until summer 2008 when he retired, received the 2008 PDK Ideals Award for his long and outstanding career that incorporated teaching, research and service, the PDK Ideals.  His wife and first lady of the University, Mrs. Nancy McFarland, was also honored for her long and tireless work over the past ten years as first lady of the University.

President Keith and Mrs. Nancy McFarland are recognized.

The Distinguished Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Kenneth English, a chapter member and long time educator.  Dr. English retired from Texas schools as Superintendent in Duncanville ISD in 2007 but also held a number of superintendencies including Mt. Pleasant ISD. He received the EdD from TAMU-Commerce and now works for the Cherokee Nation in their Education Office in Oklahoma.

Dr. Casey Brown presents Leadership Award to Dr. Kenneth English

The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Mr. Harvey Hohenberger, now executive director of the Region 8 Service Center in Mt. Pleasant.  Mr. Honhenberger received his masters degree from ETSU and became a principal and Superintendent before being selected as the executive director of Region 8 ESC.

Mr. Harvey Hohenberger receives Distinguished Service Award from Dr. Michael Copeland.

Dr. Caroline Vornberg and Dr. Sherion Jackson, both having served as president of Chapter 101 for two years, were presented with the PDK Service Key for their dedicated leadership and service. 

Jeannette O'Neal, Principal of Routh Roach Elementary School in Garland
ISD, was honored by the Phi Delta Kappa Chapter with the 2007 Distinguished
Leadership Award. Ms. O'Neal's school has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon
School by the US Department of Education and also as an exemplary rated
school in previous years by the Texas Education Agency.  Ms. O'Neal received
her masters and administrator's certificate from TAMU-Commerce. She led the
Routh Roach Elementary school to its honored status, despite it having an
80% minority population with many ESOL students.

Dr. Gene Burton, superintendent of Rockwall ISD, was honored by Phi Delta
Kappa chapter with the 2007 Distinguished Service Award for his
contributions to education. Dr. Burton has had a 27 year involvement with
A&M-Commerce as student, principal, superintendent, and stakeholder of the
University.  He serves now in advisory capacities with the University and
through the Partnership that Rockwall ISD has with this University. He
completed his masters, doctorate and certifications through A&M-C.

Dr. Barbara Hammack was recognized on 10 May by the Phi Delta Kappa Chapter
for her contributions to education and to Phi Delta Kappa with more than 20
years as a member of this chapter.  She is a faculty member in the
Curriculum and Instruction Department and specializes in early childhood
education.  She teaches and supervises both graduate and undergraduate
students. For approximately 7 years she also was part of the International
student program that A&M-Commerce has going to the UK, based in London at
University of London. Dr. Hammack is pictured with Jim Vornberg, who made
the presentation.

Dr. Charles W. Blanton was also recognized by the chapter for his long
service to education and to Phi Delta Kappa. Dr. Blanton has been a PDK
member also at the UNT/TWU chapter and has taught in educational leadership
at TWU, UDB as well as at Commerce.  He is currently teaching in that
department and has done so in adjunct positions over the years.  He had a
long and distinguished career as a Dallas ISD and Carrollton-Farmers Branch
principal, serving at elementary, middle, and high school levels.  He also
consults on quality programs in education with numerous schools and
districts in several states.  Dr. Blanton is pictured with Casey Brown and
Caroline Vornberg, both PDK officers.

Distinguished Educator awards:

The Distinguished Educator awards were established by the chapter in 1977. The awards are intended to recognize and honor educators who have distinguished themselves in their profession through leadership and service to education. The distinguished service award is bestowed upon a person who has demonstrated several years of exemplary service as a teacher, professor or in supporting the education process through their work. The distinguished leadership award is bestowed upon an individual who has demonstrated several years of exemplary leadership in the profession. These are awarded to public school educators, educators in higher education or individuals who have served through entities such as service centers, agencies, or research centers. Chapter members are eligible to nominate candidates for the selection committee to consider. The nominees must be graduates, faculty, students or former students at A&M-Commerce or educators in the service area of A&M-Commerce. Nominees need not be Kappans to be considered. The committee may not chose to make an award in any given year.

The 2006 Distinguished Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Bruce Wood, superintendent of Kaufman ISD.  Dr. Wood has long been a supporter of TAMU-Commerce where he received his doctorate.  He served as superintendent of Terrell ISD before moving to Kaufman ISD after a short retirement when he also taught half time for the University.  He is noted for his involvement and leadership in educational policy with the state legislature.  Terrell ISD school board named the Dr. Bruce Wood Intermediate School after him several years ago.  He just recently retired from the active superintendency as of December 2006.

The 2006 Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dr. Debra Nelson, assistant superintendent of Frisco ISD. Dr. Nelson received all of her degrees from TAMU-Commerce.  She began her career as a teacher, becam e a principal in Kaufman ISD and later moved to Coppell ISD where she honed her skills as a principal.  She moved to the assistant superintendency in Frisco ISD, where she has served for a number of years.  Interestingly Dr. Nelson served as the chair of the textbook selection committee early in her career, a task that was quite involved and pressure oriented at that time.  When asked how that experience was, she indicated that it was “an experience that every educator should have during their career."

Dr. Frank Lutz, Professor emeritus of educational administration, at A&M-Commerce.  Dr. Lutz’s career has included being a member of the faculty at NYU, Penn State, and Eastern Illinois, in addition to A&M-Commerce. He has published 7 books and a hundred plus journal articles, chapters, and monographs.  He completed 13 years and retired from the faculty here.

Ms. Geraldine “Tincy” Miller, chairman of the Texas State Board of Education. She was elected to the board and appointed as chair by the governor.  Ms Miller has been a long time state board member and has had important influence in our field, impacting the State of Texas through policy and programs.

Dr. Arnold Oates, retired superintendent and college faculty member.  Dr. Oates completed his Ph.D. at then ETSU and left shortly thereafter to be a superintendent in Virginia.  He returned to Texas about 1978 as superintendent of Greenville ISD and later was superintendent in Northeast ISD in San Antonio.  He joined the faculty at Texas A&M University for a number of years where he trained superintendents and chaired doctoral committees. Retired now he resides in Tyler, but continues activity in education through his consulting and speaking.

Recipients of the Distinguished Educator Awards

PDK Ideals Award: Leadership, Research & Service

Dr. Keith McFarland 2008
Dr. Harry Fullwood 2009

Distinguished Leadership Award

Ralph Poteet 1978
James Vornberg 1979
John Horn  2003
Carol Francois 2004
Genevieve Brown 2005
Bruce Wood 2006
Jeannette O'Neal 2007
Kenneth English 2008
Bob Riley 2009

Distinguished Service Award

R. P. Campbell  1978
Madeline Justice 2000
Gordon Thomas 2001
Joe Farmer 2002
Mike Cardwell 2003
David L. Brown 2004
James Terry 2005
Debra Nelson 2006
Gene Burton 2007
Harvey Hohenberger 2008
Shari Vasinda 2009

  Dr. Jim Vornberg (right) presents Dr. Frank Lutz with PDK Service key. Dr. Lutz is Professor Emeritus in Educational Administration.

Dr. Jim Vornberg (right) presents Geraldine "Tincy" Miller, Chairman of Texas State Board of Education with the PDK Service key for her years of policy leadership in education at the State level.

Dr. Debra Nelson (left) , assistant superintendent at Frisco ISD, received the PDK Distinguished Service Award from the Chapter. Dr. Bruce Wood and his wife Susie. Dr. Wood received the PDK Distinguished Leadership Award for 2006.