Rotary Club of Baytown awards 4 teacher scholarships

The Rotary Club of Baytown awarded its annual Brunson scholarships to four Goose Creek CISD teachers on May 5.

The Donald L. Brunson Scholarship offers grants to teachers in the Goose Creek CISD who are actively pursuing a master’s degree in an educational field of study. Its purpose is to support post-graduate aspirations of those teachers who wish to remain in the classroom and work with students of the Baytown and Highlands communities.

The grants in the amount of $1,000 per year will be awarded, with an equal amount available the following year provided the teacher is still employed by Goose Creek CISD and enrolled in college.

Teachers awarded the 2010 Brunson scholarship are Sharen Hales, Amanda Korry, Lisa Roberts, and Alyzandria Santana-Hans.

Hales, a fourth grade teacher at Highlands Elementary, will pursue a master’s degree in special education this fall at the University of St. Thomas. She hopes the degree will allow her to expand her skills as a teacher and work with disadvantaged students.
Korry, a chemistry teacher at Sterling High, aims to pursue a master’s degree in education in teacher leadership through Lamar University. This will allow her to continue teaching but learn how to develop and expand on the curriculum the district. She will also take graduate chemistry courses so that she can teach dual credit chemistry classes.
Roberts, a special education teacher at Bowie Elementary, is pursuing a master’s degree in school psychology at the University of Houston-Clear Lake in hopes of working as a licensed specialist in school pathology.


Santana-Hans, a seventh grade math teacher at Gentry Junior, is pursuing a master’s degree in educational management at the University of Houston-Clear Lake with hopes of working her way up to become a school principal.

Brunson scholarship candidates must be a teacher within the GCCISD, with less than ten years teaching experience.

The candidate must be enrolled, or eligible to enroll by fall 2010, in post-graduate work leading to an advanced degree in education and plans to remain in the classroom.

The scholarship is named in honor of Dr. Donald Brunson, longtime Rotary Club member and community leader. Dr. Brunson, who practiced dentistry in Baytown for more than 40 years, faithfully supported education at all levels. The Rotary Club of Baytown fosters his ideals by offering the Brunson Scholarship.