The ATPE 2024 Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year Award
This award—named after founding ATPE member Charles Pickitt—recognizes ATPE members who demonstrate exceptional or innovative capabilities in their respective educational fields. Award recipients receive a $5,000 prize. This year’s recipients are:
Administrator of the Year
Dr. Kimberly Bissell, Corpus Christi ISD
Dr. Kimberly Bissell has been a Texas public elementary school administrator for 22 years and is entering her 35th year in public education.
“It is incredible to be recognized by ATPE for this prestigious honor,” Bissell says. “I would like to thank Corpus Christi Independent School District and the Windsor Park Elementary School family for their endless support of our school and of me. This community has provided an opportunity for creativity and innovation that has made a difference for thousands of students in Texas and in the International Baccalaureate realm.”
Throughout her career, Bissel has taught students from prekindergarten through grade 12 and has been involved with creative problem solving through Odyssey of the Mind and Texas Destination Imagination (DI) since 1990. Currently, she serves as the president of Texas DI; the regional director of South Coastal Bend, Texas DI; and chair of the Leadership Resource Committee of the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented.
Melanie DeValcourt, Nacogdoches ISD
Associate of the Year
Melanie DeValcourt has served as a captionist and signing aide with the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf at Nacogdoches High School for 11 years.
“I hope this award will bring more recognition to all of those who are like me—paras working behind the scenes who love education and want students to truly be lifelong learners,” DeValcourt says. “I have been a proud member of ATPE since I first joined 10 years ago. During my membership, I have become more involved while learning more about all the great opportunities ATPE affords its members. Advocacy, education, encouragement, protection, support, friendship, and networking are just a few of the many things I have benefited from since becoming a member.”
DeValcourt was happy to be nominated, pleasantly surprised to be chosen as a finalist, and humbled but thrilled to have won.
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Nicole Needham, Katy ISD
Nicole Needham recently celebrated 25 years of dedicated service teaching kindergarten, her true passion.
“This award is an extreme honor and a testament to all the amazing students and educators whom I encounter daily,” Needham says. “I am fortunate to be surrounded by an outstanding team within my district, as well as within my own family. Over the course of my 25 years as a kindergarten teacher, my mother, father, sister, and husband—all educators themselves—have been a continual source of inspiration, support, and encouragement.”
For the past 18 years, Needham has been an esteemed educator at Roosevelt Alexander Elementary. Her teaching career began in 1999 at Outley Elementary in Alief ISD under the guidance of her former elementary school principal.
Secondary Teacher of the Year
Dani Boepple, Mesquite ISD
Dani Boepple has a background in instructional coaching, campus administration, curriculum development, and teacher preparation.
“This award is an immense honor and symbolizes recognition from my peers and ATPE for my commitment to fostering a positive learning environment and making a meaningful impact on my students’ lives,” Boepple says. “I am inspired to continue striving for excellence, innovation, and compassion in my teaching. It serves as a reminder of the important role educators play in shaping the future and motivates me to keep pushing boundaries and nurturing the potential in every student. I would like to thank my ATPE family for their support and always believing in me.”
Boepple is also a National Board Certified science teacher and additionally serves as a facility representative, local president-elect, and Region 10 secretary for ATPE.
Michael Murray Carreon, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
Special Services Educator of the Year
Michael Murray Carreon is beginning his 24th year in education at PSJA ISD in Pharr, where he serves as the director of advanced academics. He has held this position for five years, and before that, he was the head band director at PSJA Memorial Early College High School.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be selected as the ATPE Special Services Educator of the Year,” Carreon says. “This recognition means the world to me, and I share it with every student, colleague, and family who has been a part of this incredible journey. Thank you to the committee for this award and recognition and to my amazing team for their unwavering support and collaboration. Most importantly, thank you to the PSJA family whom I work with, admire, love, and respect. Together, we are making a difference, and I am grateful to be a part of such a transformative and rewarding profession.”
As the director of advanced academics, Carreon has had the privilege of working with students, teachers, parents, and administrators across all campuses in his community of over 30,000 students. His role encompasses a wide range of programs, including GT, AP, UIL, JROTC, and many others. The greatest joy of his professional journey has been witnessing the transformation of students’ lives through the educational experiences and opportunities provided by PSJA ISD.
Again, congratulations to the ATPE 2024 Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year Award Recipients!