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Austin ISD salutes staff at 2026 awards; Dr. Gloria Williams named ICON recipient
Summary
At its 2026 Salute awards ceremony, Austin ISD honored hundreds of staff across categories, announced district winners including Principal of the Year Shanna King and elementary Teacher of the Year Marianne Byrd, and presented a new ICON lifetime service award to Dr. Gloria Williams. Superintendent Matias Segura acknowledged consolidation and budget pressures while highlighting student growth.
Austin Independent School District celebrated employees across dozens of roles at its 2026 Salute awards ceremony, honoring finalists and naming winners in categories ranging from transportation and food service to counseling, custodial, and school leadership.
Superintendent Matias Segura, who opened the event, framed the evening as recognition of the district’s “heartbeat” — its staff — and acknowledged a difficult year that included a consolidation process and budgetary pressures. “Tonight is all about you,” Segura said, adding that “we may be 10,000 individuals, but together we are a powerful Austin ISD family.” He credited ongoing staff dedication for measurable student growth despite those disruptions.
The district introduced a new long-service distinction, the Austin ISD ICON award, presented to an individual who has devoted 40 or more years to the district. Dr. Gloria Williams was named the 2026 ICON recipient; Williams, who was recognized in remarks for decades of service to public education and to Austin ISD specifically, accepted the honor and thanked colleagues and family. “AISD is my heart, my family,” she said.
Awards and key winners announced during the evening included: - Transportation Staff of the Year: Jackie Willis (winner) - Library Staff of the Year: Courtney Ewing (winner) - Food Service Warehouse Staff of the Year: Carrie Crouch (winner) - Campus Professional Staff of the Year: Jamie Kirkland (winner) - Teaching Assistant of the Year: Tarioska Lee Gonzalez (winner) - Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year: Ivan Tovar (winner) - Administration Staff of the Year: Kevin Owens (winner) - Principal of the Year: Shanna King, Crockett Early College High School (winner) - Elementary Teacher of the Year (Austin ISD): Marianne Byrd, Ortega Elementary (winner) - Secondary/District Teacher of the Year: Joelle Don Deville (winner)
Several finalists and winners used their acceptance remarks to thank colleagues, students and families; recurring themes included teamwork, student relationships, and the daily, often behind-the-scenes work that keeps schools running.
Organizers said nominations opened in November and the district received more than 1,500 nominations across categories. The program also noted district accomplishments including 156 National Board-Certified teachers — described onstage as the most in Texas — and acknowledged partners and sponsors such as the Austin Ed Fund, H-E-B, Samsung, South by Southwest EDU, and A Plus Federal Credit Union.
Segura and several honorees referenced continuing challenges — the consolidation process, a special-education order mentioned onstage, and budget constraints — but emphasized that district staff continued to produce student growth and support students’ social and academic needs.
The ceremony closed with student performances, thanks to sponsors, and a photo opportunity for winners and trustees. Organizers encouraged staff with classroom project ideas to apply for Austin Ed Fund Inspire the Future grants (applications noted as open through June 19).
