January 19, 2021- The Boerne Independent School District is proud to announce that two staff members have earned statewide awards from the Texas School Counselor Association. Dr. Ferdinand L. Herff Elementary School Principal Tanya Tate was named the Counselor Advocate of the Year, while Capt. Mark Tyler Voss Middle School Counselor Denise Nipper earned Middle School Counselor of the Year. Both Tate and Nipper will be honored at the TSCA Conference in February.
“We are extremely proud of Tanya and Denise for earning these prestigious awards,” said Lesa Pritchard, Boerne ISD Executive Director of Whole Child Services. “It comes as no surprise that both of these hard-working, servant leaders are recognized as being among the top educators in the entire state, not only for what they do for students and families but also for what they do for the counseling profession. Tanya and Denise continue to prove they care deeply for their students, and these two awards cement that. They both go above and beyond for their students and their families. We are greatly appreciative to have them in Boerne ISD,” Pritchard stated.
Tate, currently in her 21st year in the education industry, including her second year as Principal at Herff Elementary, joined Boerne ISD during the 2007-08 school year. Together, Tate and Counselor Marcie Warner created a model whole child elementary campus at Herff with an emphasis on social-emotional learning. Tate currently serves as the 2020-21 Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) Region 20 President.
Nipper, currently serving as a Counselor at Voss Middle School, has been in education for over 30 years, teaching a variety of grade levels including Kindergarten, Middle School, and High School Math and Physics before becoming a counselor. With the support of Dr. Beto Hinojosa, principal of Voss Middle School; Nipper and her counseling teammate Annalyne Vasquez have developed a comprehensive counseling program to serve the community of Capt. Mark T. Voss Middle School.
According to the TSCA, To qualify for these awards, nominations are made based on letters of recommendation, a rationale statement, and a resume detailing significant contributions to the field of school counseling. Professional school counseling experience and leadership
participation in the areas of supervision, professional development, program implementation, and program advocacy are also considered.
