Lufkin High School teachers Laura Stevens and Marshall Gorham received the prestigious Beulah Dominy and Samuel Gee Gill Teacher of the Year Award at the Lufkin ISD End of Year Service Awards Banquet.
Janice Ann Rowe, Director of Alumni Relations for the Lufkin High School Alumni Association, presented the award on behalf of the Gill Family. The award was started in 1993 by Dr. Jack and Linda Gill and was funded to award Lufkin High School teachers who have “exemplary performance and commitment to excellence” at the forefront of the requirement for a teacher to receive this honor. The Gill family had six children graduate from Lufkin High School. The award includes a check in the amount of $1,000 and a plaque.
The female Teacher of the Year was awarded to Laura Stevens. Ms. Stevens received her bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University and master’s degree in museum science from Texas Tech University. She served for a number of years as a park ranger with both Texas Parks & Wildlife and the National Park Service. After being a park ranger, she decided she wanted to get into education and received a Master of Arts in teaching from Stephen F. Austin State University. She came to Lufkin High School in the 2019-2020 school year from Burleson. In the three years she has been here, she has taught World Geography and has served as the lead teacher for the past two school years.
The male Teacher of the Year was awarded to Marshall Gorham. He grew up in Angelina County and attended Angelina College and Stephen F. Austin State University. Shortly after starting at SFA, he chose to become a missionary and travelled through Africa and Central America. After spending time overseas, he re-enrolled at SFA and obtained his bachelor’s degree in science, and began work at Lufkin High School.
Thank you to the Gill Family for continuing the legacy of this award to two very deserving teachers and congratulations to Laura Stevens and Marshall Gorham.