Ashworth Winner Committed to AISD Core Values

Posted Date: 06/03/2020

May 15, 2018 – A purchasing supervisor who is retiring with 33-years of service to Amarillo ISD is the recipient of the District’s highest employee honor.  Lori Thomason was recognized with the 2018 Bob Ashworth Award at the District’s annual Service Recognition Banquet on May 7.

The Bob Ashworth Award nomination submitted on Thomason’s behalf commends her steadfast dedication to customer service, a Core Value of Amarillo ISD. “Patience is essential when understanding complex bids and working with departments and vendors who may or may not know what they want or need to accomplish their goals,” writes AISD Director of Purchasing Gary Elliott, who nominated Lori for the Ashworth Award. “Lori demonstrates a special kindness to everyone she works with or deals with daily in AISD. I believe everyone at AISD feels her sense of service to the District, as well as her goodness, and enjoys working with her,” the nomination continues.  

The Bob Ashworth Award annually recognizes an employee with an outstanding career of service to students and staff. The award is named after Ashworth, who was superintendent of AISD from 1958 to 1978.  Thomason’s portrait will hang outside the Rod Schroder Education Support Center boardroom.

More than 175 AISD employees were honored at the banquet receiving 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45-year service pins. Of those retiring, their combined experience totaled 1,973 years. Among the notable retirees are longtime Hamlet Elementary Principal Kym Daniel, who retires after 40 years in education and Susan Nelson, retiring after 49 years of teaching math—45 of those at Wolflin Elementary.  Service pin honoree Debra Beene, with thirty-five years of service to the District, has spent the past 30 years as an eighth-grade math and Algebra I teacher at Crockett Middle School.

AISD is the city’s largest employer with more than 4,000 employees educating and supporting the district’s 33,000 students.

Bob Ashworth Award Nominees:

Teresa Bass – Special Education Assistant, AHS

David Bishop – Chief Leadership & Support Officer, ESC

Leah Clugy – Teacher, Carver

Linda Cunningham – Administrative Secretary, ESC

Claire Davis – Teacher, PDHS

Ronnie Hamilton – Teacher, Carver

Jill Howard – Teacher, Landergin

Jill Humphrey – AmeriCorps Program Director, ESC

Starla Kelley – Teacher, AHS

Cody Myers – Fine Arts Director, ESC

Abby Salter – Teacher, Carver

Edna Schwartz – Social Worker, Rogers

Lori Thomason – Purchasing Supervisor, ESC

Beverly Zearley – Teacher, Paramount Terrace

Retiring Employees and Years of Service: