On August 6, Dr. Aaron Dominguez revealed the recipients of faculty awards for the 2023-24 school year. Each year, one faculty member receives each of the following honors that reflect the school’s core values: Excellence, Mutual Respect, Academic Achievement, Enthusiasm and Joy, and Teacher of the Year.
The St. Thomas High School Teacher of the Year for 2023-24 is English teacher Claudia Mundell. Mundell earned the prestigious honor for her passionate service to her students and for always exemplifying the school’s mission: Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge. From spiritual leadership to academic motivation, Mundell represents the best that our school has to offer.
“The honor means a lot because it comes from my peers,” Mundell said. “I just feel a lot of gratitude.”
Mundell has been a beloved member of the St. Thomas faculty since 2014 and is living out her lifelong goal of working in education. As a young girl, she would play pretend-school with her stuffed animals and toys, and in high school, she was taught by an impactful and caring English teacher, who solidified her dreams of being an educator. Mundell received her Bachelor’s degree in English from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and later earned her Master’s in English from California State University of Long Beach. She has taught public middle school in San Antonio and at other Catholic schools before finding her place at St. Thomas.
“Catholic education is the way to go for me,” Mundell said. “I get to do what I like with who I like; the adults, the students, teachers, parents, everyone. It’s a special place.”
In her ten years at St. Thomas, Mundell has earned a reputation of being a positive role model for her students, a thoughtful educator, and an encouraging, collaborative colleague. Her fellow teachers nominated her for the award, citing her professionalism, preparedness, and sense of humor as reasons for her to receive the honor.
“She is a genuinely good and kind person,” Judy Granbury, Dean of the English Department, said. “She is there and present for her students in every single class. She makes a tremendous difference for everyone on this campus.”
Outside of the classroom, Mundell loves to read and walk the Bayou. She also takes great pride in being a wife, and a mother of two sons, Joe (’21) and Ben (’26).
Now equipped with this award, Mundell enters the 2024-25 school year with just as much dedication to and care for her students as ever before.
“This award is very humbling,” she said. “Every year, we ask, ‘what can we do better?’ and I can’t wait to meet the new students and see these young men grow.”
MORE ESTEEMED BASILIAN EDUCATORS
Four more members of the St. Thomas faculty received honors on August 6 for their steadfast service to their students and the school community.
Chrissy Gensheimer – Excellence
Dean of Instruction and History teacher Chrissy Gensheimer received the Excellence Award for the 2023-24 school year. Gensheimer’s nomination for the honor declared that she is cheerful, always helpful, and a consummate professional.
Chau Nguyen – Mutual Respect
Dean of Fine Arts Chau Nguyen received the Mutual Respect Award for the 2023-24 school year. Always willing to lend a helping hand or listening ear, Nguyen is an architype of mutual respect in the STH community.
Lorin Lee – Academic Achievement
Dean of the World Languages department and Mandarin teacher Lorin Lee received the Academic Achievement award for the 2023-24 school year. According to her colleagues, Lee is a dedicated educator with an unparalleled presence in the classroom.
Noel Romero – Enthusiasm and Joy
Biology and Chemistry teacher Noel Romero (’08) received the Enthusiasm and Joy award for the 2023-24 school year. Romero inspires his fellow Eagle brothers every day as a lifelong learner with a positive, can-do attitude.
Leave A Comment