Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary second-grade teacher Denise Bakkar walked out of the Boerne Education Foundation’s “Rock On in Music City” gala Saturday $10,000 richer, being named the Boerne ISD Teacher of the Year.
Bakker’s hugs for everyone and the presentation of the oversized check from Vic Vaughn Toyota of Boerne were among highlights of the event, sponsored by the Boerne Education Foundation at the Kendall County Equestrian Center.
Historically, BEF fundraisers bring in around half a million dollars that goes directly to supporting Boerne ISD’s teachers, students, faculty and staff, with the “Rock On” gala as their biggest driver.
Participants, who included current and former Boerne ISD staffers, parents of students and community members, poured into the decked-out center for the night, which included a silent auction with everything from puppies to Jaguars up for bid.
Boerne ISD “Teacher of the Year” Denise Bakker, third from right, is all smiles Saturday when presented the oversized check bearing her gift for winning the award.
Star photo by Veronica Rector “We had a record turnout (of 500 participants),” Boerne School Board President Garrett Wilson said.
The first portion of the night consisted of the silent auction, where participants walked around to place their bids, and enjoyed a meal consisting of salad, pot roast and vegetables, and a mashed potato bar.
After the silent bids, Dr. Rex Wildey, a former BEF board member and the night’s emcee, announced the names of teachers who were nominated by their peers for their outstanding work. The gift bags given to these teachers included a bonus of $500.
“We have some of the greatest educators in the state of Texas,” Wilson said. “Every dollar raised (tonight) goes back into our schools.”
The silent auction had more than 150 items, including a getaway to the Big Easy, New Orleans, a dove hunt in Argentina and a guitar signed by Jelly Roll.
There are still other opportunities to donate to Boerne ISD, including its upcoming BEF Birdies for Boerne, a tournament hosted at TopGolf in September.
“The money that comes in supports student success,” Yvette Reyna, BEF executive director, said.
BEF allocates a substantial portion of its distributions to provide each school with funding on a per capita basis. The take from Saturday’s Rock On gala was still being tallied at press time.
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