St. John Berchmans School teacher named 2023 TCCB Elementary Teacher of the Year
Julie Ortiz, who teaches at St. John Berchmans Catholic School in San Antonio, has been named the 2023 Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops’ Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Ortiz is in her 11th year of teaching at St. John Berchmans School. Currently she teaches fifth grade and Religion to third and eighth graders. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she coaches cross country and track and field and sponsors the garden club, CHEF Culinary Health School, serves as the school’s religion coordinator and coordinates the Catholic Arts and Academic Competition (CAAC).
Ortiz is not only dedicated to the spiritual development of each child in her care; she exhibits an extraordinary ability to promote exceptional academic growth in each child. She has an innate ability to recognize the exact instructional needs of a student and creates a natural path for them to excel.
When colleagues speak of Ortiz, some common descriptions include helpful, creative, collaborative, dedicated, enthusiastic, caring, supportive, Christian role model, and servant leader. One colleague remarked, “She does all that she does with a smile on her face and the love of Christ in her heart.”
Ortiz was born and raised in a small country town in Central Texas located in the heart of Brown County. She attended the University of Texas at San Antonio where she received her bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies in Education with an emphasis on reading.
Geralyn Klimitchek of Sacred Heart Catholic School in Hallettsville, in the Diocese of Victoria, was named the TCCB High School Teacher of the Year.
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