Round of Applause
Let’s give a round of applause to our ATPE members all around the state who go above and beyond.
Canutillo
Sarah Spencer, a teacher at Deanna Davenport Elementary School, was named Canutillo ISD’s 2024 Elementary Teacher of the Year. Spencer received a $1,000 stipend from the district and will represent Canutillo ISD in the Region 19 Teacher of the Year competition.
China Spring
Amy Gregory, a teacher at China Spring Intermediate, was named the district’s Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Ector County
Sulema Jaquez, a special education aide at the Transition Learning Center, was named the district’s Paraprofessional of the Year. Jaquez also retired at the end of the school year after spending 21 years with the district.
Graham
The following ATPE members were named Teachers of the Year for their respective campuses:
- Maranda Roberts, Pioneer Elementary
- Rhonda Mills, Woodland Elementary
- Tracy Pippins, Graham High School
Howe
Kerry Kelly, a theater arts teacher and interventionist at Howe Middle School, was named the district’s Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Lewisville
Jennifer Rodgers, an interventionist at Flower Mound Elementary School, was named the 2023-24 Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Ashleigh Barron, a biology teacher and softball coach at Marcus 9th Grade Campus, received the district’s Secondary Teacher of the Year award.
The following ATPE members were named Teacher of the Year for their respective campuses:
- Tracey Bell, Downing Middle School
- Mitchell Bitner, Southridge Elementary
- Taylor Brem, Griffin Middle School
- Mitchell Cogbill, Briarhill Middle School
- Gail Crossley, Donald STEM Academy
- Stacey Domzalski, Prairie Trail Elementary (Elementary Teacher of the Year finalist)
- Janice Hatter, Lewisville High School
- Angie Hogan, Highland Village Elementary
- Killeen Hossbach, Indian Creek Elementary
- Amber James, McKamy Middle School
- Jini Mauldin, DeLay Middle School
- Sophia Nelson, Old Settlers Elementary
- Holly Reynolds, Lamar Middle School (Secondary Teacher of the Year finalist)
- Caroline Rodgers, Morningside Elementary
- Gregory Sweeney, LISD Student Success Center
Nacogdoches
Monica Gryder, a fifth grade teacher at Mike Moses Elementary School, was named Nacogdoches ISD’s Elementary Teacher of the Year and received the Anne K. Wallace Excellence in Teaching Award.
Roya Dinbali, a forensic science teacher in the Career & Technical Education Department at Nacogdoches High School, is the district’s Secondary Teacher of the Year.
North Lamar
The district recognized four ATPE members as Teachers of the Year and finalists.
Teachers of the Year:
- Amelia Brown, Bailey Intermediate
- Chris Smith, Frank Stone Middle School
Finalists:
- Aimee Cobey, Aaron Parker Elementary
- Stephanie Bishop, Cecil Everett Elementary
Brown and Smith each received $500 and a North Lamar jacket, and Cobey and Bishop each received $200.
Plainview
Brandi Cook was named Plainview Collegiate High School’s Teacher of the Year.
Plano
Meghann Sciples, a teacher at Mathews Elementary, was named Plano ISD’s Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Royse City
Brittany Lancaster, principal at Miss May Vernon Elementary School, was one of 30 Texas principals selected to attend a weeklong summer institute at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Angela Rouse, an honors and dual-credit biology teacher at Royse City High School, received the Secondary Teacher of the Year Award. Rouse, who has been in the classroom for 21 years, has earned the campus teacher of the year title three times before.
Waco
The following educators were named Waco ISD’s 2023-24 Teacher of the Year for their respective campuses:
- Bettye Miller, J.H. Hines Elementary
- Marisela Siller, Cesar Chavez Middle
