Round of Applause
Let’s give a round of applause to our ATPE members all around the state who go above and beyond.
Birdville
Teri Naya, a licensed dyslexia therapist, recently earned her CALT (Certified Academic Language Therapist) certificate.
Killeen
Rayanne Polm, the lead librarian at Reeces Creek Elementary, was one of 42 librarians recently selected to join the Texas Library Association’s TALL Texas Leadership Development Institute.
McKinney
Robert Quach was named not only Region 10’s Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year by TASSP but also 2025 Administrator of the Year by the Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE).
The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), which oversees the Teacher of the Year (TOY) program, named six ATPE members as the 2026 Secondary Teacher of the Year for their respective regions:
- Region 3: Rachel Lowrey, Career and Technology Institute, Victoria ISD
- Region 4: Ashley Anderson, Dickinson Continuation Center, Dickinson ISD
- Region 10: Gennie Holcomb, Rockwall-Heath High School, Rockwall ISD
- Region 13: Victoria Sanders, Round Rock High School, Round Rock ISD
- Region 14: Jansen Wilhite, Merkel High School, Merkel ISD
- Region 17: Karen Caballero, Shallowater Middle School, Shallowater ISD
The following principals were selected by their colleagues in their respective regions as the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) 2025-2026 Region Principals of the Year:
- Region 5: Kristina Wiedman, Warren Jr. High School, Warren ISD
- Region 6: Tim Williams, Lake Creek High School, Montgomery ISD
- Region 7: Shanequa Redd-Dorsey, Alto High School, Alto ISD
- Region 12: Dr. Janelle Muhammad, Rancier Middle School, Killeen ISD
- Region 12: Claudia Knox, Belton High School, Belton ISD
Four ATPE members were named 2025-2026 Region Assistant Principals of the Year by TASSP:
- Region 9: Will Johnson, Jacksboro Middle School, Jacksboro ISD
- Region 10: Robert Quach, McKinney High School, McKinney ISD
- Region 13: Haley Wheeler, Marble Falls Middle School, Marble Falls ISD
- Region 16: Haley Villarreal, Tascosa High School, Amarillo ISD
The following ATPE members have been named 2026 Elementary Teacher of the Year for their respective regions as part of the TOY program:
- Region 9: Cherron Johnson, C. Evans Elementary School, Burkburnett ISD
- Region 11: Angela Lee, Monaco Elementary School, Aubrey ISD
- Region 16: Tiffany Brown, Bob L. Kirksey Elementary School, Booker ISD
- Region 19: Rachel Gomez, Sierra Blanca ISD, Sierra Blanca ISD
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