ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë

• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë held its annual Teacher of the Year Dinner on Thursday, April 11, 2024, to honor its Campus Teachers of the Year and to name the ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year. A special thank you to sponsors Eldorado Motors, Commercial Bank of Texas, McKinney Education Foundation and ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Partners in Education!
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — McKinney Mayor George Fuller
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — Sponsor Commercial Bank of Texas provided a generous check for $1,000 to Elementary Teacher of the Year Danielle Freeman and Secondary Teacher of the Year Elias Kawesa during the ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Teacher of the Year Dinner.
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — Mike Forsyth, Vega Elementary Principal and Wendy Cottam, Vega Elementary Assistant Principal
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — Grace Roberts, Scott Johnson Middle School Assistant Principal and Harvey Oaxaca, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Secretary
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — Faubion Teacher of the Year and ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalist Bryann Lee (third from left) with her Faubion cheering section.
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — Rhonda Hamilton (left), Malvern Elementary Assistant Principal and Rhonda Gilliam, Malvern Elementary Principal
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — (l-r) Dr. Paula Kent, McKinney High School Principal; Nancy Cowlishaw, Partners in Education Director; Jae Gaskill, McKinney North High School Principal
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — Genesis Yougas, 2023 ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Elementary Teacher of the Year, Region 10 Elementary Teacher of the Year and Texas Teacher of the Year Finalist
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — Daun Griffen, 2023 ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Secondary Teacher of the Year
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — Philip Hassler, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board President
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — Chelsea Ashby, Press Elementary Teacher of the Year and ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalist
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Elementary Teacher of the Year Danielle Freeman
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — Maria Hafner, Webb Elementary Principal and Marina Byrd, Webb Elementary Assistant Principal
• ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë 2024 Teacher of the Year Dinner — Elias Kawesa, McKinney High School Teacher of the Year and ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Secondary Teacher of the Year and Dr. Paula Kent, McKinney High School Principal

McKinney, Texas — The ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Teacher of the Year Dinner is one of the most anticipated events of the school year, a chance to focus the spotlight of ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë’s respect and admiration upon the most outstanding of the district’s educators, to honor those who have been singled out by their colleagues as exemplars of the profession.

On Thursday, April 11, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë officials, teachers, administrators, family and community leaders made their way into the ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Community Event Center for an evening of celebration to honor the district’s 31 Campus Teachers of the Year and to celebrate the announcement of the district’s 2024 ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year. Each teacher honored was selected by his or her peers to serve as the Campus Teacher of the Year and then participated in a portfolio and interview process to be considered for selection as the Elementary or Secondary Teacher of the Year. Those two teachers will then go on to represent ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë in the Region 10 Teacher of the Year program.

ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt welcomes everyone to the 2024 ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Teacher of the Year Dinner on Thursday, April 11, at the ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Community Event Center.

ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt stood at the podium to welcome everyone and to usher in the evening’s proceedings. He called McKinney Mayor George Fuller to the stage, who spoke candidly of the impact that ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë teachers have had on his own children.

“[Our school district] is by far our most precious asset in this city … because of the teachers,” Fuller said. “I have four kids that have gone through the school system here. There are teachers in this room that have touched the lives of each of my kids, and I can tell you that they are all thriving. They are all having success in their life in all different forms, and Maylee and I know that it is [due] in great part to teachers here who have had an impact on their lives.”

Pratt called upon Board President Philip Hassler, who spoke of the Board’s appreciation of and support for the district’s teachers. “I bring you a message on behalf of the ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board,” Hassler said. “We love our teachers. We love our teachers with every fiber of our being. Thank you so much for the work that you do.”

The previous year’s Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year Genesis Yougas and Daun Griffen shared of their experience over the past year. And, then the Campus Teachers of the Year were called one by one to the stage as a video feature offered a glimpse of each of these masterful educators at work in the classroom. Thirty-one crossed the stage to receive their award, and then the time came to announce the Finalists and the ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year.

Here are the 2024 ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Teachers of the Year:

2024 ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Elementary Teacher of the Year Danielle Freeman

Danielle Freeman, Frazier Elementary Teacher of the Year and ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Danielle Freeman, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board President Philip Hassler

2024 ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Secondary Teacher of the Year Elias Kawesa

Elias Kawesa, McKinney High School Teacher of the Year and ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Secondary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Elias Kawesa, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board President Philip Hassler

2024 Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalists

Lynda Batson, Minshew Elementary Teacher of the Year and ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Elementary First Runner Up — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Lynda Batson, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board President Philip Hassler

Chelsea Ashby, Press Elementary Teacher of the Year and ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Elementary Second Runner Up — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Chelsea Ashby, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board President Philip Hassler

2024 Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalists

Deanne Pratt, McKinney North High School Teacher of the Year and ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Secondary First Runner Up — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Deanne Pratt, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board President Philip Hassler

Bryann Lee, Faubion Middle School Teacher of the Year and ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Secondary Second Runner Up — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Bryann Lee, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board President Philip Hassler

2024 Campus Teachers of the Year

Jason Gray, Bennett Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jason Gray, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca

Imelda Pacheco, Burks Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Imelda Pacheco, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca

Melinda Farlow, Caldwell Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Melinda Farlow, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca

Erin Tanner, Eddins Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Erin Tanner, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca

Kari O’Brien, Finch Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kari O’Brien, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca

Aaron Flores, Glen Oaks Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Aaron Flores, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca

Katie Leake, Reuben Johnson Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Katie Leake, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Larry Jagours

Elizabeth Lopez, Lawson Early Childhood School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Elizabeth Lopez, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Larry Jagours

Antonio Hernandez, Malvern Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Antonio Hernandez, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Larry Jagours

Kristi Garcia, McClure Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kristi Garcia, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Larry Jagours

Taylor Teague, McGowen Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Taylor Teague, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Larry Jagours

Jordyn Barnard, McNeil Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jordyn Barnard, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Larry Jagours

Devon Lowe, Slaughter Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Devon Lowe, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Vice President Amy Dankel

Ashley Hepworth, Valley Creek Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Ashley Hepworth, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Vice President Amy Dankel

Valerie Larpenteur, Vega Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Valerie Larpenteur, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Vice President Amy Dankel

Trisha Kincaid — Walker Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Trisha Kincaid, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Vice President Amy Dankel

Monica Hoover, Webb Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Monica Hoover, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Vice President Amy Dankel

Brenda Ross, Wilmeth Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Brenda Ross, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Vice President Amy Dankel

Daenna Branch, Wolford Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Daenna Branch, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Board Vice President Amy Dankel

Brandi Ramirez, Cockrill Middle School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Brandi Ramirez, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Stephanie O’Dell

Kalla Dorsey — Dowell Middle School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kalla Dorsey, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Stephanie O’Dell

Terry Lanier, Evans Middle School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Terry Lanier, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Stephanie O’Dell

Alex Coverson — Scott Johnson Middle School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Alex Coverson, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Stephanie O’Dell

Mary Le, McKinney Boyd High School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Mary Le, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Stephanie O’Dell

David Singleton, DAEP Teacher of the Year — (l-r) ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Superintendent Shawn Pratt, David Singleton, ÈÕ±¾avÎÞÂë Trustee Stephanie O’Dell

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