Region 9 Teacher of the Year Nominees Announced
Region 9 Education Service Center will recognize 44 Teacher of the Year nominees representing 23 school districts during its annual Educator Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
During the ceremony, each nominee will be honored for their dedication and excellence in the classroom. Region 9 will also announce its Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year, who will advance to represent the region in the 2027 Texas Teacher of the Year program administered by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). State winners will be announced on October 16, 2026.
Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor the State of Texas can bestow upon a teacher. Facilitated by TASA since 2011, the program annually recognizes and rewards teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching. After the state selection process is completed, the Texas Teacher of the Year nominees will be submitted to the National Teacher of the Year program. More information about the process is available at TASA Awards Page.
Region 9's 2026 Superintendent of the Year, Mr. Casey Adams of Woodson ISD, will also be recognized during the ceremony. Mr. Adams is one of seventeen statewide nominees advancing to the next phase of the competition in August, when the State Selection Committee of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) will conduct interviews to select five state finalists. The finalists will undergo another round of interviews, and the Superintendent of the Year will be announced at txEDCON (TASA/TASB Convention) in October.
The Henrietta ISD Board of Trustees will also be recognized as the Region 9 nominee for the 2026 TASA School Board Awards. TASA's School Board Awards Committee will select up to five nominated boards to be recognized as Honor Boards and will announce one of those nominees as the 2026 Outstanding School Board at txEDCON in October.
Region 9 ESC is grateful for the support of the sponsors of this event:
- Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP
- Coryell Roofing
- Red River Superintendents Association
- School Specialty
- Wichita Falls Teachers Federal Credit Union
Region 9 2027 Teacher of the Year Nominees
Elementary
- Bowie ISD – Adela Martinez
- Burkburnett ISD – Mary Cluley
- City View ISD – Stacy Pearson
- Crowell ISD – Jeceka Madewell
- Electra ISD – Cristina Manzel
- Graham ISD – Kasey Sams
- Henrietta ISD – Kim Morris
- Iowa Park CISD – Mindy Haynes
- Jacksboro ISD – Denisa Moye
- Knox City-O'Brien CISD – Josefa Barnum
- Midway ISD – Karissa Rohmer
- Montague ISD – Amanda Rhoades
- Nocona ISD – Courtney Spitzer
- Northside ISD – Nicki Streit
- Perrin-Whitt CISD – Alexandra Rowan
- Petrolia CISD – Kristy Huffman
- Prairie Valley ISD – Jeannie Carpenter
- Saint Jo ISD – Janna Atkinson
- Seymour ISD – Kylie Johnson
- Vernon ISD – Kristin Chavira
- Wichita Falls ISD – LaChandra Hooper
- Woodson ISD – Nicole Ellis
Secondary
- Benjamin ISD – Amy Williams
- Bowie ISD – Christi Mills
- Burkburnett ISD – Carlos Torres
- City View ISD – Gabriel Pate
- Crowell ISD – Joe Clabaugh
- Electra ISD – Jennifer Mroczkowski
- Graham ISD – Maria Waller
- Henrietta ISD – Laurie Schaffner
- Iowa Park CISD – Cindy Skjelstad
- Jacksboro ISD – McKaylee Ladd
- Knox City-O'Brien CISD – Erin Yates
- Midway ISD – Laura Bowers
- Montague ISD – Lila Keck
- Nocona ISD – Mike Connell
- Northside ISD – Allison Stanley
- Petrolia CISD – Sherri Blassingame
- Prairie Valley ISD – Jeffery Priddy
- Saint Jo ISD – Jennifer Gaston
- Seymour ISD – Carla Selman
- Vernon ISD – Brady Parum
- Wichita Falls ISD – Nicki Norman
- Woodson ISD – Robert Carruthers