McKinney, Texas — The McKinney ISD Teacher of the Year Dinner is one of the most anticipated events of the school year, a chance to focus the spotlight of MISD’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, MISD officials, teachers, administrators, family and community leaders made their way into the MISD 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 MISD 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 MISD in the Region 10 Teacher of the Year program.
MISD 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 MISD 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 McKinney ISD 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 MISD Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year.
Here are the 2024 MISD Teachers of the Year:
2024 MISD Elementary Teacher of the Year Danielle Freeman
Danielle Freeman, Frazier Elementary Teacher of the Year and MISD Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Danielle Freeman, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
2024 MISD Secondary Teacher of the Year Elias Kawesa
Elias Kawesa, McKinney High School Teacher of the Year and MISD Secondary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Elias Kawesa, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
2024 Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalists
Lynda Batson, Minshew Elementary Teacher of the Year and MISD Elementary First Runner Up — (l-r) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Lynda Batson, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
Chelsea Ashby, Press Elementary Teacher of the Year and MISD Elementary Second Runner Up — (l-r) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Chelsea Ashby, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
2024 Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalists
Deanne Pratt, McKinney North High School Teacher of the Year and MISD Secondary First Runner Up — (l-r) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Deanne Pratt, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
Bryann Lee, Faubion Middle School Teacher of the Year and MISD Secondary Second Runner Up — (l-r) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Bryann Lee, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
2024 Campus Teachers of the Year
Jason Gray—Bennett Elementary Teacher of the Year
Imelda Pacheco—Burks Elementary Teacher of the Year
Melinda Farlow—Caldwell Elementary Teacher of the Year
Erin Tanner—Eddins Elementary Teacher of the Year
Kari O’Brien—Finch Elementary Teacher of the Year
Aaron Flores—Glen Oaks Elementary Teacher of the Year
Katie Leake—Reuben Johnson Elementary Teacher of the Year
Elizabeth Lopez—Lawson Early Childhood School Teacher of the Year
Antonio Hernandez—Malvern Elementary Teacher of the Year
Kristi Garcia—McClure Elementary Teacher of the Year
Taylor Teague—McGowen Elementary Teacher of the Year
Jordyn Barnard—McNeil Elementary Teacher of the Year
Devon Lowe—Slaughter Elementary Teacher of the Year
Ashley Hepworth—Valley Creek Elementary Teacher of the Year
Valerie Larpenteur—Vega Elementary Teacher of the Year
Trisha Kincaid—Walker Elementary Teacher of the Year
Monica Hoover—Webb Elementary Teacher of the Year
Brenda Ross—Wilmeth Elementary Teacher of the Year
Daenna Branch—Wolford Elementary Teacher of the Year
Brandi Ramirez—Cockrill Middle School Teacher of the Year
Kalla Dorsey—Dowell Middle School Teacher of the Year
Terry Lanier—Evans Middle School Teacher of the Year
Alex Coverson—Scott Johnson Middle School Teacher of the Year
Mary Le—McKinney Boyd High School Teacher of the Year
David Singleton—DAEP Teacher of the Year