Danielle Freeman from Frazier Elementary and Elias Kawesa from McKinney High School Named 91͵ÅÄ Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year
McKinney, Texas — The 91͵ÅÄ Teacher of the Year Dinner is one of the most anticipated events of the school year, a chance to focus the spotlight of 91͵ÅÄ’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, 91͵ÅÄ officials, teachers, administrators, family and community leaders made their way into the 91͵ÅÄ 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 91͵ÅÄ 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 91͵ÅÄ in the Region 10 Teacher of the Year program.
91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt welcomes everyone to the 2024 91͵ÅÄ Teacher of the Year Dinner on Thursday, April 11, at the 91͵ÅÄ Community Event Center.
91͵ÅÄ 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 91͵ÅÄ 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 91͵ÅÄ 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 91͵ÅÄ Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year.
Here are the 2024 91͵ÅÄ Teachers of the Year:
2024 91͵ÅÄ Elementary Teacher of the Year Danielle Freeman
Danielle Freeman, Frazier Elementary Teacher of the Year and 91͵ÅÄ Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Danielle Freeman, 91͵ÅÄ Board President Philip Hassler
2024 91͵ÅÄ Secondary Teacher of the Year Elias Kawesa
Elias Kawesa, McKinney High School Teacher of the Year and 91͵ÅÄ Secondary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Elias Kawesa, 91͵ÅÄ Board President Philip Hassler
2024 Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalists
Lynda Batson, Minshew Elementary Teacher of the Year and 91͵ÅÄ Elementary First Runner Up — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Lynda Batson, 91͵ÅÄ Board President Philip Hassler
Chelsea Ashby, Press Elementary Teacher of the Year and 91͵ÅÄ Elementary Second Runner Up — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Chelsea Ashby, 91͵ÅÄ Board President Philip Hassler
2024 Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalists
Deanne Pratt, McKinney North High School Teacher of the Year and 91͵ÅÄ Secondary First Runner Up — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Deanne Pratt, 91͵ÅÄ Board President Philip Hassler
Bryann Lee, Faubion Middle School Teacher of the Year and 91͵ÅÄ Secondary Second Runner Up — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Bryann Lee, 91͵ÅÄ Board President Philip Hassler
2024 Campus Teachers of the Year
Jason Gray, Bennett Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jason Gray, 91͵ÅÄ Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Imelda Pacheco, Burks Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Imelda Pacheco, 91͵ÅÄ Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Melinda Farlow, Caldwell Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Melinda Farlow, 91͵ÅÄ Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Erin Tanner, Eddins Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Erin Tanner, 91͵ÅÄ Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Kari O’Brien, Finch Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kari O’Brien, 91͵ÅÄ Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Aaron Flores, Glen Oaks Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Aaron Flores, 91͵ÅÄ Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Katie Leake, Reuben Johnson Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Katie Leake, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Larry Jagours
Elizabeth Lopez, Lawson Early Childhood School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Elizabeth Lopez, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Larry Jagours
Antonio Hernandez, Malvern Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Antonio Hernandez, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Larry Jagours
Kristi Garcia, McClure Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kristi Garcia, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Larry Jagours
Taylor Teague, McGowen Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Taylor Teague, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Larry Jagours
Jordyn Barnard, McNeil Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jordyn Barnard, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Larry Jagours
Devon Lowe, Slaughter Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Devon Lowe, 91͵ÅÄ Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Ashley Hepworth, Valley Creek Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Ashley Hepworth, 91͵ÅÄ Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Valerie Larpenteur, Vega Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Valerie Larpenteur, 91͵ÅÄ Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Trisha Kincaid — Walker Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Trisha Kincaid, 91͵ÅÄ Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Monica Hoover, Webb Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Monica Hoover, 91͵ÅÄ Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Brenda Ross, Wilmeth Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Brenda Ross, 91͵ÅÄ Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Daenna Branch, Wolford Elementary Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Daenna Branch, 91͵ÅÄ Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Brandi Ramirez, Cockrill Middle School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Brandi Ramirez, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
Kalla Dorsey — Dowell Middle School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kalla Dorsey, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
Terry Lanier, Evans Middle School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Terry Lanier, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
Alex Coverson — Scott Johnson Middle School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Alex Coverson, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
Mary Le, McKinney Boyd High School Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Mary Le, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
David Singleton, DAEP Teacher of the Year — (l-r) 91͵ÅÄ Superintendent Shawn Pratt, David Singleton, 91͵ÅÄ Trustee Stephanie O’Dell
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