McKinney, Texas — McKinney ISD rolled out the red carpet on Thursday, April 9, for the 2026 Teacher of the Year Celebration at the district's Community Event Center.
On a somewhat blustery but otherwise lovely spring evening, McKinney ISD's most outstanding educators arrived with family and friends as McKinney ISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, district administrators, campus principals and community leaders welcomed them to the annual celebration.
View the 2026 Teacher of the Year Digital Program here. And, don't miss additional photos at the end of this article!
McKinney ISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt at the 2026 McKinney ISD Teacher of the Year Dinner
The Teacher of the Year dinner and awards presentation is one of the highlights and most anticipated events of the school year, an evening set aside to honor and celebrate the 31 remarkable McKinney ISD Campus Teachers of the Year for their dedication to our students and their innovation in the classroom — and to announce the district's 2026 Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Each Campus Teacher of the Year was selected by his or her colleagues and took part in a portfolio review and interview with a panel of judges to determine who will go on to represent McKinney ISD in the Region 10 Teacher of the Year competition from among the finalists.
This year, the McKinney ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year is 3rd grade teacher Tommy Gillett from Burks Elementary. And, the McKinney ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year is teacher and coach Reagan Brannon from Faubion Middle School.
McKinney ISD 2026 Teachers of the Year:
McKinney ISD 2026 Elementary Teacher of the Year: Tommy Gillett, Burks Elementary
McKinney ISD 2026 Secondary Teacher of the Year: Reagan Brannon, Faubion Middle School
Finalists:
McKinney ISD Elementary 1st Runner-Up: Naudia Monroe, Press Elementary
McKinney ISD Elementary 2nd Runner-Up: Paris Mays-Johnson, Walker Elementary
McKinney ISD Secondary 1st Runner-Up: Sam Thomas, McKinney Boyd High School
McKinney ISD Secondary 2nd Runner-Up: Jake Mannis, McKinney North High School
Thank you to our Donors!
El Dorado Motors of McKinney—Marion Bostick, Customer Support Manager (at podium) and Steve Miller, Internet Director
First United Bank—Denise Steller
2026 McKinney ISD Campus Teachers of the Year:
Bennett Elementary—Johanna Brubaker
Caldwell Dual Language Academy—Kristal Estrada-Jimenez
Eddins Elementary—Jenni Webb
Finch Elementary—Stephanie Horswill
Frazier Elementary—Angie Stallbaumer
Glen Oaks Elementary—Allison Way
Reuben Johnson Elementary—Sarah Kile
Lawson Early Childhood School—Jessica Piecek
Malvern Elementary—Shalicia Bables
McClure Elementary—Alyssa Norsworthy
McGowen Elementary—Michelle Haas
McNeil Elementary—Kelly Miller
Minshew Elementary—Bree Bakke
Slaughter Elementary—Lisa Cisneros
Valley Creek Elementary—Tori Killion
Vega Elementary—Sarah Pena
Webb Elementary—Madalyn Whatley
Wilmeth Elementary—Rachel Reasoner
Wolford Elementary—Kristi Gray
Cockrill Middle School—Andrea Lopez
Dowell Middle School—Matthew Baca
Evans Middle School—Aaron Stark
Scott Johnson Middle School—Raul Perez Jr.
McKinney High School—Lauryn Zuercher
DAEP—Michelle Zavala
"Tonight we celebrated excellence," said Pratt at the conclusion of the evening. "But more importantly, we celebrated impact, the impact that each of you make in the classrooms and the lives and in the future of our community. To every teacher here tonight, thank you. You matter more than words can express; you're the reason we're able to live out our vision of every student, every day, and we are honored to celebrate you here tonight and call you part of our McKinney ISD family."
More Photos!
