AUSTIN – The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) has announced that Genesis Yougas from Lawson Early Childhood School is one of the six outstanding educators from across Texas who have been chosen as finalists in the 2024 Texas Teacher of the Year program. The Texas Teacher of the Year Finalists include three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers.

Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalists:

• Dr. Isela Russell, Wellington Elementary School, Lewisville ISD
• Taniece Thompson-Smith, Stafford Elementary School, Abilene ISD
• Genesis Yougas, Lawson Early Childhood School, McKinney ISD

Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalists:

• Naveen Cunha, Stephen F. Austin Middle School, Bryan ISD
• Schrundagale Griffith, Foster Middle School, Longview ISD
• Dr. Cynthia Hopkins, Harold C. Kaffie Middle School, Corpus Christi ISD

Yougas and the other finalists will be interviewed Oct. 19 by a panel of judges composed of representatives of educational leadership associations, community and business leaders, a member of the State Board for Educator Certification, a member of the State Board of Education and prior Texas Teachers of the Year.

The panel will select two state-level winners — Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year — and designate one to represent Texas in the National Teacher of the Year program. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony Oct. 20 at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Round Rock, Texas, where the 40 Regional Teachers of the Year will also be recognized.

Yougas teaches pre-K Head Start at Lawson Early Childhood School, where she has taught for the past three years of her 10-year education career. In 2021, she wrote and secured a grant through the McKinney Education Foundation for inclusive play equipment.

(Back row, l-r) Texas State Representative Frederick Frazier, Texas State Teacher of the Year Finalist Genesis Yougas, MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Assistant Superintendent Melanie Raleeh and Assistant Superintendent Shelly Spaulding

“As a teacher of a student with spina bifida, I saw a problem with accessible play equipment for children with disabilities,” Yougas says. “Through this grant, I was able to secure inclusive play equipment for my campus that is available to all kids, including those who use walkers or have other health impairments.”

Yougas says she wants all students to have an accessible learning environment where learning is individualized and adapted to meet the needs of all students. “It’s the little things,” she says. “The small moments of pure joy bring teachable moments that allow students to feel safe, loved and connected. These same moments also build brain strength by releasing endorphins to help students feel positive and confident.”

Yougas holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce and a master’s degree from the University of North Texas. She has plans to pursue a doctorate.

“Texas teachers perform miracles every day as they inspire children even in the most challenging of times,” said Kevin Brown, executive director of TASA, which has coordinated the Texas Teacher of the Year program since 2011. “Public school teachers are critical to the success of individual children and our society as a whole. Those who choose to teach are national heroes, and these six finalists are the best among them. They have distinguished themselves among thousands of outstanding, dedicated teachers across our nation have who have answered the call to serve.”

On August 14, a panel of judges composed of representatives of Texas teacher associations and last year’s Texas Teacher of the Year finalists selected the finalists from the 40 Texas Regional Teachers of the Year — one elementary and one secondary teacher from each of the 20 Texas Education Service Center regions.

The 2024 Texas Regional Teachers of the Year are:

Region 1
Elementary – Nubia German, Donna Wernecke Elementary School, Sharyland ISD
Secondary – Denise Rodriguez, Hidalgo Early College High School, Hidalgo ISD

Region 2
Elementary – Heather Franzone, London Intermediate School, London ISD
Secondary – Cynthia Hopkins, Harold C. Kaffie Middle School, Corpus Christi ISD (finalist)

Region 3
Elementary – Erin Blankenship (Gayler), Port O’Connor Elementary School, Calhoun County ISD
Secondary – Lindsay Ferrell, Howell Middle School, Victoria ISD

Region 4
Elementary – Susan Mitchell, Groves Elementary School, Humble ISD
Secondary – Rhonda Perez, Joe Frank Campbell Learning Center, Channelview ISD

Region 5
Elementary – Cheryl Spangler, Dishman Elementary School, Beaumont ISD
Secondary – Jeffrey “Daniel” Auchenbach, Bridge City High School, Bridge City ISD

Region 6
Elementary – Kamy Taylor, Normangee Elementary School, Normangee ISD
Secondary – Naveen Cunha, Stephen F. Austin Middle School, Bryan ISD (finalist)

Region 7
Elementary – Joanna Esparza, Wise Elementary School, Chapel Hill ISD
Secondary – Schrundagale Griffith, Foster Middle School, Longview ISD (finalist)

Region 8
Elementary – Chonda Hicks, Thomas Justiss Elementary School, Paris ISD
Secondary – Amanda LaRue, Paris High School, Paris ISD

Region 9
Elementary – Addie Enlow, Bowie Intermediate School, Bowie ISD
Secondary – Courtney Bozeman, Newcastle High School, Newcastle ISD

Region 10
Elementary – Genesis Yougas, Lawson Early Childhood School, McKinney ISD (finalist)
Secondary – John Murray, Sachse High School, Garland ISD

Region 11
Elementary – Isela Russell, Wellington Elementary School, Lewisville ISD (finalist)
Secondary – Michael Beauchamp, Granbury High School, Granbury ISD

Region 12
Elementary – April Eide, Robinson Primary School, Robinson ISD
Secondary – Katelin Kelly, Lake Belton High School, Belton ISD

Region 13
Elementary – Megan Vasquez, Becker Elementary School, Austin ISD
Secondary – Samantha Marion, Rosedale School, Austin ISD

Region 14
Elementary – Taniece Thompson-Smith, Stafford Elementary School, Abilene ISD (finalist)
Secondary – Jason Botos, Hamlin Collegiate High School, Hamlin Collegiate ISD

Region 15
Elementary – Veronica Stapper, Glenmore Elementary School, San Angelo ISD
Secondary – Travis Lange, Veribest High School, Veribest ISD

Region 16
Elementary – Diana Ortega, Green Acres Elementary School, Dumas ISD
Secondary – Kelley Jo Ashlock, Friona High School, Friona ISD

Region 17
Elementary – Tara Espindola, Upland Heights Elementary School, Frenship ISD
Secondary – Mika Smith, Coronado High School, Lubbock ISD

Region 18
Elementary – Jessica Harkins, Terrell County ISD/Sanderson Schools, Terrell County ISD
Secondary – Letitia Cochrane, Big Spring High School, Big Spring ISD

Region 19
Elementary – Adrian Stevens, Sageland MicroSociety Elementary School, Ysleta ISD
Secondary – Bruce Hoang, Canutillo High School, Canutillo ISD

Region 20
Elementary – Elina Ybarra, Uvalde Elementary School, Uvalde CISD
Secondary – Jennifer Perelstein, Nimitz Middle School, Northeast ISD

The Texas Teacher of the Year program has honored excellence in classroom education since 1969. The program, facilitated by TASA since 2011, annually recognizes and rewards teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching. In 2015, Texas Teacher of the Year Shanna Peeples of Amarillo ISD became the second Texas teacher to be named the National Teacher of the Year. Learn more at tasanet.org/texasTOY.

The Texas Teacher of the Year program operates with financial support and in-kind contributions from the following:
·     Premier Sponsors: H-E-B, Imagine Learning, and TASA
·     Gold Sponsor: Capturing Kids Hearts
·     Silver Sponsors: Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP), Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA), Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA), Texas PTA, Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA), and the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA)

TASA is the professional association for Texas school superintendents and other administrators. The mission of the organization, which focuses on professional learning, advocacy and member engagement, is to promote, provide and develop leaders who create and sustain student-centered schools and develop future-ready students.

Need Help?

If you need additional assistance with the content on this page, please contact MISD Communications Department team member Shane Mauldin by phone at 469-302-4007 or by email here .