Ysleta, Socorro school districts announce top teachers for year
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Both Socorro and Ysleta ISDs announced their top teachers this week.
Ysleta ISD
Ysleta Independent School District honored its campus teachers of the year during a ceremony earlier this week at Eastwood High.
They also announced the 10 finalists for the district’s top two teaching awards: The Elementary Teacher of the Year and the Secondary Teacher of the Year.
The finalists for the Ysleta ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year are:
Del Valle Elementary School — Larry Aguirre
Dolphin Terrace Elementary School — Kaleesa White
Mission Valley Elementary School — Yamel Ibargüen
Sageland Elementary School — Alexandra Cruz
Thomas Manor Elementary School — Claudia Cantu Payne
The finalists for YISD Secondary Teacher of the Year are:
Bel Air Middle School — Alicia Villalobos
Eastwood Middle School — Eduardo Quintanilla
Bel Air High School — Sergio Nathan
Eastwood High School — Lauren Uribarri
Valle Verde Early College High School — Sarah Welsh
All campus teachers of the year, as well as all campus support employees of the year, will be honored at the Ysleta ISD Teacher and Support Employee of the Year Oriental Elegance Ball that takes place at 6 p.m. May 18 at the Centennial Conference Center & Banquet Hall at Fort Bliss. At this event, the top two YISD Teachers of the Year will be named, as well as the top Support Employee of the Year.
Socorro ISD
The Socorro Independent School District announced the eight finalists for the district’s Teacher of the Year program at the 2024 Elite 8 Teachers of the Year Reception. The finalists were selected from both elementary and secondary schools, with four from each category. The event also honored the SISD campus teachers of the year.
The 2024 Elite 8 finalists are: elementary educators Anna Nicole Guevara (Cactus Trails Elementary School); Jonathan Martinez (James P. Butler Elementary School); Jaymee D. Rivas (Purple Heart Elementary School); and Veronica Collier (Elfida P. Chavez Elementary School); and secondary school teachers Jacob H. Ramirez (El Dorado High School); Angela Rose Hernandez (Salvador H. Sanchez Middle School); Christopher J. Martin (Col. John O. Ensor Middle School); and Drew Dungan (Mission Early College High School).
The announcement was made during the annual event that recognized all 50 campus teachers of the year for their contributions to making a difference in their students lives.
“We’re grateful to your commitment to our district, our schools and most of all the children in our community. Because of your work, our students are learning to be successful, ambitious adults,” Socorro ISD Board President Michael A. Najera said. “You all are the ones who help them make the dream, see the dream, be the dream, and realize the dream.”
The top eight teachers were initially chosen by their colleagues as campus teachers of the year. Following that, they underwent an interview selection process with a committee made up of district stakeholders. They will now advance to the next stage of the program to compete for the district Teacher of the Year award in both elementary and secondary education categories.
The top two SISD winners will be named during the district’s annual Teacher of the Year Gala on May 10 at the El Paso Convention Center.
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