For the 2022 TOY showcase, we asked campus winners, “What does it mean to be a leader in the classroom?”
NOTE: The District and Texas TOY program awards teachers until the next school year. Therefore, they are awarded and named TOY for the next year and not the current year.
Miguel Davila, Third Grade Dual Language
Anderson Mill Elementary School
Being an educator and leader in the classroom gives me the feeling that my teaching ideas and my teaching style really impact my students and other colleagues in my school.
Allison Drake, Fourth Grade ESL
Berkman Arts Integration Academy
Teaching, I believe, is one of the most rewarding professions. We get to help mold, empower, and equip future generations. As educators and leaders in the classroom, we set an example for our students and colleagues through both our words and deeds while humbling ourselves to accept feedback and other perspectives, allowing us to be lifelong learners.
Emily Rice, Fourth Grade
Blackland Prairie Elementary School
Being an educator in the classroom means guiding students towards discovery and personal growth. Being a leader in the classroom means taking risks and sharing the results with others.
Stephanie Cisneros, Physical Education
Bluebonnet Elementary School
For me, an educator and a leader in the classroom means being committed to helping others achieve their potential. It means you’re passionate or enthusiastic about a subject/activity. As a leader, you must show characteristics of being fair, truthful, and self-aware.
Jacqueline Garcia, Instructional Technology Specialist
Brushy Creek Elementary School
Being an educator means cheering on my students as I challenge them to advocate for themselves, learn new things, think critically and outside the box, embrace failure, question what they learn, and find creative solutions! It also means setting an example by embracing differences and learning from them despite my thinking!
Christopher Ramstedt, Fourth Grade
Cactus Ranch Elementary School
Teaching is servant leadership, and I want to elevate others around me. I encourage both students and educators to celebrate their strengths and use those attributes to help others and better themselves. Both teachers and students benefit when allowed to share their given talents with others. Everyone also benefits from seeing the diverse gifts others bring into the community.
Erin Appl,
Instructional Technology Specialist
Caldwell Heights Elementary School
Being an educator and leader means lots of things. You have to be an advocate for your students and fellow teachers. You have to lead by example in your daily work ethic and have an awareness of your integrity. You have to continue to grow, reflect, and adapt your teaching and leadership to meet the needs of your latest challenge. As an educator and leader, the integrity and grit that you show daily must go beyond the classroom walls and permeate the building and community. You have to stand firm in your educational beliefs through these times of uncertainty. For me, advocate, work ethic, integrity, influence, and pedagogy are the tenants for being an educational leader in and out of the classroom.
Nayeli Gonzalez, Librarian
Callison Elementary School
Being an educator and leader in the library means consistently seeking to learn and improve to understand the best practices and skills that I can bring to my campus. I also firmly believe that we lead by example, which I try to reflect in my everyday teaching and relationship building. As a leader, I share my expertise and try to build trust with our teachers so they know they can turn to me. This is why I must constantly be learning and improving so that I am knowledgeable enough in my area of expertise to provide the help teachers need. A leader is shaped by all of their past experiences, and by putting all of that knowledge and those best practices into practice, one can pass those tools to others around them, so they too can eventually lead.
Sara Hougham, Counselor
Canyon Creek Elementary School
Being an educator and leader means giving your best every single day to positively impact the lives of those around you by showing up to listen empathically, express unconditional positive regard, or be present with them. It means providing constant encouragement and support for others, so they never feel alone while caring deeply and devoting your time, energy, and love. And being an educator and leader means being SO FORTUNATE to be able to see year after year the seeds that you hoped to plant slowly bloom and flourish.
Amy Bray, Fifth Grade
Caraway Elementary School
Being an educator and leader in the classroom means seeing my students and colleagues for who they truly are, knowing that students are right where they need to be, and advocating for my students and colleagues.
Michael Cahill,
Instructional Technology Specialist
Chandler Oaks Elementary School
Being an educator and leader in the classroom is one of the most significant opportunities I’ve ever had to help guide students to their utmost potential and bring out abilities they may not have known existed. Finding the unique talents in every student, learning their struggles, and celebrating their successes is a significant part of the learning environment. Forging long-lasting relationships beyond the academic material is one of the best parts of what I get to do every day.
Jocelyn Soliz, Third Grade
Deep Wood Elementary School
Being an educator and leader in the classroom means teaching through my actions – not just my words. My students observe the way I respond to problems. I have the ability to model healthy responses to a multitude of situations throughout the day. I lead my classroom by facing challenges head-on and with a positive attitude.
Grace Underwood, Fourth Grade
Double File Trail Elementary School
Being an educator means the world to me. When I look back on my years in school, I specifically remember the teachers who truly understood me and helped me be the teacher I am today. I love being able to lead my kids down the path of success and showing them that they have more to offer this world than they could even imagine.
Rekha Shirtekar, Fifth Grade
England Elementary School
Mahatma Gandhi said, ”You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” I think this is the essence of a true leader and an educator. I firmly believe that a teacher is the most powerful element of change in a classroom. So, everything that we do, think, and say matters. All those young people in our class are constantly watching us and looking up to us. So, as an educator, we have a lot of power, but we need to handle it with care. A true leader is not the one who leads from the front or speaks other’s minds all the time. Instead, she empowers her students to stand up, take a stand and own their voice. A true educator and leader should be humble to admit her own mistakes, help shine the light on others when needed, and stand up for others even when it is the hardest thing to do. An inspiring leader is a lifelong learner who is inclusive of all. Most importantly, a true leader believes in and practices powerful vulnerability.
Photo taken prior to 2020-2021 school year
Angie Pittman, Speech-Language Pathologist
Fern Bluff Elementary School
Being an educator to me means working each day to give every student I serve an opportunity to improve their communication and understanding, wherever they may be in their learning. As a leader, I feel it is my responsibility to share my knowledge with everyone else who works with that child and listen and learn from them so that together, we can ensure the best outcomes for our students.
Shelley Lincoln, Fifth Grade
Forest Creek Elementary School
Being an educator means being an advocate and voice for my students and inspiring them daily to excel, set high expectations for themselves, and find their voice! I love watching them grow and develop into incredible human beings! It is a privilege to be a teacher, and even more so, in the times we are currently living.
Holly Matecko, Kindergarten
Forest North Elementary School
Being an educator and leader in the classroom means being a learner with my students. As an educator, my main goal is for my students to feel loved, safe, and connected from the moment they enter our classroom to the moment they leave. When educators build meaningful relationships with each of their students, students can bravely grow academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally each day. Being an educator is incredibly impactful, and I’m honored to learn with and from my students each day.
Dillon Limbaugh, Music
Gattis Elementary School
In my classes being a leader means teaching through dancing, games, laughing, smiles, inspiration, and creativity.
Staci Linson, Third Grade
Great Oaks Elementary School
It means that I have the chance to create a relationship with a student for one year, and I hope that during their time in my classroom, they will feel safe, loved, and heard. That’s the essential and lasting role of any teacher.
Claire Pinali, Interventionist
Herrington Elementary School
Being an educator and leader in the classroom means acting with a heart of service to my students, my fellow teachers, and my campus. I try to approach my work with an open heart towards people and ideas, and I try to stay curious when new challenges arise, knowing that our challenges often bring the most growth. Being a leader in the classroom also means modeling self-care to my students and fellow teachers so that we all can show up for learning with energy and joy.
Rebekah Dalbey, Second Grade
Joe Lee Johnson STEAM Academy
Being an educator and leader in a classroom means that I can teach students information and problem-solving skills they will carry throughout their entire lives. Getting to touch students’ lives is a gift and an opportunity that I am so blessed to have. I am also a lifelong learner because my students teach me new things every day that change and shape the way I see the world around me. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a teacher and am excited for what the future holds.
Jo Dee Gregory, Interventionist
Jollyville Elementary School
Being an educator is about helping others achieve their goals by building confidence in students to see how brilliant they are.
Chelsea Skinner, Fourth Grade
Laurel Mountain Elementary School
Students come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences when they walk into your classroom. Being an educator and leader in the classroom is a role that I do not take lightly. Educators do so much more than teach the curriculum to students. We have an incredible opportunity to support their passions, engage in their interests with them, and cheer them on to the next school year. As a leader in my classroom, I can model problem-solving and flexibility to my students daily, especially in this unusual school year. I am honored to support the academic growth of my students and their growth as people and positive members of the community.
John Williams, Third Grade
Live Oak Elementary School
My role is to build relationships with my students and help them foster relationships with each other to motivate each other to succeed inside and outside of the class. This means empowering and equipping children to go out into the world and change it for the better.
Leslie Long, Instructional Technology Specialist
Old Town Elementary School
Being an educator and leader means giving my best to the students and staff. My job is to support, teach, respect, acknowledge, and listen.
Laura Brown, Kindergarten
Pond Springs Elementary School
To me, being an educator and leader in the classroom is all about building relationships and making connections with all students. It’s important to me to provide a safe community where every student is welcomed, loved, encouraged, and challenged to take risks in becoming the best versions of themselves socially, physically, and academically.
Estela Naveed, Special Education
Purple Sage Elementary School
Leading in the classroom means supporting the academic and emotional needs of the students that I work with so that they grow to become independent, productive adults in society.
Frida Odiyo, Special Education
Robertson Elementary School
Being an educator and a leader means – not only being able to teach the students, but also being resourceful, supportive, and an agent of change.
Shauna Langham, Third Grade
Sommer Elementary School
Being an educator and leader in the classroom means being a role model for students. It is not only teaching them but also creating a warm and inviting environment where they feel comfortable enough to come to me with problems or concerns or share a funny story. Great teachers possess good listening skills and take time out of their way-too-busy schedules for anyone who needs them.
Amanda Guy, Kindergarten
Spicewood Elementary School
It means that I can empower and encourage creativity and ownership in one’s learning. It means I have the privilege of being in the same room as our future scientists, architects, artists, and chefs, and I get to lead them on their path to their successful future.
Amy Timson, Fifth Grade
Teravista Elementary School
Being able to touch so many lives during such a difficult time is essential in my teaching career. Having the opportunity to encourage and support students, parents, and staff throughout the journey motivates me.
Darcy Burke, Instructional Technology Specialist
Union Hill Elementary School
My job allows me to work with all students and educators on our campus. Being a leader in the classroom involves growing and empowering both students and colleagues, instilling confidence in them that they may not have had before. I love helping students become more independent in their learning and feel inspired by them when they see how creative technology can be and apply it to their daily tasks. I also love helping teachers enhance their instructional practices with innovative uses of technology and supporting them in any way that I can.
Hillel Davis, Special Education/FAC
Voigt Arts Integration Academy
It means changing lives every day and wearing any hat I need to connect with my students and make my students use higher order of thinking while pushing them to their true potential. By doing this, I hope to give them the best core employability skills to have the best chance to have gainful employment and the best life possible in the future.
Jessie Cromack, Fourth Grade
Wells Branch Arts Integration Academy
Being an educator and leader in the classroom means that I am here for my students in all capacities. I need to be there for my students and help them become well-rounded human beings. I want to teach my students to address situations in life and the classroom. My job as their teacher is to lead students by example and give them the tools to help them succeed.
