Three first-year and three veteran teachers were named District Educators of the Year at special celebrations held annually to honor teachers who give 100 percent to improving the lives of children.
The 2026 Northside First-Year Educators of the Year are:
- Angie Reyes-Gonzales, a Special Education teacher at Franklin Elementary School
- Gabriella Stewart, a language arts/reading teacher at Folks Middle School
- Kristin Alaniz, a science teacher at Harlan High School
The 2026 Northside Educators of the Year are:
- Melissa Tobias, a bilingual/dual language teacher at Burke Elementary School
- Saul Cepeda, a science teacher at Hobby Health Science Magnet Middle School
- Patricia Zinn, a bilingual/dual language teacher at Clark High School
In addition to receiving engraved plaques, first-year awardees received $250, and the veteran teachers received $500.
A panel of NISD educators selected the District winners from among the 210 campus Educators of the Year.
All campus winners were deemed 鈥淪imply the Best鈥 at the District鈥檚 Educator of the Year celebrations, held March 25 and 26 this year.
The celebration has been dubbed 鈥淪imply the Best鈥 because the campus winners鈥 parade into the auditorium to Tina Turner鈥檚 famous song of the same name.
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