striving for excellence
2023 ESC Region 13 Teacher of the Year
Each year, we honor the standout educators across Region 13 school districts in our Teacher of the Year awards program. Two of these incredible nominees will be selected as our Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year on August 10!
![Bluebonnets](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Bluebonnets.webp)
ESC REGION 13 TOY
Elementary Teacher of the Year: Kari Johnston
Congratulations to our 2023 Elementary Teacher of the Year: Kari Johnston! Kari has worked in Austin ISD at Perez Elementary for 4.5 years as a dual language fifth-grade teacher. When she was first nominated for this award she said “I believe that my role as a bilingual educator is both to teach objectives and sustain the culture and language of my students through a curriculum that is representative of their lived experiences. I’m excited to celebrate with my students. This has been a time of growth and renewal and I’m so excited to celebrate that with them.”
![Kari Johnston](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Kari-Johnston.webp)
ESC REGION 13 TOY
Secondary Teacher of the Year: Andrea Larson
Congratulations to our 2023 Secondary Teacher of the Year: Andrea Larson! Andrea has worked in Round Rock ISD at McNeil High school for 20 years as an English Language Learner Teacher. “One of my core beliefs is that every story matters,” Larson said “Every person has a story to tell and when we make space for the telling of those stories and time to really listen, we become transformed. Sharing stories allows us to see the threads of experience that bind us all together, and sharing stories highlights the amazing diversity that exists even among people who might otherwise seem so like us.”
![Andrea Larson](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Andrea-Larson.webp)
the nominees
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Our nominees for elementary teacher of the year are an integral part of our community in Central Texas. Each of these incredible educators helps our elementary students grow and establish a foundation for success.
![stacey bingham](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/stacey-bingham.webp)
lago vista isd
Stacey Bingham
![laura browning](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/laura-browning.webp)
lake travis isd
Laura Browning
![rebecca core](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/rebecca-core.webp)
elgin isd
Rebecca Core
![christina crouch](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/christina-crouch.webp)
pflugerville isd
Christina Crouch
![whitnee dunn](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/whitnee-dunn.webp)
dripping springs isd
Whitnee Dunn
![claudia gonzalez](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/claudia-gonzalez.webp)
san marcos cisd
Claudia Gonzalez
![catherine grimm](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/catherine-grimm.webp)
lockhart isd
Catherine Grimm
![robin grumbles](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/robin-grumbles.webp)
fredericksburg isd
Robin Grumbles
![pamela hamilton](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/pamela-hamilton.webp)
gonzales isd
Pamela Hamilton
![maria hinojosa](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/maria-hinojosa.webp)
del valle isd
Maria Hinojosa
![cacy hopkins](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cacy-hopkins.webp)
comfort isd
Cacy Hopkins
![kerri johnston](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/kerri-johnston.webp)
austin isd
Kari Johnston
![sonia marroquin](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/sonia-marroquin.webp)
marble falls isd
Sonia Marroquin
![alma pedrano madron](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/alma-pedrano-madron.webp)
manor isd
Alma Medrano Padron
![hannah mize](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/hannah-mize.webp)
georgetown isd
Hannah Mize
![cassidy ness](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cassidy-ness.webp)
liberty hill isd
Cassidy Ness
![laura prendergast](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/laura-prendergast.webp)
hays cisd
Laura Prendergast
![nadia ramirez](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/nadia-ramirez.webp)
bastrop isd
Nadia Ramirez
![norma roberson](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/norma-roberson.webp)
ut charter school system
Norma Robinson
![laura sanchez](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/laura-sanchez-1.webp)
taylor isd
Laura Sanchez
![daniel stewart](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/daniel-stewart.webp)
round rock isd
Daniel Stewart
![carol sukup](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/carol-sukup.webp)
jarrell isd
Carol Sukup
the nominees
Secondary Teacher of the Year
Our nominees for secondary teacher of the year help nurture our students’ passions and prepare them for adult life. Each of these incredible educators makes a lifelong impact on our students and our community.
![iraida amador-mercado](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/iraida-amador-mercado.webp)
austin isd
Iraida Amador-Mercado
![patience blythe](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/patience-blythe-.webp)
elgin isd
Patience Blythe-Creech
![audra cozart](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/audra-cozart.webp)
liberty hill isd
Audra Cozart
![terri henry](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/terri-henry.webp)
georgetown isd
Terri Henry
![dusty kinslow](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/dusty-kinslow.webp)
lago vista isd
Dusty Kinslow
![pamela knott](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/pamela-knott.webp)
orenda charter school
Pamela Knott
![andrea larson](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/andrea-larson.webp)
round rock isd
Andrea Larson
![brandie marshall](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/brandie-marshall.webp)
fredericksburg isd
Brandie Marshall
![paige mcgee](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/paige-mcgee.webp)
bastrop isd
Paige McGee
![samantha miller](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/samantha-miller.webp)
manor isd
Samantha Miller
![shannon montgomery](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/shannon-montgomery.webp)
dripping springs isd
Shanon Montgomery
![megan murphy](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/megan-murphy.webp)
jarrell isd
Megan Murphy
![yahaira perkins](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/yahaira-perkins.webp)
del valle isd
Yahaira Perkins
![daniel reinhard](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/daniel-reinhard.webp)
san marcos cisd
Daniel Reinhard
![kelly reyes](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/kelly-reyes.webp)
hays cisd
Kelly Reyes
![cynthia rios](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cynthia-rios.webp)
taylor isd
Cynthia Rios
![jessica rocha](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/jessica-rocha.webp)
pflugerville isd
Jessica Rocha
![fallan sadler](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/fallan-sadler.webp)
marble falls isd
Fallan Sadler
![david taylor](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/david-taylor.webp)
lake travis isd
David Taylor
![michael young](https://go.esc13.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/michael-young.webp)