Lindale Educator Named Finalist for Teacher of the Year

AUSTIN � The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) announced Tuesday that six outstanding educators from across Texas, including one from Lindale, have been chosen as finalists in the Texas Teacher of the Year program. The elementary school finalists include Whitney Crews, a sixth-grade science and social studies teacher at E.J. Moss Intermediate in Lindale ISD. Three elementary and three secondary school educators were selected from the 40 regional Teachers of the Year from each of the state�s 20 education service centers. The finalists will now contend for the honor of being named Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Crews said that even though she didn�t come from a long line of teachers, her love of teaching came at an early age. She said she had a few teachers who attempted to persuade her to pursue other opportunities because she was “smart and could do anything.” But Crews tells TASA officials she believed it was �important for teachers to be smart (and creative, driven, and enthusiastic),� so she never strayed from her goal of becoming a teacher. With 18 years of experience in the classroom, Crews says she expects her students to learn the academic content but that her ultimate goal is for her students to leave the classroom having learned how to learn.

The six finalists were selected by a panel of judges that included representatives of the state�s four teacher organizations and last year�s Teacher of the Year finalists. Each of the finalists will now be invited to Austin for interviews on Sept. 13 before a larger judging panel, which will determine the top elementary and secondary teacher. One of the top winners will also be selected as Texas� representative in the National Teacher of the Year program. The Texas Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year, as well as all of the Regional Teachers of the Year will be honored at a luncheon and awards ceremony on Oct. 24 at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin.

�I congratulate these six amazing educators who strive every day to make a difference in the lives of students,� said TASA executive director Johnny Veselka. �They represent the thousands of dedicated educators throughout Texas who share their love of learning and inspire students to excel in and out of the classroom.�

TASA is the professional association for Texas public school administrators, providing networking and professional learning opportunities, legislative advocacy, and targeted communications to support the work of superintendents and other school leaders. Our mission is to promote, provide and develop leaders who create and sustain student-centered schools and develop future-ready students.