The Garland Independent School District held its highly anticipated “Teacher of the Year” awards ceremony, where the district winners for both Elementary and Secondary schools were announced. The event, held at the Curtis Caldwell Center, was a luncheon celebrating the remarkable achievements of all campus teachers of the year who have demonstrated exemplary dedication and commitment to their student’s education. Amidst much excitement and anticipation, the two district winners were revealed, much to the delight of their colleagues and the wider community.
“Despite the challenges that educators have faced in recent years, this celebration of teacher excellence provided an opportunity to honor and recognize the efforts of these individuals,” said Dr. Lopez, “We just wanted to celebrate them and have a great luncheon and be together, in one room, to celebrate.”
The event was a reminder of the critical role that teachers play in the education and well-being of our children. The district emphasized the importance of celebrating and thanking educators for their hard work and dedication, noting that even small gestures of appreciation can go a long way in motivating and supporting teachers.
Sarah Alvarez, from Daugherty Elementary, was recognized as the 2023 Elementary Teacher of the Year. She noted that being named Teacher of the Year was a soul-charging moment that left her feeling honored and appreciated. Alvarez is an alum of Garland ISD and is happy to give back to her hometown community.
“I feel very blessed; such a privilege to be representing first of all my campus, Daugherty Elementary, and now be able to represent the district where I grew up in Garland,” said Alvarez.
Alvarez credited her success to the unwavering support of her colleagues and administrators, as well as the influence of her former teachers. She spoke about bringing one’s best to the classroom daily, being all about the kids, and working to make a difference in their lives.
John Murray from Sachse High School was named 2023 Secondary Teacher of the Year for GISD. Murray teaches freshman English at the school.
“Not in my wildest dreams did I think I was going to wind up winning the district secondary teacher of the year in our district,” said Murray. “I just sat in a room with the campus teachers of the year, and it looked like an All-Star team. So being amongst those people and celebrating the kind of year we had was an absolute honor.”
Murray went on to thank Sachse High School and its principal, Shae Creel. He commended his school and his co-workers as part of his success. He knows it takes much effort and passion to teach every day.
“To be an excellent teacher, you’ve got to bring it daily; you have to be all about the kids. You are going to leave exhausted, we are sometimes going to leave frustrated, but we need to come in every day, and we know that we’re making a difference in kid’s lives,” said Murray.
The 2023 Teacher of the Year awards ceremony held by GISD was a fantastic opportunity to honor and recognize exceptional educators’ dedication and hard work. By celebrating and thanking educators for their efforts, we can motivate and support them to continue making a positive difference in the lives of our young people.
Congratulations to Sarah Alvarez from Daugherty Elementary for being named 2023 Elementary Teacher of the Year and to John Murray from Sachse High School for being named 2023 Secondary Teacher of the Year for GISD. Their dedication and passion for teaching inspire us all, and we are grateful for their invaluable contribution to our community.
Information and photo provided by Garland ISD.