(Seguin) — The best of the best is being recognized in the Seguin ISD. After already being selected by their peers as the Teacher of the Year for their respective campuses, 13 teachers gathered Wednesday night not only in celebration of their careers but to learn which one of them would be named as the top two district wide winners in the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year Contest.
Named this year’s Elementary Teacher of the Year was Stephanie Weaver, a kindergarten teacher at Koennecke Elementary School.
Troubleshooting through the shock and surprise of being named a winner, Weaver made sure to thank those who have helped her along the way.
“I am completely humbled to be chosen as Teacher of the Year. I owe it to all of the great principals that I’ve had and the great teammates that I’ve had — that we’ve pushed each other just to really have children at the forefront of everything we do. It means the world to be chosen by your peers and then to go on and be chosen by the people who surround you each day. So, I’m just completely humbled and honored to be chosen,” said Weaver.
Named as this year’s Secondary Teacher of the Year was Christina Smith, an 8th grade social studies teacher at Barnes Middle School. Smith, who has been a teacher for the past 4 years, says she too is humbled by the recognition.
“I’m just extremely excited and super proud of myself and I really just care about my students and that’s what it’s all about. It’s just a great honor to be recognized for all of the work that I’ve done on my campus so I’m just extremely excited and I almost cried a little bit but I’m very excited, very grateful and honored,” said Smith.
In fact, Weaver, who has spent 15 of her 21 teaching years in the Seguin ISD, says the district could not have gone wrong with selecting any one of the other teachers recognized Wednesday night.
“We are just surrounded each day by amazing educators, and they were right, anyone in the building could have won it this evening, so I’m just honored,” said Weaver.
Smith adds that recent years have no doubt proven extremely tough for many educators – many of which have considered changing careers. But if there was one thing she could tell them, it is this.
“For me, it’s just to remember why you got into education in the first place and that’s the kids so remember to do it for the kids and that’s what’s really important,” said Smith.
All 13 campus teachers of the year were also recognized for their personal contributions to the classroom. Both Weaver and Smith received a plaque along with $500. The Seguin ISD also recognized this year’s retirees along with several other employees who have provided the district with 25 or 35 years of service. The awards program was held Wednesday night in the Seguin High School Performing Arts Center.