Janet Napoli Among Six Finalists for Texas Teacher of the Year
(Updated) November 21, 2008
 Janet Napoli, Skaggs Elementary School literacy specialist and 2008 Elementary Teacher of the Year for Plano ISD and Region 10, will be honored at a state awards ceremony for the top six Texas Teacher of the Year finalists to be held on Saturday, November 22, in Austin. The six finalists, along with the other 34 regional Teachers of the Year, eagerly await the announcement of the Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year at the luncheon to be held at the Connally Banquet Hall at the University of Texas Etter-Harbin Alumni Center.
The top two teachers (one elementary and one secondary) will receive $5,000 cash prizes, technology packages valued at more than $15,000 and a trophy. Each of the regional winners will receive a $500 check and a trophy. One of the top winners selected will go forward to be considered for National Teacher of the Year honors.
According to Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott, who announced Ms. Napoli as a state contender on September 3, the six top educators who are finalists for Texas Teacher of the Year have a combined 125 years of teaching experience. The teachers were selected from among 40 regional Teachers of the Year.
The elementary finalists are:
- Janet Napoli, Plano ISD literacy teacher for kindergarten through fifth-grade students at Skaggs Elementary School in Plano ISD;
- Beth Dennis, a fifth-grade teacher at Thomas Justiss Elementary in Paris ISD; and
- Dora Alicia Newell, a third-grade teacher at Thigpen-Zavala Elementary School in McAllen ISD.
The secondary education finalists are:
- Christine Gleason, an English teacher at Fabens High School in the Fabens Independent School District, which is near El Paso;
- Iris Hines, an English teacher at the Roosevelt Alternative School in the Mission Consolidated ISD; and
- Debbie Perry, who at the time she was named a regional Teacher of the Year, was a mathematics teacher at Travis Junior High in Paris ISD. This fall, Perry began teaching geometry at Midway High School in Waco’s Midway ISD.
Commissioner Scott said, “I congratulate these six outstanding teachers who have made a difference in the lives of thousands of students. They are representative of the many dedicated teachers who staff Texas classrooms. This program, through the support of our generous sponsors, provides a way to publicly recognize and thank these dedicated, creative individuals.”
These six finalists were selected by a panel of judges who represent the state’s four teacher organizations. The judges were Brian Baker of the Texas AFT; Jerry Bonham of the Association of Texas Professional Educators; Jan Pate of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association; and Stephen Smallwood of the Texas State Teachers Association.
The finalists will now be invited to Austin for interviews before a larger judging panel, which will determine the top elementary and secondary teacher. One of the top winners will also be selected to go forward to be considered for National Teacher of the Year honors. The national program is sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
The Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year, the Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year, the remaining four finalists and the other regional Teachers of the Year will be honored at a luncheon to be held on November 22 at the Connally Banquet Hall in the University of Texas’ Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. The Texas Education Agency has sponsored the Texas Teacher of the Year program since 1969.
During the luncheon, each of the regional winners will receive a $500 check and a trophy. The top two teachers will receive a $5,000 cash prize, a technology package valued at more than $15,000 and a trophy.
The Teacher of the Year program is supported by its generous donors who include AT&T, H-E-B, the SMARTer Kids Foundation, Dell and the state’s major education associations.
Napoli Named Region 10 Teacher of the Year
Ms. Napoli captured the 2008-09 Region 10 Elementary Teacher of the Year title during a surprise announcement made at the August 21, 2008, Regional Teacher of the Year Gala and Celebration Luncheon held at the Patty Granville Arts Center in Garland.
Ms. Napoli was among 20 regional elementary honorees and 20 regional secondary honorees who were vying for the Texas
Teacher of the Year titles.
“This is a wonderful and well-deserved honor for Janet. Her dedication and commitment to education make her an outstanding role model for all Plano teachers, and, now, for
all teachers in the region,” commented Dr. Doug Otto, superintendent of schools.
Ms. Napoli was named the 2008 Plano ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year in May at the Plano ISD Teacher of the Year Gala.
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