Plano Senior High 2026

Victoria Wright

Plano Senior High - High School AP Chemistry & Forensics Teacher, Grades 11–12
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Teaching Philosophy

Teaching might be the most difficult job I've ever experienced, but I believe that it is the most important and rewarding job in the world. I am very fortunate that Plano Senior High took a chance on me as a first-year teacher in 2018. I also had the opportunity to teach at Clark High School and Williams High School, where I learned from some amazing teachers, and ultimately moved back to Plano Senior High to bring my new knowledge and expertise to help students be the best versions of themselves. Throughout my career, I have taught On-level Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, Forensic Science, Food Science, and AP Chemistry. Every day, I get to educate our future and help make our community and world a little bit better. I get to play a role in teaching students to work together, be kind to one another, challenge themselves, remain curious about the world, think critically, and think like a scientist. Ultimately, I get to play a small role in helping teenagers discover who they are, and knowing that motivates me to be the best teacher that I can be.

The most important lesson I want students to take away from my class is that they can think like a scientist. In my classroom, I try to incorporate many exciting and engaging demonstrations and labs to get students to ask questions and to make connections to the lessons from their observations. By the time they leave my class, I want them to be able to ask questions, create a hypothesis, design an experiment to test their hypothesis, perform their experiment, collect data, and reach a conclusion. The scientific method is an extremely important skill that transfers far beyond the science classroom. I like to remind my students that even if they choose not to pursue a career in science, they can use these steps to help them make informed decisions.

Before we can get to this higher level of thinking, there are many steps that I take to build rapport with my students. First and foremost, I believe the best way to teach students is to lead with authenticity and to model what being a good human looks like. Students are very quick at picking up on when someone is not being authentic with them, and they do a great job letting you know. I try my best to model kindness, honesty, respect, and equality to everyone. I want my students to feel safe to be themselves in my classroom. One of the first ways I show students that I respect them is by learning their names by the end of the first week. As you know, this is not an easy feat during one of the busiest times of the year, but I believe it is one of the most important things that I do to set a caring tone for students, and I hope that something as simple as learning their names shows them that I value them and that they belong in my classroom.

Additionally, I like to stand at the door between passing periods to greet each of my students: asking about their day, their jobs, weekend plans, families, or following up on their stories from the previous day, etc. On Fridays, I ask three questions to students in an assignment that I call "GNL": G- What are you grateful for? N- What is something new you learned? L- What are you looking forward to? Closing the week off with these three questions gives me insight into the things that my students are going through, and it also allows them time to reflect on their week. It's easy to go on autopilot, so GNL is a helpful way to pause for a few minutes and celebrate our learning and growth for the week. It is definitely a highlight of my week!

As students start to feel safe in my classroom, the magic of teaching begins. School is the place for students to learn, grow, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes. Many of my biggest life lessons were made through making mistakes and trying again. Therefore, I try to model for my students what a growth mindset looks like and help encourage them to challenge themselves to grow.

For example, I challenge my Food Science students to find a recipe that they really want to try that they have never made before. I remind them that it's better to try something new and for it not to turn out the best on the first try than to stick to something they have made countless times before. I want them to challenge themselves and learn new skills, so that they can apply these skills in their own lives, and not have to rely on exclusively eating ramen noodles in college, as many of us did. I also remind them that trying new recipes and new flavor combinations will inspire them to go out of their comfort zone in the future.

Another way that I foster a growth mindset is during testing. Before every test, I tell the students, "This is one test. It is a measure of what you know today. It does NOT define who you are. This test will be a challenge, BUT you can do hard things! Do your best and show me what you know!" One time, I forgot to say it, and my students asked me, "Wait, where's the speech!?" I've had students come back after graduation and tell me that one statement before a test really calmed their testing anxiety, and they ended up feeling a lot more confident while taking their test than they were before the test. I want my students to believe in themselves in the same way that I believe in them!

So, when you ask me what my teaching philosophy is, students are at the forefront of every decision I make. I get to know them as individuals before I challenge them to be their best selves. I keep the focus centered around growth, trial and error, asking questions, and thinking critically so they can think like a scientist.

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Principal's Recommendation

To the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee:

It is with Wildcat Pride that I announce Tori Wright as Plano Senior High School's 2026 Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Wright has an innate ability to genuinely connect with her students while holding them to high standards. We know the saying that actions speak louder than words and it is through daily actions that Mrs. Wright exemplifies her heart for all learners and her love for teaching. To Mrs. Wright, teaching is not simply a profession, but a calling that enables her to light a spark in students to see their limitless potential.

As a dynamic science teacher, Mrs. Wright consistently creates ways to connect learning to real-world experiences for her AP Chemistry and Food Science learners. Her ability to combine patience while teaching complex concepts and presenting them with clarity is truly exceptional and inspiring. Through this strength, Mrs. Wright builds confidence in her students and encourages them to challenge themselves, resulting in success and positive experiences in her classroom. When asked what motivates her as a high school teacher, Mrs. Wright shared that she is passionate about showing up for kids every day and serving as a role model. She strives to be a positive light in their day and understands the importance of not only teaching science, but knowing individual student needs. Mrs. Wright believes that students "are humans and they are capable of thinking like a scientist even if science is hard for them." Her efforts are evident to her students as they shared that she helped them improve grades and is always willing to offer support.

There are many qualities that make Mrs. Wright an inspiring teacher. She is known for standing at her door with a smile during passing periods to greet students by name as they enter the classroom. As a respected colleague, Mrs. Wright is always willing to collaborate and step in when needed. Her fellow teachers shared that she "inspires a wide range of students with humor and an appealingly mellow persona and shows a genuine interest in all students." Stepping into Mrs. Wright's classroom is an experience! She is consistent in facilitating a learning environment that is centered on collaboration and engagement. From engaging group activities and hands-on labs to Friday's GNL reflection exercises, Mrs. Wright's students are fully immersed in learning from the very beginning to the end of each class. She can often be heard encouraging the effort of her students and offering words of advice when needed.

Mrs. Wright's commitment to teaching from the heart and her genuine love for students have made her not only an exceptional educator, but also the kind of teacher who strengthens the entire school community. Every student deserves a teacher like Mrs. Wright whose impact extends far beyond the classroom. Her dedication to her students and to our school is truly invaluable, and I wholeheartedly recommend her for Plano ISD's Teacher of the Year.

Sincerely,

Kennitra Robertson
Principal
Plano Senior High School