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Amarillo ISD District Teachers of the Year Announced


Posted Date: 05/02/2025

Amarillo ISD District Teachers of the Year Announced

May 2, 2025 – Amarillo ISD’s Elementary Teacher of the Year is Jessica Appel and Secondary Teacher of the Year is Jon Eric Dennis. Both educators were celebrated Friday morning at the annual Lamar Lively Teacher of the Year Breakfast, sponsored by Education Credit Union.

Dennis teaches language arts at Travis 6th Grade Campus, and Appel teaches third-grade math at Mesa Verde Elementary.

Now in her 10th year of teaching, Appel is pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. She is also certified in ESL and special education.

After a 26-year retail management career, Dennis returned to school to become a teacher. He’s now in his 11th year in the classroom. This is his third time being named Teacher of the Year for the Travis 6th Grade Campus.

Both teachers will continue in the Region 16 Teacher of the Year competition later this summer.

AISD Secondary Teacher of the Year Jon Eric Dennis  AISD Elementary Teacher of the Year Jessica Appel


2025 District Teacher of the Year Finalists are:
 

Secondary Finalists:

Jenna Boroughs - Bowie 6th Grade Campus

Jennifer Towles - Caprock High School

Jon Dennis - Travis 6th Grade Campus
 

Elementary Finalists:

Jessica Appel - Mesa Verde

Andrea Cash - Sleepy Hollow

Jessica Runyon - South Lawn


District finalists are chosen from a pool of campus teachers of the year, representing each of AISD’s 55 schools and itinerant teaching staff.

In October, Humphrey’s Highland Elementary teacher Kristi Leff became AISD’s fourth educator to earn the title of Texas Teacher of the Year. Amarillo ISD has a proud legacy of producing state and nationally-recognized teachers.

  • 1992 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year – Mary McFarland of Amarillo High School

  • 1993 State Finalist for Elementary Teacher of the Year – Donna Hill of Windsor Elementary School

  • 1995 State Finalist for Secondary Teacher of the Year – Kim Beth Buchanan of Crockett Middle School

  • 2006 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year – Cindy Lewis of Whittier Elementary School

  • 2008 State Finalist for Secondary Teacher of the Year – Vicki Mueller of Austin Middle School

  • 2015 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year – Shanna Peeples of Palo Duro High School

  • 2025 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year – Kristi Leff of Humphrey’s Highland Elementary