Round Rock ISD teachers and paraprofessionals are invaluable to the growth and development of our students and community. As they continue to do amazing things each day, we recognize our Teachers of the Year (TOY) and Paraprofessionals of the Year (POY) for their efforts to enhance teaching and learning and keep our students on the path toward a bright future.

Every year, each campus selects a TOY to recognize their contribution in the classroom and throughout the campus learning community. These teachers are up for a chance to be selected as the District’s Elementary TOY, announced in early May. District winners will have the opportunity to go on and compete for the region and state TOY title.

For the showcases, campus principals were asked to share a few words about their winners and what makes them great.

The District and Texas TOY program awards teachers until the next school year. Therefore, they are awarded and named TOY for the next year and not the current year.

Julia Pehrson, Pre-K Teacher

“Our teacher of the year continues to inspire her colleagues by creating a safe and welcoming classroom environment! In her classroom, our youngest scholars can thrive, take risks, and learn the necessary skills needed to thrive. That is what you experience when you walk into Julia Pehrson’s PK- Dual Language classroom. Not only does Julia lead a model classroom- she takes the time to invest in the growth of others. Without hesitation, she continues to serve on the campus leadership team which allows her the opportunity to build capacity on her team. In addition, Julia also serves as a mentor to a novice teacher. Her kindness and willingness to support aspiring teachers show her commitment to the future of education. Julia never hesitates to advocate for resources within the community. Her strength is to mobilize resources to support our scholars and families. She is the first face that many of our families see when she is volunteering at an event distributing toys, meals, or supplies. Julia makes every effort to engage with families by providing opportunities to participate in their child’s learning. Julia’s inspiration, commitment, and community engagement have made her an invaluable and beloved member of the AME family.” – Amanda Molina, Anderson Mill Elementary Principal

Lindsay Koceja, 3rd Grade Teacher

“Lindsay has unwavering high expectations of her students, is always considering ways to positively impact her students academically and socially, and always has a smile, no matter how challenging things may be. Her demeanor is always calm and positive and it is reflective in her classroom and students. Lindsay’s influence starts in her classroom but extends across the entire campus. There is not a day that goes by that she doesn’t impact her peers through her positivity, her willingness to continue to learn and grow, and confront challenges as opportunities. Lindsay has a class with some very unique needs and individual challenges, and she continues to embrace each day with such grace. Lindsay’s class is the most requested by parents, and her room is the most requested by other teachers to go observe during our peer observation cycles. Lindsay is seen as a role model and leader to her peers and colleagues and she is always willing to help her students and other teachers.” – April Nilson, Berkman Elementary Arts Integration Academy Principal

Chris Ramstedt, Instructional Technology Specialist

“He is always willing to help with whatever you need. He is great with the kids. He is always so kind and puts a smile on my face! Chris is literally always teaching. He is either teaching teachers how to make their lives easier and reach more students, or he’s teaching students. He is flexible, helpful, and always has a solution. His work impacts every student on this campus.” – Jesica Cuellar, Blackland Prairie Elementary Principal

Yaneli Silveyra, 1st Grade Bilingual Teacher

“Yaneli Silveyra has been an exceptional teacher at Bluebonnet. I have never seen her without a smile and a friendly demeanor towards her students and colleagues. When her teammate resigned in the fall, Ms. Silveyra stepped forward and volunteered to take on all 33 students on her own. She has not only survived, but is thriving with all her students. Ms. Silveyra is an example of a stellar educator who knows how to be resilient in the face of adversity by building relationships and partnerships with her students’ parents and colleagues. She is an inspiration to all of us and exemplifies what makes teachers special…commitment to her students, collaborative, solid work ethic, and a positive attitude.” – Sam Soto, Bluebonnet Elementary Principal

Julia Easton, Pre-K Teacher

“Julia Easton was born to be a Pre-K teacher. She truly loves her students and ensures they are thriving in an engaging and supportive learning environment. Julia sets high expectations for all of her students. Julia is patient and kind it is evident that her students love being in her class. It is not easy being a Pre-K teacher especially when you have 26 students in your classroom. But Julia shows up every day ready to meet their needs and get them ready for Kinder. And she does it with a smile. She is a blessing to our students and our campus!” – Jenny Strong, Brushy Creek Elementary Principal

Rachel Walker, Music Teacher

“We are honored to have Rachel Walker represent our campus as Teacher of the Year. Ms. Walker has been instrumental in providing a robust and respected music program to our students. Ms. Walker dedicates her time to ensuring that students have access to a diverse array of musical styles, instruments, and composers. Her lessons demonstrate an engaging and challenging curriculum. Her love of music and teaching shows in the way that students respond to her class. They LOVE learning and growing musically. This is evident in her distinguished shows at our school and the very high numbers of our students who choose music electives in middle school. She has built a stellar program that creates highly competent musicians and, more importantly, a love for the gift of music in ALL students. Ms. Walker’s talents do not end there. She is valued on our campus as a true professional who supports all staff members. She does this without expecting any recognition. If there is an event, program or need, she is the first one to volunteer. She is valued as a mentor to new teachers because of the positive traits she models each and every day. She is a true gem!”  – Vicki Crain, Cactus Ranch Elementary Principal

Lindsey Walker, 2nd Grade Teacher

“Ms. Walker is an excellent 2nd grade teacher who is responsive to her culturally diverse classroom. She is currently our team leader. Lindsey prides herself on ensuring that her team is prepared and creates an environment that encourages collaboration. She has stepped up to help lead our PBIS committee. In this role she has created policies and school-wide incentive programs to encourage positive behavior. Ms. Walker is a fine representation of what a teacher of the year should be.” – Michelle Montalvo, Caldwell Heights Elementary Principal

Kathy Potral, TAG Teacher

“Kathy Potral has worked for Round Rock ISD at a few different campuses, but we honestly can’t imagine her anywhere but here at Callison! When she first came to Callison she revamped our TAG program and embraced her new role with exuberance and a commitment to excellence. She immediately became an integral part of our campus and showed a willingness to help with anything and everything. She is a true campus leader and is always on the lookout for ways to give our students opportunities to learn and grow. Additionally, Ms. Portal leads many campus activities for students. She has coordinated robotics, after-school enrichment, UIL, and after-school tutoring for students. Ms. Portal has also volunteered with our Callison PTA and has worked with areas such as the Clothes Closet and W.A.T.C.H. Dogs. She serves on the campus leadership team and is a key leader of our instructional initiatives. Ms. Portal gives her whole heart to our students. She would be an excellent candidate for District Teacher of the Year. I am certain she would use that platform not to highlight herself, but to shine a light on ways we can all give more opportunities to our students.”  – Penny Oates, Callison Elementary Principal

Emily Jee, 2nd Grade Teacher

“Emily dedicates so much time, energy, and love to her students and school. She is extremely knowledgeable about not only her content but also her students and is able to clearly articulate exactly where they are and what they need to be successful. Her interactions with parents are professional, while thoughtful and caring.” – April Crawford, Canyon Creek Elementary Principal

Marjan Amiri, School Counselor

“Mrs. Amiri pours her heart and soul into every single child and teacher at this school. She is the beacon for kindness and assistance in so many ways with so many people. We all just feel so connected to her as the one we lean our heads and hearts on for anything we may be worried or concerned about, professional or personal. She goes above and beyond her duties as a counselor and teacher, and works miracles to get children and staff anything they need to make sure they are well and balanced in their day and life. She fills so many buckets, it amazing to think how every day she has more to give. She is the comfort to each of us, and I am grateful each and every day for her kindness, guidance, and love. A true gem! ” – Larissa Ortiz, Caraway Elementary Principal

Rachel Jansen, 2nd Grade Teacher

“Mrs. Jansen has been an amazing new teacher leader. She demonstrates knowledge and patience when supporting us. Ms. Jansen is an outstanding educator who incorporates deep thinking, student ownership, and IB practices into her daily lessons. She builds a wonderful rapport with students and staff. She is a hard worker and takes on additional duties at COE. She is well organized, meets her students at their level and carries an all-around calm demeanor, even when a challenge is presented. Mrs. Jansen has taken up many roles and fulfills all her responsibilities with enthusiasm. She gives it her all! She serves her students so that they are treated equally and can be successful to the best of his/her own ability. She is always willing to help any teacher or staff member on our campus. She has served as the New Teacher Mentor Coordinator and the UIL Coordinator. She is a great collaborator with her team and communicates clearly and thoughtfully with her parents. She has always impressed us with her professionalism. Jansen is an amazing teacher and mentor. Rachel thinks about the needs of her students and tailors the learning to them. We are lucky to have at Chandler Oaks.”  – Laura Ihonvbere, Chandler Oaks Elementary Assistant Principal

Wanda Boothe, Functional Academic Class Teacher

“Wanda takes such amazing care of her students and is well-loved by them all. Her students are all thriving as individuals and as a class. She provides a loving and caring atmosphere and is one of the most patient and gentle teachers. Wanda is knowledgeable about each and every one of her students and seeks to help them grow from where they are. She is always helping out in any way often before she is asked. This educator is responsible for designing lesson plans to meet several different learning and behavioral styles and levels, and keeps up with all of the various documentation required for her students, all the while still providing a warm and loving classroom environment. She makes sure her students get to interact with all of the students in our school, which benefits everyone. She brings her students into other classrooms and invites other students to her classroom. She has assumed leadership roles on our campus serving on our Leadership Committee.” – Reba Mussey, Deep Wood Elementary Principal

Brynli Randall, 1st Grade Teacher

“Brynli received so many nominations by her peers. She is kind, hard working and super reliable. She has a heart for kids and is super passionate about teaching and learning.” – Alifia Britton, Double File Trail Elementary Principal

Kristie Malley, 2nd Grade Teacher

“Kristie Malley is an inspirational teacher and you see it in every interaction with her students. Kristie is a campus leader who invests in additional professional development and training to stay up to date with changes in curriculum and pedagogy. For example, Kristie was selected as a model classroom teacher in the Emergent Bilingual Cadre. The work from this cadre was recently showcased at a state conference. Kristie collaborates with teachers across the campus to guide them in making instructional changes and improvements. Kristie believes that active engagement is key to learning. When colleagues visit Kristie’s class, they will see students of all ability and language levels exploring concepts, having high-level partner discussions, giving each other feedback and affirmations, creating models, and writing about what they are learning. Kristie embeds social-emotional support and character education into her instruction throughout the day. Students in Kristie’s class feel confident and able to accomplish great things. They know that doing their personal best and giving their best effort is important, and that making mistakes along the way is a natural part of learning. Watching Kristie teach is a magical experience and her students and teammates are blessed to experience that magic every day.” – Jana Stowe, England Elementary Principal

Ruth Sweet-Crabb, 2nd Grade Teacher

“Ruth is a wonderful teammate and teacher. She builds relationships with her students and is always willing to help another teacher when needed. She collaborates with her team and always shares new ideas. Ruth is a joy to work with.”  – Tyler Hultman, Fern Bluff Elementary Principal

Cassie Brawner, 3rd Grade Teacher

“Cassie is very dedicated to her students and their success. She is very professional, skilled, and knowledgeable and strives to build relationships and make learning engaging and fun. Cassie created a ukulele club this year which has been very successful and popular among the students and also led a school-wide cereal donation drive to help students at a neighboring school. Cassie represents the core values of our school each day and would be a very well-deserved and amazing choice for our Teacher of the Year. Cassie is an outstanding teacher! She leads the 3rd grade team and she is a great positive influence on her students and other staff members. From her first year here are Forest Creek, I knew there was something special about Cassie. Her passion for her students’ education comes out in all of the amazing lessons she teaches. Cassie is the type of person that you can brainstorm an idea with and when done the idea has grown into the best lesson possible for the students. Cassie is the type of teacher I wish I could replicate. She is a natural teacher, leader, and just all around fun person. She brings joy to our school.” – Denise Sharp, Forest Creek Elementary Principal

Tia McAdam, 2nd Grade Teacher

“Tia is so organized and knows her students so well. She is a professional teacher that consistently sharpens her craft. Tia is always calm with students and staff, very easy to work with, an advocate for all students, and very knowledgeable.” – Seth Yosef, Forest North Elementary Assistant Principal

Carter Jennings, Music Teacher

“Carter brings music magic into his classroom. His students adore him and he has been intentional with his planning to engage all of his students in grades PreK-5th with the music curriculum. Carter is an asset and adds immense value to our campus and community.” – Cynthia Griggs, Gattis Elementary Principal

Eloisa Marcotte, 2nd Grade Teacher

“Ms. Marcotte is an exceptional teacher who has earned the respect of her colleagues, students, and parents. She continually works to better her craft and it shows daily in her lessons. Students feel loved by Ms. Marcotte and they love her. Our staff also recognize Ms. Marcotte as a leader on campus. She has re-energized our Leader in Me initiative as the facilitator by providing great training and organization. We recently had an evening Leaders in STEAM event with over 600 people attending due to Ms. Marcotte’s fabulous organization and communication. We are very proud to have her represent Great Oaks as our Teacher of the Year.” – Heath Frazer, Great Oaks Elementary Principal

Shara Petro, 2nd Grade Teacher

“Shara collaborates wonderfully with her coworkers, creates an inspiring learning atmosphere for her students and truly cares and advocates for them. She has a great relationship not only with her students but with their families too. For example: Shara always carves out time to discuss the concerns of her students and makes sure that they receive the necessary services to be successful in the classroom. She provides valuable inputs about her students in SSTs, in monitoring meetings and team meetings. She has built an amazing classroom culture! Shara truly deserves to be the Teacher of the Year! Shara cares for her students so much. She always goes above and beyond to meet their needs. She takes time to consult with other teachers in order to help her own students. Her calm demeanor creates a safe and loving environment for her students.”  – Julie Nelson, Herrington Elementary Principal

Ladetra Rasberry, 2nd Grade Teacher

“Ms. Rasberry exemplifies what it means to be a Joe Lee Johnson Trailblazer. She is dedicated to supporting the needs of our students and her fellow colleagues. Ms. Rasberry has excellent relationships with the community and strives for excellence in everything she does.” – Karl Unger, Joe Lee Johnson Elementary STEAM Academy Principal

Jo Dee Gregory, Interventionist

“Jo Dee has worked diligently to ensure that our students have instructional support given our current staffing crisis. She prioritizes our PLC meetings each week. She also has created schedules to assist our classroom teachers complete their universal screening. In the midst of everything else, she is also teaching two sections of 5th grade math on a daily basis. Jo Dee is highly regarded by her peers. Her students love her, and seek her out for support. And, she manages to do all of this while also completing her Administrator Internship. She is definitely a solid representative for what makes Jollyville great.” – Scott Morgan, Jollyville Elementary Principal

Tracy Defendorf, Special Education Teacher

“Tracy unites departments around SPED at LME. She has integrated the intervention department, our office/attendance team, classroom teachers, and our SPED unit members under a single pursuit of equity/improving student outcomes. She is a leader who supports her department with coaching, professional department, and reflective practices. She is an outstanding communicator who takes time to connect and communicate with families. She also teaches and supports students with intention, clarity and care. Her social skills classes are amazing!” – Doriane Marvel, Laurel Mountain Elementary Principal

Lindsay Forbes, Physical Education Teacher

“Goes above and beyond to bring community members into physical education and broaden students’ horizons. Volunteers and assists any and all staff members with anything!” – Brian Braudrick, Live Oak Elementary Principal

Allie Duffy, Pre-K Teacher

“Allie is a rockstar on every level. She researches and finds answers for teachers on campus and others across the District. She serves as the Lead Teacher Mentor for ‘new to the profession’ teachers. She meets monthly with these teachers and offers support. Her students perform high academically due to her belief that all students can and will learn. She is the Pre-K team leader as well as provides professional development to our campus and is a Rock Ready leader with RRISD. Allie willingly models lessons for new and veteran teachers and others come to observe in her room to see implementation of curriculum. She is highly sought out by staff members for ways to improve. If she does not have an answer, she will find one either by talking with colleagues or reading a professional learning book. In December, Allie asked for a very challenging student to be moved into her classroom from another Pre-K class to help support his school journey. Today, he is thriving and his parents told me that, ‘Ms. Duffy is best thing that came into their child’s life.’ Allie is a campus, District, and personal mentor. No one is more deserving of this honor!” – Jessica Schock, Old Town Elementary Principal

Jenny Ogea, Achieve Teacher

“Jenny has gone above and beyond to service the teachers and students at PSE! Her positive attitude is contagious and her willingness to jump right in to support teachers with students is literally life saving! 🙂 Jenny works with challenging students and is compassionate, resilient and persistent to help her students be successful in their classrooms. She is kind when learning curves happen, offers solutions to problems and provides teachable moments to colleagues. Jenny frequently checks in to make sure her students and their teacher are doing well. She is a team player and you can always count on Jenny to make you laugh when you are having a good day as well as a not so good day. Thank you Jenny, for always putting the students first and creating a safe place for them. The students in the Achieve program and all of the PSE community are lucky to have you! Jenny is a wonderful representative of PSE as our Teacher of the Year! She works with the most challenging students at PSE and continues to be positive for her students and provides a calm, safe space for them to learn. She’s a teacher of compassion, resilience and persistence!” – Sjoukje Brown, Pond Springs Elementary Principal

Chelsea Kirchheim, 1st Grade Teacher

“Chelsea is the definition of resilience and flexibility. Over the past few years she has had to adapt to changes in teaching style (virtual, hybrid, in-person), language, and grade level. Throughout all of this she has maintained a positive attitude and focused on the good. She collaborates with her teammates as well as other colleagues and always puts kids first. Not only has she kept her own love of teaching but she has inspired others by leading by example. Chelsea is a quiet leader that others follow due to her strong sense of questioning to ensure that what she is doing is always right. She works hard to ensure that all of her students have exactly what they need to learn be it visuals, and translations to new to country students, or extra supports via relational capacity for students with selective mutism. Her calming presence exemplifies her sound instruction. Chelsea is a gift not to only to PSE but to RRISD.” – Sara Nelson, Purple Sage Elementary Principal

Carrie Boelter, Intervention/Dyslexia Teacher

“Mrs. Boelter has been sharing her love for learning with students for over 20 years. As an intervention/dyslexia specialist she motivates and empowers our young learners to reach their full potential. Mrs. Boelter is continuously growing in her practice and challenging herself to be best teacher for students. Redbud hit the jackpot with Mrs. Boelter!” – Kimberly Connelly, Redbud Elementary Principal

Meredith Gaines, Music Teacher

“Ms. Gaines is an incredible music teacher and team player! She is culturally inclusive, finding ways to integrate different cultures and ethnicities traditions into her lessons. Ms. Gaines is an active member of our campus cultural committee where she collaborates, plans, and supports family connection projects for our school community. She’s also well loved for being calm, kind, and patient. We are so lucky to have Ms. Gaines at Robertson.” – Kyle Borel, Robertson Elementary Principal

Jessica Macre, School Counselor

“Year after year Ms. Macre is always going above and beyond to support our students in their social-emotional development. She is always willing to support and do whatever is asked regardless of the situation or available resources, and she is highly respected by both the staff and community as a positive fixture at Sommer Elementary. She would be an excellent example of what a Teacher of the Year candidate should look like. She puts the spotlight on learning by investing in the social-emotional development of ALL students and providing students with the skills and opportunities to be successful here at Sommer through coordinated programs such as Stuco and PALS.” – Brooke Elarms, Sommer Elementary Principal

Carl Alman, 5th Grade Teacher

“Carl Alman is a leader at Spicewood. I do not just mean of his team, but of the entire campus. Spicewood has been through some very difficult hurdles and Carl has been a rock, mentor, and advisor to myself as a new Principal as well as to the entire staff. Mr. Alman continuously puts students first. His team lost a member due to some difficult circumstances in October, and he was the first to propose solutions that were in no way easier for the teachers, but put students best interests first. Mr. Alman currently has 30 students and some of them have many high needs. He works diligently to advocate for support, maintain relationships with parents, and create an overall positive school environment for all of his students. I am proud to work with Carl Alman everyday at Spicewood and am not surprised at all that his colleagues selected him as our Teacher of the Year.” – Melanie Solis, Spicewood Elementary Principal

Stephanie Claypool, 4th Grade Teacher

“Stephanie is in her first year on the 4th grade team at Teravista. Prior to that, she was a special education resource teacher. In her first year on the team, she has shared her upbeat, positive attitude with her students and her team. She is an amazing team player and is open to doing anything to help her students grow academically and become better leaders.”  – Michael Wakefield, Teravista Elementary Principal

Lisa Cox, Special Education Teacher

“Lisa Cox is always ready to support, never judgmental, so proactive and understanding. She’s an inspiring teacher leader who motivates her team to stay united through challenging times in order to help our students succeed. Lisa works tirelessly to support a high volume of students with significant learning and behavioral needs in order to facilitate their academic and social success. She does this with calm patience and a steady, reliable, presence in all situations. Lisa Cox exemplifies true leadership. Her actions are inspiring. She is patient, caring, and committed, not only to the students but everyone on campus. Every student and family deserves an advocate like Lisa.” – Johanna Dorris, Union Hill Elementary Principal

Juana Farias, Interventionist/Lead Teacher

“Mrs. Farias wears many different hats on our campus. She is a team player and her heart is invested in our Voigt Community. She is a natural leader and many go to her for help when needed. She is a caregiver and helps lead our Sunshine Committee to keep up with positivity on campus.” – Cheryl Hester, Voigt Elementary Arts Integration Academy Principal

Alyssa Aguilera, Dual Language Pre-K Teacher

“Alyssa Aguilera is one of the most dedicated, reflective, and enthusiastic teachers that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Although this is Ms. Aguilera’s first year teaching at Wells Branch, she has been working in the District for four years. She transferred to Wells Branch this year specifically because she wanted to follow her dreams and become a bilingual certified teacher. Not only has she forged relationships with the students and families in her classroom community, but she extends herself beyond the walls of her classroom to our Wells Branch community at large. She is leading our inaugural Ballet Folklorico enrichment program, which serves students from first grade through fifth grades after school. Ms. Aguilera started the school year with 32 students in her bilingual Pre-K classroom, and she made each student feel safe, special, and loved. She serves as our Pre-K team lead, and she is instrumental in bringing her team together and forging collaborative relationships with her colleagues. She is the kind of teacher that every principal wants to hire a million times over, and that parents request for their students. We are so lucky to have Ms. Aguilera at Wells Branch!” – Eliza Gordon, Wells Branch Elementary Arts Integration Academy Principal