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Arlington ISD, Kiwanis honor about 75 Teachers of the Year
Summary
Arlington ISD and the Kiwanis Club of Arlington held a ceremony recognizing roughly 75 campus-nominated teachers across elementary, junior high and high schools; district leaders and community judges presented awards and thanked educators for their role serving students in a largely socioeconomically disadvantaged district.
Arlington ISD honored about 75 campus‑nominated teachers from across the district at a community awards ceremony in Arlington, where district leaders and members of the Kiwanis Club of Arlington presented Teachers of the Year recognitions.
The event, organized with longtime Kiwanis support, brought together district administrators, board trustees and community volunteers to spotlight educators from elementary, junior high and high schools. Aaron Prowse, the district’s executive director of Engagement, Equity and Access, said the evening’s theme — "life would be a circus without you" — was meant to highlight how teachers make students’ lives “full and interesting.”
Why it matters: Arlington ISD officials and community partners framed the awards as recognition of daily classroom work that supports students and families. Board President Justin Chapa noted the district serves a largely socioeconomically disadvantaged student population and thanked teachers for their role on the “front lines” of serving students’ needs.
Superintendent Dr. Matt Smith told attendees, “From the bottom of my heart, I wanna thank you teachers for what you do to change the life of students on a daily basis in Arlington ISD. Please know that we see you, we hear you, and we value your work all the time.” He and other leaders urged the audience to celebrate teachers’ classroom contributions rather than focus on the event’s lighthearted circus motif.
Jeremy Norman of the Kiwanis Club of Arlington described the community’s long involvement in the Woodrow Counts Teacher of the Year program, noting the selection process has evolved from a single community‑selected winner to separate recognitions across grade levels. "The biggest honor here is to be selected by your peers," Norman said, explaining that campus colleagues initially nominate and community judges review teacher portfolios.
Board President Chapa referenced current education debates at the state level, saying a bill filed in Austin could, if passed, make certain remarks in a school building a criminal offense; he raised the point as part of a broader appeal for community members to see the daily work teachers do. "You are the reason that we do what we do," Chapa said, adding that Arlington schools confront significant student needs and that teachers frequently fill vital roles for students who may lack other supports.
The ceremony named recipients across district campuses. High school honorees announced included Crystal Duran (Arlington College and Career High School), Veronica Haggerty (Arlington Collegiate High School), William Floyd (Arlington High School), Devin Garrity (Bowie High School) and Ramona Taylor Kadiri (Sam Houston High School). Junior high and elementary teachers of the year from multiple campuses were also called onstage; organizers said roughly 75 teachers from every campus were selected for recognition.
Jeremy Norman and other community judges referenced the program’s history: the Woodrow Counts award dates to the 1960s and originally selected a single standout; the current format recognizes multiple levels and incorporates campus nominations and community review of submitted teacher folders.
The program closed with leaders thanking educators and wishing them well for the remainder of the school year. Prowse ended the event by noting there were five weeks left in the school year and offering appreciation for the teachers’ work.
