2 TCTA members among state finalists for Texas Teacher of the Year

TCTA member Mary Cluley is a state finalist for Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and member Mary McMinimy is a state finalist for Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year.

The Texas Association of School Administrators released the list of three elementary and three secondary teachers selected as state finalists this week. Winners will be named Oct. 16 during a banquet in Round Rock.

Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalists:

• Denise Caldera, Corpus Christi ISD
• Mary Cluley, Burkburnett ISD
• Emily Greer, Chapel Hill ISD

Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalists:

• Caleb Gamblin, Bangs ISD
• Mary McMinimy, Lewisville ISD
• Heather Ray, Terrell ISD

Cluley, a TCTA member since 2022, teaches physical education to students in grades K-5 at John Tower Elementary in Burkburnett ISD, where she emphasizes character, acceptance and meaningful participation for every student. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in a simple principle passed down by her father: "We must accept people as they are." Cluley holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the College of Charleston and completed additional coursework in education and kinesiology at Midwestern State University. In 2012, she received a Certificate of Merit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the national popular-vote winner of the MyPlate Video Challenge. Her leadership extends beyond the classroom through a longstanding partnership with Midwestern State University. For the past four years, she has served as a guest lecturer in the College of Education and has created opportunities for MSU student-athletes to engage with her elementary students. Cluley has also contributed to national physical education publications, sharing ideas on family engagement and the role physical education can play in building character and community.

McMinimy, a TCTA member since 2016, is a special education teacher in the Life Skills program at Flower Mound High School, where she has served students for nine years in both Academic and Functional Life Skills settings. Since 2022, she has also served as Life Skills Department Chair, working closely with teachers and paraprofessionals to support student growth and independence. McMinimy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Woman's University and completed the Texas Teachers Alternative Certification Program in 2016. She is certified in Special Education, Core Subjects, and English as a Second Language. Beyond the classroom, McMinimy co-sponsors the Circle of Friends Club and has served on its board for more than a decade. Her work is grounded in strong relationships, inclusive practices, intentional instruction, and collaboration that helps students reach their full potential.

Click here to read more about all of this year's state finalists.

2027 Texas Regional Teachers of the Year

On Aug. 18, a panel of judges composed of representatives of Texas teacher associations and last year's Texas Teacher of the Year finalists selected the finalists from the 40 Texas Regional Teachers of the Year - one elementary and one secondary teacher from each of the 20 Texas Education Service Center regions.

Six TCTA members are among this year's regional winners. Their names are in bold below. They will all be honored during the Oct. 16 banquet.

Region 1
Elementary: Enrique Ayala, Lyford Elementary School, Lyford Consolidated ISD
Secondary: Alissa Shirah, Morris Middle School, McAllen ISD

Region 2
Elementary: Denise Caldera, Rafael Galvan Elementary School, Corpus Christi ISD (Finalist)
Secondary: Victor Alvarado, Mathis High School, Mathis ISD

Region 3
Elementary: Danielle Gabrysch, Industrial Elementary East, Industrial ISD
Secondary: Ronfled Eriko Espinoza, Wharton High School, Wharton ISD

Region 4
Elementary: Anita McKeague, Elm Grove Elementary School, Humble ISD
Secondary: Cristina Monroe, Tomball Star Academy, Tomball ISD

Region 5
Elementary: Shelley Fuller, Little Cypress Elementary School, Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD
Secondary: Evette Rodgers, Port Arthur Alternative Campus, Port Arthur ISD

Region 6
Elementary: Mindy Wilson, Magnolia Parkway Elementary School, Magnolia ISD
Secondary: Brittany Knauer, Montgomery Junior High School, Montgomery ISD

Region 7
Elementary: Emily Greer, Jackson Elementary School, Chapel Hill ISD (Finalist)
Secondary: Sharon Garner, Whitehouse High School, Whitehouse ISD

Region 8
Elementary: Lauren Nolen, Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics and Engineering Elementary School, Texarkana ISD
Secondary: J.D. Stutler, Cooper High School, Cooper ISD

Region 9
Elementary: Mary Cluley, John G. Tower Elementary School, Burkburnett ISD (Finalist)
Secondary: Maria Waller, Graham High School, Graham ISD

Region 10
Elementary: Mark (Tommy) Gillett, Burks Elementary School, McKinney ISD
Secondary: Heather Ray, Herman Furlough Jr. Middle School, Terrell ISD (Finalist)

Region 11
Elementary: Anquinette Hill, Arbor Creek Elementary, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD
Secondary: Mary McMinimy, Flower Mound High School, Lewisville ISD (Finalist)

Region 12
Elementary: Keima Zapata, China Spring Elementary School, China Spring ISD
Secondary: Jessica Cuellar, Temple High School, Temple ISD

Region 13
Elementary: Janna Jackson, Florence Elementary School, Florence ISD
Secondary: Angela Drake, Lago Vista Middle School, Lago Vista ISD

Region 14
Elementary: Noah Watson, Bowie STEM Academy, Abilene ISD
Secondary: Katherine Condra, ATEMS High School, Abilene ISD

Region 15
Elementary: Chris Cardenas, Lamar Elementary School, San Felipe-Del Rio CISD
Secondary: Caleb Gamblin, Bangs High School, Bangs ISD (Finalist)

Region 16
Elementary: Almadelfina Trejo DeLeon, Tierra Blanca Early Childhood Center, Hereford ISD
Secondary: Kevin Weaver, Hereford Junior High, Hereford ISD

Region 17
Elementary: Alyssa Raschke, Miller Elementary School, Lubbock ISD
Secondary: Brenda Olden, Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center, Lubbock ISD

Region 18
Elementary: Kassie Hunt, Parkway Elementary School, Monahans-Wickett-Pyote ISD
Secondary: Ramona Griffin, Greenwood High School, Greenwood ISD

Region 19
Elementary: Dr. Nancy Torres, Jose H. Damian Elementary, Canutillo ISD
Secondary: Jacob Pineda, Ysleta High School, Ysleta ISD

Region 20
Elementary: Lena Aloumari, Montgomery Elementary School, North East ISD
Secondary: Patricia Zinn, Tom C. Clark High School, Northside ISD