Keller ISD Hidden Lakes teacher named Region XI Elementary Teacher of the Year

by PegNews wire

Hidden Lakes Elementary fourth-grade teacher Grant Simpson was named the 2007-08 Region XI Elementary Teacher of the Year during Thursday's banquet hosted by the Region XI Education Service Center.

"Simpson is a remarkable person and an extraordinary teacher," said Dr. James R. Veitenheimer, superintendent of schools, "He impacts students' lives each and every day and serves as a shining example to both his students and his peers."

Simpson was chosen from a pool of 42 teachers representing 23 public school districts in a 10-county area in north central Texas. He follows the footsteps of Fossil Ridge High School teacher Nika Maples, who was chosen last year as Region XI's Secondary Teacher of the Year and went on to be named the 2006-07 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

"Grant demonstrates the qualities of an exceptional educator every single day," said former Hidden Lakes Principal Laura Lockhart. "He teaches with passion and energy and captures the hearts of each of his students by building relationships and trust. He loves his students, maintains high expectations, and is an incredible role model to all those around him."

Simpson was named Student Teacher of the Year by Texas Directors of Field Experiences in 2002-03, but says he is most honored by the awards he's given by his students such as "You Rock," and "Greatest Teacher Ever."

"One of my daily goals is to model a love for kids and my job to those around me," said Simpson in his Teacher of the Year application. "The students honestly do this for me, so I guess I can't take any credit for this. Being a child advocate with students like I have taught in my career is quite possibly the greatest and easiest job in the world."

Simpson will now advance as a regional candidate for the 2007 Texas State Teacher of the Year award. The TEA will meet with selection committees to review the applications of regional winners on August 31. Six semifinalists will then travel to Austin to be interviewed by the selection committees on Sept. 22. The state winners will be announced the following week.

Source: Keller ISD