AISD announces their Teachers of the Year at annual breakfast ceremony

Amarillo Independent School District announced its 2022-2023 Teachers of the Year during a breakfast announcement Friday morning in the Polk Street United Methodist Church Great Hall.

With its Annual Lamar Lively Teacher of the Year Breakfast, AISD revealed its Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year. The 22-23 AISD Elementary School Teacher of the Year was awarded to Beth Talley of South Georgia Elementary School, with the Secondary Teacher of the Year awarded to Chelsey Dosher of Austin Middle School.

"This means that my administrators and my students and the district leaders recognize the effort that I put into this career and the energy that I put into my students. As teachers, we are in a very powerful role, and I don't ever take that for granted. I want to give my students the best that I can give them and help them to be successful in every way that I can," Dosher said.

During the event, 57 teachers were awarded Campus Teacher of the Year, including the two district winners, and received a glass block and poster, symbolic of their accomplishment at the campus level. Each nominee was accompanied by their school administration.

This year's elementary school division nominees were Elizabeth Blackwell of Belmar Elementary School, Karen Takacs of Bivins Elementary School, and Beth Talley of South Georgia Elementary School. The secondary division nominees were announced as Chelsey Dosher of Austin Middle School, Larry Garcia of AmTech Career Academy, and Jennifer Wade of Amarillo High School.

"This means the world to me. I am so inspired by the people I get to work with every day and especially at this school, and the people I get to serve, they are the true heroes day in and day out. I am just so humbled to be in their company and to be recognized in this way," Talley said.

"I say this often, but I truly work in the company of heroes," Talley added. "To be a teacher at Amarillo ISD, to truly feel a part of the team, to know the caliber of teachers the serve day in and day out, it's a community. It's truly a band of brothers and sisters working together who love kids and teach them how to be better."

Both of AISD's district teachers of the year will advance into the Region 16 and Texas State Teacher of the Year competitions. State finalists will be announced Aug. 15, with the 2024 Texas Teacher of the Year ceremony held Oct. 20.

"Today, outside of graduation, this is the most important day we have in the district, celebrating the people who get our kids across the finish line, and it's and honor," AISD Superintendent Doug Loomis said at the event. "It's humbling; teachers work harder than anybody I know. I'm so proud of the work that they do, and I am always excited to honor that work."

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo school district names 2022-23 Teachers of the Year