Superintendent of Schools Jose L. Parra, Ed.D. is pleased to announce Irving ISD’s Elementary Teacher of the Year and the Secondary Teacher of the Year for the 2015-2016 school year.
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Jerri Johnson, fourth-grade teacher at Lively Elementary School, has taught for 37 years. All of those years have been with Irving ISD, serving also at Barton and Britain elementary schools. She has taught every grade from first through fourth.
Ms. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology with minors in psychology and education from Abilene Christian University. She has served as a mentor for student teachers from Texas A&M, the University of Dallas and Quality Act. For three decades Ms. Johnson has served as a staff development presenter and curriculum writer in math, science and language arts for the district. She was previously selected by her colleagues at Lively as campus teacher of the year in 2006.
When asked how she stays so committed to students and colleagues after 37 years with Irving ISD, Ms. Johnson responds, “Abraham Lincoln said, ‘It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.
Secondary Teacher of the Year
Traci Walters, an eighth-grade math teacher, has taught for seven years – all at Irving ISD’s Bowie Middle School. Walters, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Texas, serves as a district professional development presenter, a district assessment author and curriculum writer. She was previously recognized by her peers as a campus teacher of the year in 2012.
Ms. Walters says that she’s loved school as far back as she could remember. “I could not wait for each school year to begin,” she says. “I loved learning new things and enjoyed the time spent in class with friends. I had the good fortune of learning from teachers that were passionate about their subject areas. School has alwaysbeen a fun and exciting place for me
