Megan Vasquez, the Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Samantha Marion, the Secondary Teacher of the Year, both representing Austin Independent School District, received the awards from ESC Region 13 on July 24, 2023.
Megan Vasquez
Vasquez is a Physical Education Teacher at Becker Elementary School. Above all, the award recognizes her passion, not only for her students but for her fellow teachers. “The recognition I received today is the result of teamwork, collaboration, and community spirit,” Vasquez said. “This honor belongs to the communities I’m privileged to be a part of.”
Samantha Marion
Samantha Marion is a Special Education Teacher at Rosedale School. She has been a teacher with Austin ISD for over 10 years. Marion says, “My job is to work with the students transitioning out of high school. Unfortunately, this world is not yet prepared to fully support individuals with disabilities. Those with significant medical and behavioral issues have limited options to engage with the community. I want to change that. I hope everyone will find a way to advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves.”
Additionally, Vasquez and Marion will represent Region 13 in the statewide contest for Texas Teacher of the Year.
ESC Region 13 partners with Abilene Christian University
To honor their remarkable achievements, ESC Region 13, in partnership with Abilene Christian University (ACU), has granted Vasquez and Marion a full tuition scholarship to pursue a fully online Master of Education in Instruction and Learning or a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership program at ACU.
“There’s never been a more important time to invest in K-12 teachers and administrators,” said Dr. Stephen Johnson, chief administrative officer for ACU Dallas. “ACU believes that the work of teachers and educators across Central Texas matters and is so incredibly important. We are grateful for this partnership with ESC Region 13 to provide educational programs to support, empower and advance the transformative work of education.”
Since 1969, the Texas Teacher of the Year program has honored excellence in classroom education. Texas Association of School Administrators sponsors the yearly program. It continues to annually recognize and reward teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching. TASA’s mission is to promote, provide, and develop leaders who create and sustain student-centered schools and develop future-ready students.
Abilene Christian is the highest-ranking university in Texas in a 2022 U.S. News & World Report assessment of institutions highly regarded for their commitment to student success. Nationally, ACU achieved Top 10 status in three and Top 50 in another of eight high-impact categories among 1,500 universities evaluated for the annual “U.S. News Best Colleges” edition. ACU is the only Texas university named in the top 10 of any category. Learn more at acu.edu.
For more information about Education Service Center Region 13 and our many programs, visit our website.
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