Lisa Attaway

Bruce Shulkey Elementary School

Kroger Chair for Teaching Excellence in Special Education

Lisa Attaway is the Kroger Chair for Teaching Excellence in Special Education. She earned her B.S. in Education from Texas Christian University and Master of Education from Texas Wesleyan University. Lisa set her mind on  becoming an Elementary Special Education Teacher as a senior in high school and has taught in FWISD for 25 years. 

Carlee Byrd

Burton Hill Elementary School

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Reading

Carlee Byrd is the Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Reading. She earned her B.A. in Philosophy and a B.S. in Political Science from Texas Christian University and has taught for 11 years for FWISD. Carlee feels that the epitome of teaching success is to show students that any choice they make has value and to believe in their own abilities.

Kenyail C. Carr

Meadowbrook Middle School

Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary STEM

Kenyail Carr is the Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary STEM. She earned her B.S. in Engineering Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and her M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Florida, Gainsville. She has taught for 12 years in FWISD. Kenyail believes that the very essence of teaching is to strive to be a better version of ourselves and to be an agent of change in the world. 

Michelle Clementson

Daggett Montessori School

Blue Zones Project Chair for Teaching Excellence in Health & Physical Education

Michelle Clementson is the Blue Zones Project Chair for Teaching Excellence in Health & Physical Education. She earned her B.S. in Kinesiology from Texas A&M and M.A. in Secondary Education from Texas Christian University. Michelle has taught in FWISD for 7 years. She feels that as a teacher, it is important to keep finding ways to spark curiosity for learning, not only for your students but for yourself. 

José Santos Frayre

Polytechnic High School

Crescent Real Estate Chair for Teaching Excellence in Career & Technical Education

José Santos Frayre is the Crescent Real Estate Chair for Teaching Excellence in Career & Technical Education. He earned his Bachelor’s of Professional Studies in Culinary Arts Management from the Culinary Institute of America and has taught in FWISD for 3 years. José hopes that his students learn that culinary arts is much more than cooking because food preparation is  shared across cultures, ethnicities, and time.

Andrew J. Giles

Arlington Heights High School 

Angela D. Paulos Chair for Teaching Excellence in Visual Arts

Andrew J. Giles is the Angela D. Paulos Chair for Teaching Excellence in Visual Arts. He earned his B.F.A from the University of North Texas and has taught in FWISD for 6 years. Andrew has been named a “Top Teacher” by Fort Worth Magazine. He shares that he does not aim to create students who know stuff about photography, but to create decent human beings (who know stuff about photography). 

Julissa Gómez

John T. White Leadership Academy

XTO Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Early Childhood Education

Julissa Gómez is the XTO Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Early Childhood Education. She earned her B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas Women’s University and M.Ed in Curriculum & Instruction from Concordia University. Julissa has taught in FWISD for 6 years. She encourages all teachers to use their power wisely to build leaders for the classroom and community.

Chip Haro

Applied Learning Academy

Chase Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary English

Chip Haro is the Chase Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary English. He earned his B.A. in English from St. Lawrence University and has taught in FWISD for 17 years. Chip loves that he has the opportunity to work with every 8th grader at his school and feels that knowing his students is key to successful teaching. By taking time to get to know his students, Chip is able to connect literature to them individually.

Cecilia N. Sanchez Hill

TCC South- FWISD Collegiate

Sewell, Lexus & Infinity of Fort Worth Chair for Teaching Excellence in Humanities

Cecilia N. Sanchez Hill is the Sewell Lexus & Infiniti of Fort Worth Chair for Teaching Excellence in Humanities. She earned her B.S. in History from Texas Wesleyan University and M.A. in History from the University of Texas at Arlington. Cecilia has taught in FWISD for 6 years. She feels that teachers play a vital role in democracy and are responsible for ensuring an educated population that will continue to uphold our nation’s values and goals. 

Adam Kramer

Wedgwood M.S., Southwest H.S.

Bayard Friedman Chair for Teaching Excellence in Performing Arts

Adam Kramer is the Bayard Friedman Chair for Teaching Excellence in Performing Arts. He earned his B.M.E. in Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University. Adam has taught in FWISD for 8 years. He feels that students succeed in music by working hard, setting goals and managing their time, all of which are tools that all professions value and will help them no matter what career path they choose.

Jay Kurima

Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences

Devon Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Science

Jay Kurima is the Devon Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Science. Jay has taught in FWISD for 19 years. He earned his B.S. in Environmental Science and his M.S.E. in Science Education from Texas Christian University. Jay feels that the most important word in the English language and in teaching is “relationship,” as relationships define how we grow or diminish in knowledge and as people. 

Sarah Martin

M.H. Moore Elementary School

Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Math

Sarah Martin is the Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Math. She earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from Texas Christian University. She has taught in FWISD for 7 years. Sarah believes that every child can and will learn when the relationship between the student and teacher is positive and based on mutual trust and respect. She urges all teachers to strive to be the teacher who is remembered.

Jennifer Mitchell

Westcliff Elementary School

Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Science

Jennifer Mitchell is the Lockheed Martin Chair for Teaching Excellence in Elementary Science. She earned her B.S. in Interior Design from Texas State University and has taught in FWISD for 7 years. Jennifer feels that motivating students to become lifelong learners is the foundational key to good teaching and aims to make every child’s learning experience powerful and engaging. 

Masaki Nakamoto

R.L. Paschal High School

Atmos Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Acquisition of Language

Masaki Nakamoto is the Atmos Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Acquisition of Language. He earned his B.A. in Spanish and M.A. in International Relations from Baylor University. Masaki earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Texas at Dallas. He has taught in FWISD for 6 years. Masaki cherishes the opportunity to teach and inspire his students to learn about the large and fascinating world beyond our city. 

Jennifer Northern 

Southwest High School

TTI, Inc. Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Math

Jennifer Northern is the TTI, Inc. Chair for Teaching Excellence in Secondary Math. She earned her B.S. in Mathematics from Baylor University and her M.A. in Math Education from The University of Texas at Austin. Jennifer has taught in FWISD for 9 years. She feels that all teachers should remember that they are still students themselves, and there is always something new to try in the classroom.  

Rachel Wade

Arlington Heights High School

Broadway at the Bass Chair for Teaching Excellence in Theater & Dance

Rachel Wade is the Broadway at the Bass Chair for Teaching Excellence in Theater & Dance. Rachel earned her B.F.A. in Modern Dance from Texas Christian University and has taught in FWISD for 6 years. As a dance educator, Rachel feels that dance plays a significant role in student growth and advancement, as it helps them develop a sense of discipline, focus, and self-efficacy that will benefit them in whatever they choose to pursue.