Denton ISD recognized the 2025 Jostens Teachers of the Year with a parade at C.H. Collins Athletic Complex on Thursday, April 17.
Cheered on by their colleagues and community members, each campus winner worked through the parade route in the athletic facility parking lot. The event’s main sponsor, Jostens, presented each campus winner with a custom ring.
This year’s Denton ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year is Heather Bishop, a special education teacher at E.P. Rayzor Elementary. Ms. Bishop was selected from a pool of 26 elementary campus nominees.
Ms. Bishop has spent the past four years at E.P. Rayzor and is finishing her 17th year in education. Her approach to teaching centers around the belief that each student deserves a voice and to be heard.
She is constantly striving to meet their students where they are while always advocating for and supporting them.
“This means everything to me,” Ms. Bishop said. “I never would have imagined that I was Teacher of the Year, yet alone the district Teacher of the Year. I love teaching and my students so, so much.”
Denton ISD’s Secondary Teacher of the Year is Stephanie Lowry, a social studies teacher at Fred Moore High School.
Ms. Lowry believes the key to being a great teacher is loving her students and always being there for them. Her mindset is simple: if she believes in their students, they will then begin to believe in themselves.
As a child, Ms. Lowry had several teachers make an indelible impression on their life – and it is now her goal to leave the same lasting impact with her own students.
“This is unbelievably special,” Ms. Lowry said. “And what makes it special is the school that I work at is the most incredible, unique school. I have an opportunity every day to really get to know the students, and I am so honored to receive this recognition.”
Each Denton ISD elementary and secondary school nominated one educator for Teacher of the Year. Members of the district’s Teachers Communication Committee (TCC) reviewed the applications of the campus winners and selected one elementary and one secondary teacher to advance to the Region XI Teacher of the Year Competition.
Local memorabilia manufacturer Jostens was the title sponsor for this year’s Teacher of the Year event. Other local business contributors who provided gifts for the event included: the Cookie Crave, Sonic, Sigma Gamma Rho, CoServ, Custom Dental of Denton, Replenish School Supplies, Keller Williams – Denton, Shuck Me – Denton, Texas Woman’s University College of Education, University of North Texas College of Education, Modern Woodmen, Discount Trophies, Matt Freiss State Farm, ServPro, First United Bank, Little Elm Chamber of Commerce, Walmart, Huffines Subaru, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Lake Cities Chamber, Denton Chamber of Commerce, Little Elm Medical Clinic, Groggy Dog, Point Bank, DATCU, James Wood AutoPark and Best Western Premier Crown Chase Inn and Suites.
District-winning elementary and secondary teachers of the year are awarded $2,500 – $1,500 from James Wood AutoPark, $500 from the Denton Public School Foundation and $500 from Denton ISD.
