Fort Bend ISD Names 2026 District Teacher of the Year Finalists

Fort Bend ISD announced 10 finalists for District Teacher of the Year today, five from the elementary level and five from the secondary level.

These finalists were selected from among the district’s campus Teacher of the Year winners through an application process.

In order to choose the overall elementary and secondary Teacher of the Year winners, the FBISD Judging Committee will observe each finalist in their instructional setting and conduct interviews with each teacher.

The Teacher of the Year banquet, where the surprise announcement of the overall winners for elementary and secondary schools, will take place in April.

Finalists include:

ELEMENTARY

Kanika Griffin
First Grade, Cornerstone Elementary

Griffin considers teaching a calling and a responsibility to serve children during some of the most important years of their development. She believes the way students experience school in first grade stays with them for years, and she carries that responsibility in her heart every day.

Lauren Luna
Art, Heritage Rose Elementary

Luna believes learning environments should be inclusive, engaging, and designed to support diverse learners without limiting their potential and that instruction should be structured yet flexible, rigorous yet joyful, and responsive to individual student needs.

Rashidi Younger
Special Education PreK – First Grade, Hunters Glen ELC

Younger has always had a desire to work with children, especially students with special needs who deserve inclusion, dignity, and meaningful opportunities to learn. He believes every student can learn and make meaningful progress toward becoming a functional and independent adult.

Jocelyn Cuchapin
Second Grade, Jordan Elementary

Cuchapin’s teaching philosophy centers on student-centered learning, hands-on experiences, and differentiated instruction. She believes every child can learn when lessons are meaningful, supportive, and connected to their real lives.

Fawzia Elsaadi
Special Education K – Fifth Grade, Sullivan Elementary

Navigating the special education system as a parent showed Elsaadi how overwhelming the process can be for families. Those experiences led her to pursue teaching so families will never feel alone, unheard, or unsupported.

Jeff Johnson
Band Director, Clements High School

Johnson cares for his students as whole people, not just musicians, which opens the door for them to work harder, push themselves and take ownership of their learning.

Robert Archer
Theater Arts, Kempner High School

Archer’s teaching philosophy is students learn best when they are known, challenged, and believed in, so his classroom is built on relationships.

Andreana Grall
Science, Sartartia Middle School

Grall believes students should never be labeled or defined by a single moment, score, or perception and instead they deserve learning environments that emphasize growth, dignity, and opportunity.

Shenoa Cramer
Theater Arts, Sugar Land Middle School

Cramer teaches young people to become the best versions of themselves. In her classroom all students are seen, valued, and safe.

Debay Woldeyesus
Career and Technical Education, STEM/Engineering, Travis High School

Woldeyesus’ philosophy centers on authenticity, access, and agency. He believes students learn best when they are trusted to think, build, fail, and iterate.