Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalists
Aimee Harris, Whispering Pines (Fifth Grade Math)
Teaching is Aimee Harris’ calling, her passion, and her purpose. Aimee doesn't just teach math—she teaches perseverance, confidence, and the belief that every student is capable of success, no matter where they start. Aimee wants her students to walk into her classroom knowing they are valued and leave knowing they are unstoppable.
Math can be intimidating, but Aimee strives to make it meaningful, engaging, and most of all, accessible. Through hands-on learning and real-world connections, Aimee shows students that math is more than numbers—it’s a tool for life. Panda Weekly Packets have become a bridge between home and school, allowing families to learn and grow together, reinforcing the idea that education is a shared journey.
Aimee celebrates every victory, no matter how small, because she knows that growth takes time. Aimee’s greatest joy is seeing a child’s face light up when they finally believe in themselves. Aimee’s goal is simple: when her students leave the class, they don’t just take math skills with them—they take confidence, resilience, and the unshakable belief that they can achieve anything.
"Every child deserves someone who believes in them. I choose to be that someone."
Charnae Jordan, Oak Forest (Fifth Grade, Reading/Language Arts)
Charnae Jordan is a dedicated 5th-grade Reading and Language Arts teacher at Oak Forest Elementary, where she fosters a love for learning through creativity, perseverance, and community-building. She believes that education transcends the classroom, empowering students to think critically, embrace challenges, and see themselves as active contributors to the world around them.
Passionate about student engagement, Mrs. Jordan integrates hands-on learning, arts, and real-world connections into her teaching. One of her most impactful projects involved guiding students through a project-based learning assignment where they explored entrepreneurship by designing their own food trucks. This experience not only reinforced key literacy skills but also fostered collaboration, innovation, and real-world problem-solving.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Jordan has embraced challenges as opportunities for growth, ensuring that every student—regardless of background or ability—feels valued and capable of success. Her leadership extends beyond the classroom, serving on committees, mentoring fellow educators, and strengthening school-community connections through engaging events.
She lives by the words, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” Her goal is to ignite a passion for learning in every student, ensuring they leave her classroom with confidence, curiosity, and the belief that they can achieve greatness.
Nancy Torres, Jack Fields (Kindergarten Bilingual)
Mrs. Torres, a passionate Colombian educator, believes her work is for God—carried out with love, grace, and excellence. She makes learning joyful, ensuring her students eagerly anticipate school every day. Recognizing music’s power in education, she has composed songs like Sustantivos (Nouns) and Palabras que Riman (Rhyming Words), incorporating Colombian rhythms to enhance engagement and comprehension.
Her journey is deeply personal. Graduating first in her class at university, she pursued a career in the medical field but always dreamed of working with children. After immigrating to the U.S. nearly 30 years ago, she faced two major challenges: navigating a temporary undocumented status—later resolved as a proud U.S. citizen—and learning a new language. These experiences gave her profound empathy for students and families facing similar struggles. Remarkably, she once took ESL classes at Jack Fields Elementary (JFE) in Humble ISD—the very school where she has dedicated her entire career. She currently teaches kindergarten students in the dual language program.
For the past seven years, she has published hardcover class books, inspiring young writers and creating cherished keepsakes for families. Beyond academics, she prioritizes emotional well-being, ensuring every child feels loved and supported. As a long-time team leader, she co-developed Humble ISD’s first bilingual phonics scope and sequence, now widely used across the district.
“School is not just a place for academics; it is a place where every student deserves to feel loved, have fun, and enjoy learning—while engaging families and the community to ensure success.”
Natalie Waters, Groves (Fifth Grade)
Natalie is a devoted 5th grade math teacher who intentionally builds relationships with each student, family, and colleague she meets. As the primary parent of two, she knows the importance of being an unconditional champion for the people in her life. She takes time to truly understand their individual needs and aspirations and advocates for whatever is needed for them to reach their full potential. She creates a nurturing environment that feels like home for everyone who steps foot in her classroom and where everyone feels safe to be who they are. As the co-sponsor of the student patrol, Rangers, she focuses on modeling leadership, responsibility, integrity, and growth. Once you have been in her classroom, you are truly family for a lifetime. Natalie aids students through reflecting on their progress in order to set social and academic goals for themselves to guide their growth in all areas. She is her campus’ representative for the Humble ISD Elementary Teacher Advisory Committee and a member of the Groves Elementary Counselor Advisory Committee. “With trusting relationships, people are allowed to be vulnerable and grow. I want everyone who comes in contact with me to leave me feeling more confident and valued. I will advocate for my family, students and their families. All students deserve at least one person who believes in them. I choose to be her.”
Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalists
Adam Bowling, Atascocita High School (Science)
Adam Bowling is a dedicated teacher of AP Biology at Atascocita High School. As a former student and valedictorian of AHS, he has strived to give back to the school and community that has given so much to him. It has been an incredible honor and privilege for Adam to get to work along-side some of his former teachers as colleagues and peers in education. In his classroom, Adam works to encourage students to think about the world around them like a scientist; always inquiring, searching, and asking questions. His motto is that science is not a topic to learn once, but rather is something we do daily. Through humor and an energetic spirit, he hopes to challenge, inspire, and grow scientific leaders of the future through the collaborative and real-world application of student learning. He works as the campus UIL Academic Coordinator to coach academically gifted students with the opportunity to extend their learning and represent the campus in academic competitions. Adam believes that students should be an active part of their community. He is a co-sponsor of the Shattered Dreams program, where students become ambassadors on campus and in the community to advocate for safe driving practices for everyone. These students work with professionals across the health, fire, police, and legislative fields, in order to create a safer and more aware community. Adam is most proud when his students take ownership of their work and use their knowledge to help others around them. “True education is a kind of never-ending story — a matter of continual beginnings, of habitual fresh starts, of persistent newness.” – J.R.R Tolkien
Cassandra DeBottis, Kingwood Park High School (Science)
Cassandra DeBottis is a dynamic and passionate high school biology and pathophysiology teacher known for inspiring curiosity and critical thinking in her students. With a deep-rooted passion for science, she challenges and engages her students, making complex scientific concepts accessible and captivating. Her passion as an educator is driven by a commitment to ensuring every student feels heard, empowered, and confident in their identity as scientists. She champions the idea that every student, regardless of background or ability, has the potential to excel. Her innovative approach to teaching extends beyond the classroom, as she creates meaningful service-learning opportunities for her pathophysiology students that blend academics with community service. These experiences enhance students' understanding of health and wellness and cultivate leadership, empathy, and a sense of responsibility to others. Mrs. DeBottis fosters a culture of inclusivity and collaboration, where barriers between students are minimized, and the environment feels like a supportive family. She hopes students will remember their unique experiences, exploring science through virtual reality, learning how to use a tourniquet, or creating functional models of body systems. She encourages other teachers to take risks with unique lesson styles, intended to foster student-centered learning. Every year, she reminds herself of this powerful quote by Carl W. Buehner, "They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." She believes a teacher's impact is profound and lasting, shaping students' minds, attitudes, and futures.
Camee Faulk, Kingwood High School (Drama)
Camee Faulk is the Head Theatre Director at Kingwood High School, and has been sharing her passion for theatre with students for 13 years. Camee started teaching at KHS in 2020, where despite extreme difficulties in producing theatre at all due to COVID, she worked to grow the theatre program from just 90 students to over 300 in only 2 years. Camee has focused on making Kingwood Theatre not only a fantastic place for students, but also the community. She reinstated Kingwood Theatre summer camps, where 1st-8th graders perform and learn technical theatre skills from KHS theatre students. She started an elementary touring show that goes to 6 schools every fall and helps instill a love of theatre in even our youngest Humble ISD students. Camee also began the annual Special Education department production of The Nutcracker, which performs every December. The mainstage productions Camee has directed have earned the school dozens of Tommy Tune nominations and wins, including 34 initial nominations for their record-breaking production of The Phantom of the Opera earlier this year. Whether building a revolving stage or choreographing 60 actors dancing on roller skates, Camee is always looking to challenge the students. She can be often heard reminding students, “We can do hard things!” Camee truly believes that theatre is for everybody, and aims to make Kingwood Theatre a place of inclusivity, hard work, and most importantly–kindness. Camee is often heard quoting her Kingwood Theatre motto: “1. Be a good human. 2. Be a good actor. IN. THAT. ORDER.”
Jacqueline Howard, Guy M. Sconzo Early College High School (AVID IV)
Jacqueline Howard understands the vital importance of teachers building connections with students and acting as valuable resources to help them achieve their goals. With extensive experience in K-12 education leadership, curriculum development, post-secondary communities, and higher education institutions, she has developed a wealth of knowledge to teach beyond the classroom. While living in San Diego, she played a key role in opening one of the first high tech charter schools, which continues to successfully educate students today.
In 2017, after a decade as the director of a federally funded STEM Academy, Dr. Howard faced a challenging turn of events. The program lost funding, and Hurricane Harvey displaced many families, leaving students pursuing STEM degrees in need of support. In response, Dr. Howard used her own retirement funds to establish STEM BRIDGES Houston, a nonprofit organization offering hope and resources to students and families across the greater Houston area.
Currently at Sconzo ECHS, Dr. Howard has implemented innovative strategies for AVID 4 seniors, resulting in millions of dollars in scholarships offers, Ivy League college acceptances, the creation of the Prom Closet (providing formal attire district-wide) and a non-athletic College Signing Day celebration for students and families.
Despite facing personal challenges, including the loss of a parent, surgery, and diagnoses of cancer and an autoimmune disease, Dr. Howard continues to show up and inspire her students with lessons of faith, planning, perseverance, and overcoming adversity. Her motto is, “Handle your business, and always be ahead of the game.”
Catherine Summers, Kingwood Middle School (English)
Catherine Summers is an enthusiastic educator at Kingwood Middle School. Serving students in grades 6-8, she functions as a Reading Strategies educator, Lead EL Teacher, RTI Interventionist, TELPAS Co-Testing Coordinator, and Assistant Cross-Country Coach. These responsibilities demonstrate that Ms. Summers is committed to supporting students across all areas of their educational journey.
As a Reading Strategies teacher, Ms. Summers is passionate that student achievement is positively impacted through meaningful work, high-quality instruction, and creative teaching practices. Students are encouraged to become investigators, critics, and global thinkers through innovative literacy instruction. She developed a secondary framework that engages students through authentic texts, differentiated stations, and project-based learning, fostering critical thinking and literacy development.
As the Lead EL Teacher, Ms. Summers feels it is essential to create involvement within the school community for students new to the United States. She addressed this challenge by encouraging students to become active in extracurricular activities to build relationships and promote personal growth.
Additionally, Ms. Summers is a member of the Secondary ELA Lead Teacher Cohort and has contributed to professional development by co-presenting PLC workshops on conferring and Leveled Literacy Intervention. In 2024, she was recognized with the Secondary ELA Teachers Growth and Impact Award.
Ms. Summers believes in being a champion for every student, inspiring them to reach their full potential. "Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them… and insists they become the best they can possibly be."
Jessica Wesley, Humble Middle School (Culinary)
Jessica Wesley began her teaching career as a middle school math teacher specializing in special education. After nearly a decade in the classroom, she transitioned into a consulting role with The Teachers’ Teacher, broadening her impact beyond her own students. However, her family's rich legacy—Houston’s cherished restaurant, This Is It Soul Food—remained close to her heart, leading her to step away from education to work in the family business.
It took just one semester away for Jessica to realize that teaching was her true calling. She found a way to support the restaurant remotely while returning to the very halls where her own educational journey began. With a renewed sense of purpose, she blended her experience in the restaurant industry with her passion for education, using both to challenge and inspire young minds. Within a few years of her return, she became the beloved teacher of Introduction to Culinary Arts and Foods, Nutrition, and Careers for seventh and eighth graders at Humble Middle School.
With every recipe shared and cooking skill imparted, she instills in her students not just the ability to nourish themselves but also the importance of caring for one another. Now, her mission extends beyond the kitchen. Through her inclusive walking club, Walk With Wesley, and her involvement with the Humble Area Assistance Ministries, Jessica fosters a spirit of health and service, ensuring her students learn the value of giving back—most notably through projects like the HAAM Bean Soup Project.
Her presence is a beacon of hope and joy, radiating warmth and acceptance, and her impact is felt by all. A proud Humble Wildcat, she embodies the spirit and strength of Humble ISD. When asked why she dedicates herself to this calling, Jessica's eyes sparkle with conviction as she quotes, “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join me, and the world will be as one.”
