Allison Hanley, Justiss Elementary School Third Grade Math Teacher, has been selected to represent Region VIII Education Service 
Center as the Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Since 1969, the Texas State Teacher of the Year (TOY) Program has honored excellence in classroom education and provided a forum to showcase many outstanding educators whose efforts and example have inspired their students, their colleagues and the communities they serve.
“Mrs. Hanley has a true passion for teaching children, a calling to both teach and help,” said Paul Jones, Paris ISD Superintendent of Schools. “She is an exemplary teacher, an inspiration for all, and a credit to the teaching profession. She is most deserving of this prestigious award.”
Hanley joined the Wildcat Nation in 2011 directly from college and student teaching. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of North Texas. She holds certifications in English as a Second Language, Gifted and Talented, and Special Education.
Since 2012, Hanley has been a Mentor Teacher for new teachers and mentors student teachers as well, she is the 3rd Grade Math and CSCOPE Math Team Leader, and she is a member of numerous committees.
Hanley writes, “I am truly honored to be named Region 8 Teacher of the Year. As a student who went through the entire Paris ISD system, I am thankful to give back to the district that gave so much to me. I love what I do and I try my best every day to be an ambassador for my community, district, school, and most importantly, my students.
“I knew that God called me to be a teacher at a very young age, and I have dedicated my entire life to becoming the best educator I can be. I believe that teaching is not a career, but a way of life. If you are meant to be a teacher, you teach no matter where you are, and you do whatever is necessary to help your students succeed. No matter what I have to do, I want everything I teach and everything my students learn to be fun and relevant to their lives. I want them to remember my name and know that I can and will help them be all they can be.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support from my family. My husband, son, parents, and in-laws do so much for my classes that go unseen and I truly could not be successful without them. I am also blessed to have a dedicated and supportive work family at Justiss Elementary. It is truly a magical place to work and every person in that building is dedicated to making sure that students know they are important and what they do matters!
There are so many good things happening in Texas public schools that are not heard about. As Region 8 Teacher of the Year, I plan to be a positive voice for the system that not only molded me, but is also changing the lives of over 5 million children in this great state.”
Each year, two teachers from each of the 20 regional Education Service Centers become eligible for two titles, Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. To achieve recognition, a teacher must first be chosen as a campus and a district Teacher of the Year, and ultimately a regional honoree. From this group of 40 regional teachers, six finalists are chosen and are interviewed by an independent panel of judges. The state's top elementary and secondary teachers are selected from these six outstanding finalists.
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