McMinimy Named Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalist

AUSTIN – The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) has announced that six outstanding educators from across Texas have been chosen as finalists in the 2027 Texas Teacher of the Year program.

Mary McMinimy is a special education teacher in the Life Skills program at Flower Mound High School, where she has served students for nine years in both Academic and Functional Life Skills settings. Since 2022, she has also served as Life Skills Department Chair, working closely with teachers and paraprofessionals to support student growth and independence. McMinimy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Woman’s University and completed the Texas Teachers Alternative Certification Program in 2016. She is certified in Special Education, Core Subjects, and English as a Second Language. Beyond the classroom, McMinimy co-sponsors the Circle of Friends Club and has served on its board for more than a decade. Her work is grounded in strong relationships, inclusive practices, intentional instruction, and collaboration that helps students reach their full potential.

“Texas teachers perform miracles every day as they inspire children even in the most challenging of times,” said Kevin Brown, executive director of TASA, which has coordinated the Texas Teacher of the Year program since 2011. “Public school teachers are critical to the success of individual children and our society as a whole. Those who choose to teach are national heroes, and these six finalists are the best among them. They have distinguished themselves among thousands of outstanding, dedicated teachers across our nation have who have answered the call to serve.”

On August 18, a panel of judges composed of representatives of Texas teacher associations and last year’s Texas Teacher of the Year finalists selected the finalists from the 40 Texas Regional Teachers of the Year — one elementary and one secondary teacher from each of the 20 Texas Education Service Center regions.

The six finalists will be interviewed October 15 by a panel of judges composed of representatives of educational leadership associations, community and business leaders, a member of the State Board for Educator Certification, a member of the State Board of Education, and prior Texas Teachers of the Year.

The panel will select two state-level winners — Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year — and designate one to represent Texas in the National Teacher of the Year program. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony October 16 at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Round Rock, Texas, where the 40 Regional Teachers of the Year will also be recognized.

The Texas Teacher of the Year program has honored excellence in classroom education since 1969. The program, facilitated by TASA since 2011, annually recognizes and rewards teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching. In 2015, Texas Teacher of the Year Shanna Peeples of Amarillo ISD became the second Texas teacher to be named the National Teacher of the Year.

The Texas Teacher of the Year program operates with financial support and in-kind contributions from the following:

• Premier Sponsors: H-E-B, Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA)
• Gold Sponsors: LPA, Inc., Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP), Texas AFT
• Silver Sponsors: Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA), Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA), Texas PTA