Education Austin Member Kari Johnston Selected as Finalist for Teacher of the Year Statewide Honors

Kari Johnston poses with her students and her honor award.

Earlier this month, the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) announced that Education Austin member Kari Johnston was selected as the Elementary Teacher of the Year for Region XIII and is one of three finalists for their statewide Elementary School Teacher of the Year award. Johnston is a bilingual teacher at Perez Elementary in Austin ISD and has taught there since she began teaching 5 years ago. 

In response to the announcement, Johnston tweeted, “I’m feeling grateful and excited for this honor. My students are super brilliant, and my campus is doing important work! I believe in #publiceducation.”

Johnston is an active member of her union. At an Austin ISD New Teacher Orientation this year, she spoke to a crowd of 500 new teachers and encouraged them to sign up for Education Austin. 

Throughout September and October, the three finalists for Elementary School Teacher of the Year will be interviewed by a panel of judges before a statewide Teacher of the Year is selected. Texas AFT wishes Kari Johnston the best of luck in this process!