Excellence Express—All Aboard for Excellence!
Excellence Express—All Aboard for Excellence!
We’re proud to recognize this year’s Excellence Express Lobo Award Winners—outstanding educators and staff across our district who go above and beyond for students, families, and colleagues every day. Please join us in congratulating the following honorees from each location across Little Elm ISD:
Administration Building
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Teacher of the Year: Samantha Calamaco
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Jairo Garcia
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Team Member of the Year: Michael Richter
Oak Point Elementary
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Teacher of the Year: Gileyza Rodriguez Colon
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Professional of the Year: Amy Wise
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Nancy Sanchez
Joel Moses Transportation and Operations Building
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Team Member of the Year: Rae Brassfield
Jerry R. Walker Middle School
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Teacher of the Year: Bailey Haeussler
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Professional of the Year: Lindsay Milnor
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Heather Shirey
Lakewood Village Elementary
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Teacher of the Year: Derek Crocker
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Professional of the Year: Miranda Smith
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Amy Certain
Hershel Zellars Early Childhood Learning Center
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Teacher of the Year: Aimee Brady
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Professional of the Year: Kacy Kupper
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Child Care Paraprofessional of the Year: Heidy Saucedo
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Nelly Sosa
Lakeview Elementary
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Teacher of the Year: Babra Naicken
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Professional of the Year: Janee Wilson
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Ari Landa
Little Elm High School
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Teacher of the Year: Kevin Francis
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Professional of the Year: Linzy Evans
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Julia Espinoza
Dennis Brent Elementary
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Teacher of the Year: Alma Davo
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Professional of the Year: Terron Morris
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Dorimar Quinones Acosta
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CN / Team Member of the Year: Novlet Gittens
Hackberry Elementary
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Teacher of the Year: Chris Nash
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Professional of the Year: Mariza Escamilla
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Sylvia Cruz
Prestwick Elementary
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Teacher of the Year: Brittani Grayson
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Professional of the Year: Angel Greer
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Marlene Mata
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Team Member of the Year (Operations): Simon Gallegos
Lowell Strike Middle School
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Teacher of the Year: Lisa Briggs
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Professional of the Year: Anton Maclin
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Rakhee Blackwood
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Custodial / Team Member of the Year: Michael Brockett
Cesar Chavez Elementary
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Teacher of the Year: Alana Hataway
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Professional of the Year: Ivette D’Angelo
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Paraprofessional of the Year: Natalia Lucci
Congratulations to all of our honorees! Your passion, dedication, and heart for students truly make a difference. We’re proud to celebrate you!
Other News
![Boys and stem]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1772548058/littleelmisdnet/ezyfejvjhofmyp4cfiws/Screenshot2026-03-03at82727AM.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1772548058/littleelmisdnet/ezyfejvjhofmyp4cfiws/Screenshot2026-03-03at82727AM.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1772548058/littleelmisdnet/ezyfejvjhofmyp4cfiws/Screenshot2026-03-03at82727AM.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1772548058/littleelmisdnet/ezyfejvjhofmyp4cfiws/Screenshot2026-03-03at82727AM.png","width":894}])
At Prestwick Elementary, Rhonda Donaldson, campus STEM Influencer, has been intentional about weaving science, technology, engineering, and math into reading and writing. Her goal? Make STEM purposeful — embedded within literacy, inquiry, and real-world problem solving.
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![excellence express photos]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1772228117/littleelmisdnet/weaz7sgrxbpp8f8xmu4q/EE262665.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1772228117/littleelmisdnet/weaz7sgrxbpp8f8xmu4q/EE262665.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1772228117/littleelmisdnet/weaz7sgrxbpp8f8xmu4q/EE262665.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1772228117/littleelmisdnet/weaz7sgrxbpp8f8xmu4q/EE262665.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1772228117/littleelmisdnet/weaz7sgrxbpp8f8xmu4q/EE262665.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1772228117/littleelmisdnet/weaz7sgrxbpp8f8xmu4q/EE262665.jpg","width":2200}])
We’re proud to recognize this year’s Excellence Express Lobo Award Winners—outstanding educators and staff across our district who go above and beyond for students, families, and colleagues every day. Please join us in congratulating the following honorees from each location across Little Elm ISD:
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![AP bronze award]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1771621079/littleelmisdnet/chwqggidh6czuorje27i/APhonorroll.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1771621079/littleelmisdnet/chwqggidh6czuorje27i/APhonorroll.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1771621079/littleelmisdnet/chwqggidh6czuorje27i/APhonorroll.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1771621079/littleelmisdnet/chwqggidh6czuorje27i/APhonorroll.jpg","width":982}])
For the first time, College Board has selected Little Elm High School to receive the bronze AP Honor Roll and AP Access Award recognition. LEHS is one of 1,587 schools in Texas to earn the Bronze level AP School honor and one of 862 schools to earn a place for the first time in 2025.
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![Ai project in the lab]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1771620182/littleelmisdnet/ai8qz12lepvfowcqe1nf/B2SB1498.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1771620182/littleelmisdnet/ai8qz12lepvfowcqe1nf/B2SB1498.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1771620182/littleelmisdnet/ai8qz12lepvfowcqe1nf/B2SB1498.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1771620182/littleelmisdnet/ai8qz12lepvfowcqe1nf/B2SB1498.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1771620182/littleelmisdnet/ai8qz12lepvfowcqe1nf/B2SB1498.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1771620182/littleelmisdnet/ai8qz12lepvfowcqe1nf/B2SB1498.jpg","width":2200}])
What happens when curiosity meets opportunity—and a teacher isn’t afraid of big ideas?
In one Computer Science classroom, five seniors are proving that artificial intelligence isn’t just something you use—it’s something you can build. Guided by CTE teacher Manuel Castillo, these students took ambitious ideas and turned them into working AI-powered tools designed to help students, teachers, job seekers, and professionals succeed.
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![Building Leadership: One Hand Shake at a Time]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1770959467/littleelmisdnet/xu61bgeib1nnyg3oo1ph/B2SB1428.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1770959467/littleelmisdnet/xu61bgeib1nnyg3oo1ph/B2SB1428.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1770959467/littleelmisdnet/xu61bgeib1nnyg3oo1ph/B2SB1428.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1770959467/littleelmisdnet/xu61bgeib1nnyg3oo1ph/B2SB1428.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1770959467/littleelmisdnet/xu61bgeib1nnyg3oo1ph/B2SB1428.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1770959467/littleelmisdnet/xu61bgeib1nnyg3oo1ph/B2SB1428.jpg","width":2200}])
Leadership, confidence, and real-world skills took center stage as Little Elm ISD hosted its first regional Amazing Shake contest — marking the first time all elementary campuses participated in the experience. The past two years only one campus, Oak Point Elementary particpated.
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