2009 Region 12 Elementary Teacher of the Year

Gayla Reid
Waco ISD

Elementary TOTY recipient Reid has been a teacher for the past 13 years. She has taught kindergarten with English as Second Language (ESL) students at Sul Ross Elementary for the last two years. Prior to that, she taught kindergarten, first and second grade dual language and third grade levels.

In addition to this award, Reid has been named the Twentieth Teacher to Achieve National Board Certification in Texas and included in the Cambridge list of Who’s Who. She has served as a writer of the Professional Development Training of the TEKS Refinements in Mathematics for the Texas Education Agency (TEA), has published an article in the Association for Childhood Education International titled, “Strategies for Writing in the Middle School Mathematics Classroom” and was featured in an article of Fiscal Notes from the state comptroller over the topic of “Teaching Teachers.”

Reid believes in passing her learning on to her colleagues. She has taught numerous classes for the Alternative Teacher Certification Program at ESC Region 12 and presented staff development topics about literacy, numerical fluency, technology integration and student centered classrooms at state and national conferences. She’s also been active in the life of future teachers by acting as a mentor to student teachers and Baylor interns.

It was encouragement and support that she received from her family and community that enabled Reid to overcome her own educational obstacles.  She struggled through mathematics, speech and self confidence issues.  After tutorials began to break problems down to its most simplistic terms, Reid was able to master these subjects and gain confidence in her ability to learn and her overall self esteem.  This transformation and inspiration lead her to teaching.  Reid is focused on teaching students to think independently and focus on problem solving skills.  She continually refines her teaching techniques and always has a sensitivity and understanding for special needs.