2024-2025 EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER REGION 19

TEACHER OF THE YEAR WINNERS

Dora Esquivel, teacher at Coach Archie Duran Elementary School in the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD), has been named 2025 ESC19 Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Christopher J. Martin, teacher at Col John O. Ensor Middle School in the Socorro Independent School District (SISD), has been named 2025 ESC19 Secondary Teacher of the Year.

El Paso, Texas (August 10, 2024) – Twenty-three outstanding teachers from area districts and charter schools are competed in a rigorous selection process for the honor of representing our region at the state level. These dedicated educators were first selected as campus Teachers of the Year, then chosen to represent their respective districts, and tonight competed for the title of Regional Teacher of the Year. As part of the competition, each teacher underwent panel interviews and submitted multiple essays detailing their teaching philosophies and achievements. The first place winners of this prestigious regional competition will move on to compete for the title of Texas Teacher of the Year, with the announcement expected later this year. ESC Region 19 is proud to have had nine state winners from our region who have gone on to compete at the national level.

The winners were revealed during the awards celebration and banquet at the Starlight Event Center on Saturday, August 10, 2024. 

Raiz Federal Credit Union co-sponsored this event and generously awarded cash prizes to the top three teachers in both the elementary and secondary school categories.

This year also marks a special milestone as ESC Region 19 celebrates its 25th anniversary of honoring area school teachers with this awards celebration, recognizing the outstanding positive impact that educators have on our community.

All the district Teachers of the Year are exemplary educators, and judges have noted the difficulty in selecting the winners from such a highly qualified group.

 ESC19 Elementary Teacher of the Year Winners: 

1^st place: Dora Esquivel, EPISD;

2^nd place: Marisol Venegas, Clint ISD;

3^rd place: Santiago Chavez, Fabens ISD.

ESC19 Secondary Teacher of the Year Winners: 

1^st place: Christopher J. Martin, Socorro ISD;

2^nd place: Hiram Espinosa, Anthony ISD;

3^rd place: Lauren Franzoy, Ft. Hancock ISD.

Pictured in the Front row, from left to right: (District Secondary Teachers of the Year)

Hiram Espinosa, Anthony ISD,

Camila Zeh, Canutillo ISD,

Lauren Franzoy, Forth Hancock ISD,

Florangela Calderon, El Paso ISD

Veronica Tovar, Tornillo ISD

Christopher Martin, Socorro ISD

Abraham Samaniego, El Paso Leadership Academy

Lauren Uribarri, Ysleta ISD

Miguel Soto, Fabens ISD

Anastasia Chuca, Clint ISD

Cynthia Villareal, San Elizario ISD

Mamie Calhoun, Dell City ISD

Pictured in the Back row, from left to right: (District Elementary Teachers of the Year)

Carlolina Bustamante, Anthony ISD

Sarah Spencer, Canutillo ISD

Dora Esquivel, El Paso ISD

Christina Lara, San Elizario ISD

Kimberly Gonzalez, Fort Hancock ISD

Marisol Venegas, Clint ISD

Claudia Payne, Ysleta ISD

Santiago Chavez, Fabens ISD

Michelle Penalosa, Sierra Blanca ISD

Steven G. Montez, Tornillo ISD

Veronica Collier, Socorro ISD