The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) has announced the winners of the 2025 Texas Teacher of the Year awards. Kristi Leff, a fifth-grade science and English/language arts teacher at Humphrey’s Highland Elementary in Amarillo ISD, has been named the 2025 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year. Christine Mihealsick, an Advanced Placement environmental science teacher at Westwood High School in Round Rock ISD, is recognized as the 2025 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. Mihealsick will represent Texas in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
The announcement was made during an awards ceremony held on October 25 in Round Rock, Texas. Both winners will receive a cash award and a commemorative trophy.
Regional Teachers of the Year and finalists for Texas Teacher of the Year were also honored at the event. The finalists included Kevin Criss from Cambridge Elementary School in Alamo Heights ISD; JoMeka Gray from Kennedy-Powell Elementary School in Temple ISD; Darla Morrow from James R. Brooks Middle School in Greenwood ISD; and Melissa Farias Zúñiga from New Braunfels High School in New Braunfels ISD.
Kevin Brown, executive director of TASA, stated: “I congratulate Christine and Kristi on this achievement. Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor our state bestows upon its teachers.”
Christine Mihealsick teaches AP environmental science and serves as department chair at Westwood High School. She has been teaching since 2002 with experience across various subjects including chemistry and biology. Mihealsick holds degrees from The University of Texas at Austin and several certifications including National Board Certification for Adolescent/Young Adult Science.
Kristi Leff has been teaching since 2015 at Humphrey’s Highland Elementary after previous positions in Florida and South Texas schools. She holds multiple degrees including a master’s degree in special education from Lamar University and is certified in gifted instruction among other areas.
To be recognized as either an elementary or secondary teacher of the year, candidates must progress through campus, district, regional levels before being selected by a panel comprising education associations' representatives along with community leaders.
Since its inception in 1969, TASA's program continues to acknowledge excellence within classroom education annually with support from various organizations such as H-E-B, Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union among others listed below:
- H-E-B
- TASA
- Texas Association of School Boards (TASB)
- Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union
- Imagine Learning
- Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE)
- Texas AFT
- Various other educational associations
