Teacher of the Year

Let’s celebrate Irving teachers!

“A teacher affects eternity; they can never tell where their influence stops.” – Henry Adams, 19th century educator, historian and writer. Late spring is a favorite time of year around Irving Schools Foundation for two reasons: It’s the time of year when we celebrate our student (and staff) scholarship winners at Breakfast With the Stars; and also, it’s the season we celebrate the excellence that characterizes our amazing Irving ISD teachers via the ISF Teacher of the Year program, produced in collaboration with Irving ISD.

Theresa Spencer of Cardwell Career Preparatory Center and Maresa Martinez of Lively Elementary School are named Teachers of the Year for Irving ISD. Left to right group photo:  Crystal Scanio, Maresa Martinez, Theresa Spencer, Don Herring. (April 27, 2023)

How the Teacher of the Year Program Works:

If you’re thinking that it must be difficult to choose just a couple of teachers from so many outstanding Irving ISD educators, you’re absolutely correct—but somehow, a selection committee of ISF and IISD representatives manages each year to identify an elementary teacher and a secondary teacher (from the ranks of the current crop of campus Teacher of the Year recipients) who have demonstrated particular excellence or achievement in their fields.

Each spring, Irving Schools Foundation sponsors a festive, inspirational recognition ceremony where all campus honorees are awarded a cash prize provided by ISF, and where the two teachers selected for the District Teacher of the Year awards are revealed (and also presented with cash and in-kind prizes). All awards are designated for personal use at the teachers’ discretion.

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how to help

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Support from the community—businesses and individuals—is the fuel that ignites the success of Irving Schools Foundation, and the Teacher of the Year program is no exception. If you’d like to help us recognize Irving educators for their continued efforts to go above and beyond, you can make a contribution in support of the ISF Teacher of the Year program; or contact us at [email protected] or 972.600.5018 to find out more about sponsoring the awards ceremony or making an in-kind donation. (In the past, we’ve provided car leases, gift certificates, upscale swag bags and other items, via contributions from area businesses, as prizes to both the campus honorees and to our overall district honorees—we’d love to see your business or organization take a role in the celebration.)

How to get help

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Bethlyn Fisher

Programs Assistant

Randy Randle

Board Member

Bethlyn is a native to the Wise County area and holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in Elementary Education from Tarleton State University.

Bethlyn comes to Irving Schools Foundation with a background in teaching. Prior to her time with ISF, she taught in Irving ISD at Elliott Elementary for 6 years. She also has experience in Irving ISD as a swim instructor for the district’s Swim Safe program. Bethlyn’s main passions include helping the community and teaching others.

Bethlyn lives in Bedford with her husband, Dillon, and 2 cats, Gadget and Gizmo. Her hobbies include swimming, reading, baking, crafting, exercising, and caring for her plant collection.

Adriana Colunga

Development Manager

Adriana Colunga

Development Manager

Margie Stipes

Director Emerita

Margie Stipes

Director Emerita

Margie Stipes has been an Irving resident since 1955. She and her late husband, John, raised three children together, Randy, now deceased, Larry, and Stacie. Margie worked 30 years as a secretary at American Airlines, receiving the company’s Customer First Award.

She has been active in schools and the community, serving on several bond program committees and with the city’s Charter Review Committee. Margie was president of the Nimitz High School Booster Club for several years and has been a longtime member of both the Keep Irving Beautiful Board and the Irving Schools Foundation Board of Directors.

Margie’s accolades include the High Spirited Citizen Award, Greater Irving Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award, Irving Schools Foundation Gala Award, and multiple local and national PTA awards for extended service. In 2014, she was inducted into the Irving Sports Hall of Fame. Margie is honored to be a namesake for IISD’s John and Margie Stipes Elementary School in south Irving.

Randy Randle

Board Member

Randy Randle

Board Member

Randy Randle is a lifelong resident of Irving. He attended Otis Brown Elementary School, Bowie Junior High School and graduated from Nimitz High School.  Randy attended The University of Texas at Arlington and received a Business Administration degree in accounting.

Mr. Randle has been married to Lynda for 28 years and has two sons who attended Irving Schools.  Randy has long been serving in leadership roles in both our schools and our community.  He has served as PTA fundraising chairman, Band Booster president and chairman of baseball concessions for the Booster Club.  Randy has served on two campus improvement committees and the District Improvement Committee.

Randy served on the Irving City Council for six years and was chairman of the finance committee. He also served as chairman of the City of Irving Bond Task Force.

Randy has attended the same church for 66 years and serves as a trustee, as well as chairman of the building committee.  Randy works in the family business, which has been in Irving for 60 years.

Andy Jones

Board Member

Andy Jones

Board Member

Andy is Vice President and Learning Experience Development Team Manager for Texas Capital Bank.

He has received the Volunteer of the Year Award at Texas Capital for the last two years. Andy continues to volunteer at the Resource Center Community Health Clinic (9 Years), the AT&T Performing Arts Center (6 years), Make a Wish Foundation (5 years), Oak Lawn United Methodist Church Administrative Board (1 year) and the Dallas Titans (9 years), a local softball team where he has coordinated raising over $120,000 to give back to the community in the form of back-to-school supplies, food for a local food pantry and sending children with cancer to summer camp.

Andy has a Masters Degree from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor Degree from Winthrop University.

Kitty Boyle

Board Member

Kitty Boyle

Board Member

Kitty has held many leadership positions throughout her 55 years in Irving, TX including founding and serving as past chair for the Community College Association for Texas Trustees. Kitty is presently Chair of the board for the Ranch Academy, a charter school, where she have served on the board since 1998.

All six of her children graduated from IISD as have five of Kitty’s grandchildren as well. In 2011, Kitty and her husband John were named the Irving High Spirited Citizens. Kitty has a genuine heart for the citizens of Irving and it doesn’t go unnoticed.