Awards & Recognitions
First General Session | Monday, January 26, 2026 | 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Roosevelt Nivens
Superintendent, Lamar CISD
2025 Texas Superintendent of the Year &
Finalist for 2026 National Superintendent of the Year
Martha Salazar-Zamora
Superintendent, Tomball ISD
2025 Golden Deeds for Education Award
Honorary Life Members
School Leaders Selected for TASA Honorary Life Membership in 2025-26
Kayren Gray
Chief of Access and Opportunity, Round Rock ISD
2026 Johnny L. Veselka Scholarship Recipient
Brandy Stanford
Assistant Superintendent of Finance, Temple ISD
2026 Johnny L. Veselka Scholarship Recipient
Cameron, Dallas and Humble ISDs
The Caudill Award is the highest honor in the annual Exhibit of School Architecture competition.
Second General Session | Tuesday, January 27, 2026 | 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Vickiela Wright
McWhirter School, Clear Creek ISD
2026 Texas Teacher of the Year
Timothy Fails
Flower Mound 9th Grade Campus, Lewisville ISD
2026 Texas Secondary
Teacher of the Year
Audra Rowell
Advanced Academics Coordinator, Northwest ISD
TAGT 2025 State Administrator of the Gifted
LaTonya Goffney
Aldine ISD
2024-25 Texas Education Technology Leaders (TETL) Empowered Superintendent
Lainey Hanna
Helena Park Elementary School, Nederland ISD
NAESP (in partnership with TEPSA) 2025 National Assistant Principal of the Year for Texas
Andra Penny
Cottonwood Creek Elementary School, Coppell ISD
NAESP (in partnership with TEPSA) 2025 National Distinguished Principal of the Year for Texas
Tasha Nikl
Venus Middle School, Venus ISD
TASSP 2025-26 Outstanding Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year
Janelle Muhammad
Rancier Middle School, Killeen ISD
TASSP 2025-26 Outstanding Middle School Principal of the Year
Andrea Garza
United High School, United ISD
TASSP 2025-26 Outstanding High School Assistant Principal of the Year
Kara Lea Deardorff
Byron Nelson High School, Northwest ISD
TASSP 2025-26 Outstanding High School Principal of the Year
Jennifer Morris
Executive Director - Professional Learning, Mesquite ISD
2026 Outstanding Professional Learning Award – Learning Forward Texas
Kristina Feldner
Director of Professional Learning, Irving ISD
2026 Outstanding Professional Learning Award – Learning Forward Texas