August 31 – Constanza Serna

Constanza Serna, a native Tejana, is a 20-year veteran of Austin ISD and two-time Teacher of the Year recipient. She is a UTSA and UT Austin graduate with a background in History and Library Information Science.

During her career, Mrs. Serna has worked with hundreds of second and third grade students as a teacher, reading specialist and school librarian. Her passion for literacy, storytelling and creating community stems from listening to her mother who would tell her stories about family that has been passed down for generations. In the classroom, Mrs. Serna creates a safe environment for her students where they feel valued and come to class excited to learn.

Mrs. Serna has been awarded numerous grants from organizations including Scholastic, Austin Ed Fund, American Library Association and Derrick Johnson's Defend the Dream Foundation.

June 19 - Jazmyn Lynch

Jazmyn Lynch, a third-grade teacher at Pillow Elementary, is an incredible asset to the students she educates but also the Pillow community, in general. Her full commitment to the school, teachers, students and parents is reflected in the time and effort she has put back into the school since attending there as a child.

Along with being a former student of the school, Jazmyn completed her student teaching requirements there and has spent all 17 years of her professional career educating its students. She provides each of her students with the best opportunity to succeed by raising the bar for them and taking on the important responsibility of guiding them, both academically and emotionally. She makes a point to build a positive rapport with her teaching team, setting an example of excellence for teachers new to the profession.

This deeply loved and admired educator’s continued legacy is beyond being a teacher, it is one of compassion, dedication and commitment to her community.

May 15 - Laura Zapata

Laura Zapata, one of the newest teachers to join the Pardon Elementary family, is a Special Education teacher and serves students in all-grade levels.

In her time at Pardon Elementary, Laura has become a leader serving as Secretary of the Campus Advisory Committee, member of the Social Committee and the Elementary’s UIL Coordinator. In addition to her in-class instruction, she also leads after school classes to enrich students with cooking skills.

Laura is full of positive energy, always willing and ready to support students and teachers. Her ability to form meaningful relationships with everyone she meets makes this child-centered teacher a shining star at Pardon Elementary.

March 9 - Javier Rodriguez

Javier Rodriguez, originally from Villaralbo, Spain, is a bilingual second-grade teacher at Reilly Elementary. He taught for 9 years, before joining Austin ISD in 2023.

Javier brings a spirit of teamwork and enthusiasm to the classroom, even when there are challenges for his students who come every corner of the globe, including some who speak indigenous languages. He provides an exciting learning experience and in doing so, his students aren't just making academic gains; they are leading the growth at Reilly Elementary, thanks to his guidance.

Javier is helping to transform bilingual education at Reilly Elementary by captivating the hearts and minds of his students. He is more than a teacher; he is a trailblazer, proving with teamwork and a lot of heart, education can be as exciting as a soccer match.