Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas – Jennifer Han became a state finalist for Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year (only finalist from RGV) on Aug. 20. Prior to that, she was named Regional Elementary Teacher of the Year (Aug. 12) and McAllen ISD District Elementary Teacher of the Year (May, 2021).
Han is now in her 14th year of teaching and is also a robotics team coach. She is a product of McAllen ISD, having graduated from McAllen Memorial High in 2003.
She becomes just the third teacher in McAllen ISD history to be named State Teacher of the Year. Since the program’s inception, 5 teachers in the state of Texas have received the award. Three of them are from McAllen ISD.
The presentation was made by Doug Williams, President of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). TASA has facilitated the official state Texas Teacher of the Year program since 2011.
Others in attendance were McAllen ISD Superintendent Dr. J.A. Gonzalez, members of McAllen School Board, Seguin Elementary Principal Juan Nevarez, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez and officials representing the office of Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, the State Board of Education, Region One Education Service Center, the County of Hidalgo and the City of McAllen.
Members of the Rowe High School drumline and cheerleaders joined in the festive moment. Masks were worn and social distancing was maintained.
Since fall 1991, McAllen teachers have earned an astounding 20 Regional or State Teacher of the Year titles – the most in the region. Two of the 17 previous regional winners went on to be named state winners in 1993 and 2009.
In August, Han spoke to more than 100 new teachers at the McAllen ISD New Teacher Orientation. She reminded them of their tremendous power to impact students’ lives.
“You can change humanity one classroom at a time,” she said.
Jennifer Han, who teaches bilingual and gifted/talented education, has led initiatives for community empowerment and involvement through McAllen ISD’s Community Youth Development program, recognizing parents and students who have been named as outstanding parents and youth by the US Department of Family Protective Services.
“I have learned through the years of being a writing teacher that kids want to be noticed, acknowledged and liked,” Han said. “They want to share and show us who they are. They love talking about their dreams, families, special talents and things that make them proud. Though not all students may have the ability to glide on paper to express themselves, in my class all students are encouraged to try their best to tell their own story.”
As grade level chair of her school’s Minitropolis Program, she has led in the creation of a post office, a store front, a bank and a photography shop. In this unique program that infuses business into the educational setting, students learn real life leadership, career, and finance skills.
She advocates for STEAM integration, emotional intelligence and flipped classrooms to equip students for life’s rapidly changing demands.
Her robotics team integrated Science, Engineering, Math and Technology and has shown “gracious cooperation” (cooperative competition) in and outside of the playing field, earning distinctions such as “Innovative Projects” and “Most Inspiring Team” for demonstrating great sportsmanship in the regional competition of the First Lego League.
Han has been a major and consistent contributor to district curriculum writing, presenting at numerous technology-based conferences that have drawn educators from across the state.
“I’m actually a product of McAllen ISD and if it wasn’t for McAllen ISD teachers, I wouldn’t be here,” Han said when accepting the district award in May.
She holds bilingual generalist and Spanish certifications and a bachelor of science in education from the University of Texas at Austin with honors, magna cum laude.
