El Pasoan Wins Texas Teacher Of The Year Award

An El Paso woman has won the 2010 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year award from the Texas Education Agency.

Yushica Walker is a sixth-grade science teacher at Morehead Middle School in the El Paso Independent School District. She won the award at a special ceremony and luncheon at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center in Austin.

Walker won a cash prize of $5,000, a SMART Board technology package worth more than $16,500, a laptop computer, and a commemorative trophy.

In order to be considered for the award, Walker had to submit an application where she answered questions about her teaching philosophy and background.

Walker says her aunt, Willie Mae, who is a veteran teacher in Houston, inspired her to become a teacher.

The El Pasoan will now advance to the National Teacher of the Year competition.