Elina Ybarra awarded 2024 ESC-20 Elementary Teacher of the Year at First Day of School Pep Rally at Uvalde Elementary

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian : Picture by Robinson

Monday morning, August 14th, students of Uvalde Elementary received a special spirit filled welcome from Uvalde High School Cheerleaders and UHS Marching Band Drummers.

Uvalde CISD Superintendent Gary Patterson delivered a welcome message to students and faculty. There was a surprise in store for Uvalde Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher Elina Ybarra at the pep rally. A representative from ESC-20  was on hand with Patterson to recognize Ybarra as the 2024 ESC-20 Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Uvalde CISD issued the following statement on the award:  “We are thrilled to announce that Elina Ybarra, Uvalde Elementary’s 3rd Grade Teacher, has been named the 2024 ESC-20 Elementary Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Ybarra is no stranger to accolades, having been named the 2022-2023 UCISD Garcia & Mireles Elementary District Teacher of the Year. As a proud alumnus of UCISD, Mrs. Ybarra returned to the district as an educator to give back to Uvalde’s youth. Her love for her community and dedication to her students is inspiring.

Mrs. Ybarra’s teaching philosophy focuses on creating a loving classroom culture where students feel valued and heard. She understands the unique challenges that her students and families face and works tirelessly to meet both the social and academic needs of her students by building meaningful relationships. As a Uvalde native, she has a deep appreciation for her community and is committed to ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality education.

Mrs. Ybarra will now represent ESC-20 at the state-level competition, and we couldn’t be prouder of her accomplishments. Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Ybarra on this well-deserved honor! #UCISD #UvaldePride #TeacherOfTheYear”