Kevin Criss, PE teacher at Cambridge Elementary, is the 2024 Alamo Heights ISD Teacher of the Year.
Criss began his teaching career in Alamo Heights ISD in 2013. Though he never participated in organized sports as a child, a college course in kinesiology sparked his desire to become a physical education teacher.
In December 2023, he earned National Board Certification, becoming only the second educator in the state to earn the prestigious designation in Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood- Physical Education.
“It is my goal to have each student find their own place to excel within physical education,” says Criss. “For content to be meaningful to a student, they must have an emotional response to it. I have to plan very carefully because I want to create positive experiences for them. Not participating in organized sports as a child, I understand that not every student is a star athlete.”
Criss will represent AHISD as the district’s nominee for the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Region 20 Teacher of the Year.
“Kevin is an outstanding PE teacher at Cambridge, with exceptional dedication, passion, and creativity in this role,” says Cambridge Principal Jana Hawkins. “He encourages his students to openly express themselves with humility and vulnerability. I am confident that he will continue to inspire and empower students for years to come.”
In November, each campus hosted a Teacher of the Year nomination process and selected one teacher who exemplifies the Profile of a Learner to represent their campus this year. A Selection Committee of AHISD teachers and staff met in January to select the District Teacher of the Year.
All five campus teachers of the year were recognized at the January 24 Board Meeting, where the District Teacher of the Year was announced.
The 2024 Campus Teachers of the Year are:
Alamo Heights HS - Sarah Holmes, ELAR teacher
Junior School - John Sheppard, Gifted and Talented Coordinator, ELAR/LOTE department chair, 8th grade Advanced/GT English teacher
Cambridge - Kevin Criss, PE teacher
Woodridge - Megan Janak, 3rd grade teacher
Howard - Anna Duce, kindergarten teacher
