We are so proud that Aubrey ISD's Monaco Elementary School music teacher Angela Lee has been named 2025 Region 11 Elementary Teacher of the Year! Read the full press release below from Region 11:
Aubrey ISD and Lewisville ISD Teachers Named 2025 Region 11 Teachers of the Year
(White Settlement, TX) – An elementary music teacher from Aubrey ISD and a high school social studies teacher from Lewisville ISD have been selected to represent the North Texas region in this year’s state Teacher of the Year competition hosted by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA).
Angela Lee, a K-5 music teacher at Monaco Elementary in Aubrey ISD, and Timothy Fails, a 9th-grade social studies teacher at Flower Mound 9th Grade Campus in Lewisville ISD, were named the 2025 Region 11 Teachers of the Year during a special awards ceremony hosted by Education Service Center Region 11 and generously sponsored by EECU. The ceremony recognizes outstanding educators across the region, celebrating their dedication, innovation, and impact in the classroom.
The Teacher of the Year Program allows each Texas school district to submit one elementary and one secondary nominee for regional consideration. This year, 98 educators representing 51 school districts in Region 11 submitted applications.
To compete at the regional level, nominees submitted a detailed resume, professional biography, and five essays highlighting a defining lesson they’ve created, a project that builds school culture, community connections, leadership growth, and their message for educators should they be selected for national recognition. These submissions were reviewed and scored by a panel made up of past winners, classroom teachers, district leaders, and ESC Region 11 employees.
In addition to the two regional winners, eight educators were named finalists due to the excellence of their applications:
Elementary Finalists:
● Candace McCormick, Keene ISD
● Rachael Boswell, Weatherford ISD
● Aubrey Elder, Brock ISD
● Diane Nelson, Westlake Academy Charter School
Secondary Finalists:
● Tiffany Hill, Cleburne ISD
● KaCee Dobbins, Fort Worth ISD
● Tonya Sides, Sanger ISD
● Nioka Harris, Crowley ISD
Angela Lee – 2025 Region 11 Elementary Teacher of the Year
Angela Lee is a dedicated and experienced music educator with 19 years of service in Texas public schools. She currently teaches kindergarten through 5th-grade music at Monaco Elementary in Aubrey ISD, where she has inspired young musicians for the past nine years. Prior to that, she served as a middle and high school band director in Sanger ISD for ten years, giving her experience across all grade levels K–12.
Lee holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University and has served on multiple campus and district committees. Her excellence in classroom management and her production of exceptional student musical performances have earned widespread recognition.
Lee integrates cross-curricular learning in her classroom and encourages students to make meaningful connections between music and the world around them. She fosters creativity and resilience, helping students develop confi dence and embrace challenges. Her goal is to shape well-rounded, lifelong learners who appreciate the role of creativity in their lives.
Timothy Fails – 2025 Region 11 Secondary Teacher of the Year
With 18 years in the classroom, Timothy Fails teaches Geography at Flower Mound 9th Grade Campus in Lewisville ISD, where he has served since its opening in 2014. A proud first-generation college graduate, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of North Texas and holds Social Studies 8–12 certification.
Fails leads the Social Studies Department and has contributed to student life through roles like tennis coach, student council advisor, and club sponsor. His commitment to student growth extends beyond academics, forming lifelong connections with students and their families.
In the classroom, Fails prioritizes building a supportive and engaging environment where students explore the relationship between people and the planet. Through geographic inquiry and global awareness, he equips students with the critical thinking skills they need to analyze the world around them. His classroom is a space where students “shrink the world” and expand their minds.
Angela Lee and Timothy Fails will now advance to compete at the state level for the Texas Teacher of the Year award. The Texas Association of School Administrators’ selection committee will conduct final interviews on October 16, with the state winners announced on October 17.
These outstanding educators represent the best of Region 11 and exemplify the innovation, passion, and commitment that make a lasting difference in students’ lives.