Whether it’s encouraging a student to think bigger, guiding a group through a creative project, or helping someone discover confidence in their own ideas, Jennifer Crisp brings energy, curiosity, and intentionality to every corner of the classroom. It’s that dedication to student growth and innovative teaching that earned Crisp the title of Abilene ISD’s 2024-25 Elementary Teacher of the Year. She was honored last month at the Abilene Education Foundation’s annual Teacher in the Limelight celebration, where she also received the Edwin and Agnes Jennings Teaching Excellence Award.
“I was completely shocked, humbled, and honored,” Crisp said of winning the award. “One of the great things about that event is that you hear all the stories of the excellent teaching happening in our district. It was inspirational, and I wish everyone in our district could have heard those stories. They make you feel good about education.”
Crisp joined Taylor Elementary in 2023, bringing years of experience as a Gifted and Talented teacher across multiple AISD campuses. In her current role, she creates opportunities for enrichment and acceleration, designing hands-on projects that challenge students to think critically and creatively using the school’s Makerspace.
This year, her students explored topics like nuclear energy and deep space, building everything from educational board games to original rap songs to demonstrate their learning.
One tool in the Makerspace lab that every Taylor fourth- and fifth-grader had the opportunity to work with during the 2024-25 school year was the Lego SPIKE kits, which Crisp ordered with a grant provided to her by the AEF. Those kits include more than 40 guided lessons, step-by-step building and coding instructions, and the SPIKE Prime app.
“I challenged the kids to go beyond just making a Google Slideshow and do something creative with their projects,” Crisp said. “I wanted them to think about what they could do to take their projects to the next level, to make it interactive, and to use some higher-level thinking and not just tell others the knowledge they gained but do it in a creative and interesting way.”
Taylor Principal Leslye Roberts, who nominated Crisp for the award, said Crisp’s influence reaches the entire campus.
“She has helped students become more excited about learning, pushing them beyond their current boundaries, and she continues to innovate and improve the services offered at Taylor so that all students can achieve academic success.”
For Crisp, the real reward is watching students surprise themselves with what they can do and knowing she played a part in helping them get there. Her work exemplifies what it means to lead with innovation, seeking new ways to reach students, elevate learning, and create meaningful opportunities for growth.