Abilene ISD’s 2025-26 Teachers of the Year were honored during the Abilene Education Foundation’s 14th annual Teachers in the Limelight Celebration on Wednesday, April 22.
The event’s top honors went to ATEMS English language arts teacher Katie Condra and Bowie Elementary School kindergarten teacher Noah Watson. Both were named AISD Secondary and Elementary Teachers of the Year, respectively, and each received the prestigious Edwin and Agnes Jennings Teacher Excellence Award from the Abilene Education Foundation.
Congratulations to each of the outstanding educators recognized this year, whose leadership and dedication in their fields are helping prepare more than 14,500 Abilene students for brighter futures.
Read more about AISD’s Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year, and see a complete list of award winners below.
Katie Condra
Katie Condra joined Abilene ISD in 2015 and currently serves as an English language arts teacher at ATEMS. Over her 20-year teaching career, she has taught Advanced Placement, dual credit, and on-level high school English courses.
At ATEMS, Condra is a trusted voice and mentor on the ATEMS campus, playing a key role in supporting both students and staff. As a mentor to new teachers and an active presence in student activities, she helps foster a strong, collaborative school culture. In her classroom, Condra blends project-based learning with cross-curricular experiences, creating opportunities for students to connect their learning beyond the classroom while feeling seen, valued, and challenged.
“Katie Condra is, without question, one of the kindest and most compassionate teachers I have ever met,” ATEMS Principal Brandon Randell said. “Her genuine care for students is evident in everything she does–from the way she structures her classroom environment to the countless hours she devotes to supporting them academically and personally.”
Condra is a graduate of Abilene Christian University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English for secondary teachers and a Master of Arts in English. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in literature and criticism at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with a research focus in North American Indigenous literature and storytelling through rock art.
Noah Watson
Noah Watson is a kindergarten teacher at Bowie Elementary School and a proud product of Abilene ISD schools. As a high-school student, he participated in the Ready, Set, Teach program and was a 2-time national competitor in the Texas Association of Future Educators organization.
A 2022 graduate of Texas A&M University, Watson has spent the past four years at Bowie, where he has quickly established himself as both an effective educator and a peer leader.
In his classroom, Watson sets high expectations for his students and helps them reach their goals with individualized instruction and intentional support. That support extends to campuswide initiatives, including Bowie’s student leadership team. Watson also serves as a Capturing Kids’ Heart Process Champion, contributing to systems that support a positive, connected school culture.
“Between his excellence in daily instruction and his dedication to professional innovation, Mr. Watson has become a true difference-maker at Bowie Elementary,” Bowie Principal Janaye Wideman said. “He consistently pairs high expectations for his students with the intentional support they need to meet them, ensuring every child is positioned to thrive.”
2026 Edwin & Agnes Jennings Math Teacher of the Year Nominees:
Montie Lackey (Abilene HS ; Math Nominee)
Marcus Powell (Cooper HS ; Math Nominee)
Stephanie Southard (ATEMS ; Math Nominee)
Kristen Summerlin (Abilene HS ; Math Nominee)
2026 Edwin & Agnes Jennings Science Teacher of the Year Nominees:
Macy Alexander (Abilene HS ; Science Nominee)
Matthew Durham (Abilene HS ; Science Nominee)
Bradley Hardin (Cooper HS ; Science Nominee)
Callista Renfro (Cooper HS ; Science Nominee)
2026 JB Gibbs Coaching Award recipient - Alejandro Chavez, Cooper High School
2026 Winnie Gibbs Counseling Award - Ginger Vinson, Abilene High School
Abilene ISD & Abilene Philharmonic Fine Arts Teacher of the Year - John Landin, Cooper High School
2026 TLC Elementary Teacher of the Year - Noah Watson, Bowie Elementary School
2026 TLC Secondary Teacher of the Year - Katie Condra, ATEMS
2026 Edwin & Agnes Jennings Math Teacher of the Year - Allison Gonzales, Cooper High School
2026 Edwin & Agnes Jennings Science Teacher of the Year - Linsey Bartlett, Holland Medical High School
Campus Teacher Honorees:
High School:
Abilene High - Mellanie Myers and Sara Garza
Cooper High - Marcus Powell and Kinzee Willis
ATEMS - Katie Condra
Woodson - Mark Bennett
Middle School:
Clack - Leslie Murphy
Craig - KaJeanna Jones
Madison - Erin Monroy
Mann - Kellsea Chapin
Elementary School:
Alcorta - David Alschwede
Austin - Jennifer McLean
Bassetti - Lacey Flatt
Bonham - Taylor Moreno
Bowie - Noah Watson
Dyess - Shayla Miller Munoz
Long - Zyanya Boos
Martinez - Kellie Naylor
Purcell - Anabel Acosta
Stafford - Caitlyn Woodman
Taylor - Shelby Bridges
Ward - Malcolm Thomas
Hartford SAP - Crystal Johnston