Cheryl Prantle is a fourth-grade science and social studies teacher at Leo A. Rizzuto Elementary and Beck Neal, an 11th-grade U.S. History teacher and coach at La Porte High were named the 2025-26 District Teachers of the Year at the May 15 La Porte ISD Service Awards celebration at Bulldog Centre.

Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson announced their selection following recognition of all La Porte ISD Campus Teachers of the Year. The Rotary Club of La Porte presented each of the District Teachers of the Year with a check for $8,000.

Prior to the announcement of the district Teachers of the Year, principals escorted their respective campus Teachers of the Year to the stage as brief bios on each were read.

Other elementary honorees and their respective schools are:

Taylor Harris-Guerrero, Bayshore Elementary
Diana Lavan, College Park Elementary
Amanda Hargrove, Heritage Elementary
Lorena Arteaga, Lomax Elementary
Rhonda Knighten, Jennie Reid Elementary
Kaitlyn Bertot, Leo A. Rizzuto Elementary

Other secondary honorees are:

Christina Hoffman, James H. Baker Sixth Grade
Wayne Drastata, Secondary DAEP
Jessica Woolard, Lomax Jr. High
Blas Estrada, Academy of Viola DeWalt
Adrian Wiltz, La Porte High School (non-core areas)

Ashley Campbell, a second-grade teacher at Jennie Reid Elementary School was announced as the district’s Rookie Teacher of the Year. For the first time in the history of the awards, the Rookie of the Year received a check for $1,000 from Higginbotham. Linda Hyde, Heritage Elementary principal, and Tracy Greenwood, James H. Baker principal, were honored as elementary and secondary Principal of the Year, respectively.

With their selection as district superlatives, Prantle and Neal will advance to the Region 4 Teacher of the Year competition.