Before you vote, get to know the 2023-2024 Nominees.

Nominated by:  

Clarissa Cantu - 

• BJ is someone that we can always count on, no matter what is going on. He is always ready to help and does it with such a positive attitude. The students really get to benefit from having him in their lives. 

Ashley Daffern - 

• Coach Garcia goes above and beyond for the students. He is always focused on helping them be successful and well-rounded. 

Tanya Temple - 

• Invested, Innovated, Involved, and Excited. 

Team/Department: Career and Technical Education Department

Current Teaching Position:  Construction/Yearbook/Digital Media/Athletics  

Years with Denton ISD: 16 

Years in current position: 3 

Denton ISD/RCMS/Leadership/Other Teaching Positions:

• 2012 Apple Distinguished Educator

• Crownover Teacher of the Year Nominee  2014, 2016, 2024

• 2015 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow State Finalist 

• 2016 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow National Finalist 

• 2016 Crownover Teacher of the Year  

• 2020 PBS Digital Innovator All-Stars 

• 2022 Monticello Teacher Institute 

• 2023 - Current: Cowboy Coalition Member  

• 2022 - Current: DMTSS Member  

• 2020 - Current: Educational Improvement Council Member  

• 2008 – Current:  I AM SECOND/FCA Faculty Sponsor 

• 2017 - 2018: Academic Leadership Team 

• 2015 – 2017:  Crownover Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) 

• 2013 – 2015:  Denton ISD Transformation Team for 21st Century Learning 

• 2009 – 2011:  GOAL sponsor 

• 2009 – 2010:  Look 2 Learning Trainer 

• Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts Guest Speaker 

• UNLADYLIKE2020: Education Summit Panel Speaker 

• UNT Higher Education Academic Collaboration 

• FEMA Region VI Panel Speaker 

• The Harris Foundation Fall Forum Presenter 

• Ready Rosie Educational Videos 

Nominated by:  

Cheyenne Bauman -

• Coach Grimes is a fantastic educator who does his best to meet the needs of all of our Cowboys in the classroom and on the field. He is a great co-worker and friend, and we are lucky to have him here at Crownover. 

Team/Department: Inclusion/Special Education Department

Current Teaching Position: 8th Grade Math Inclusion/Athletics 

Total Years of Teaching in Denton ISD: 8

Years in Current Position: 8

Denton ISD/RCMS/Leadership/Other Teaching Positions:

Denton ISD

• Denton ISD/RCMS Teacher of the Year Nominee 2023-2024

• RCMS Special ED Dept Head 2022-Present

• RCMS Teacher of the Month- October 2019

• RCMS Boys Coach 2016-Present

• Football, Basketball, Track 

Madisonville CISD - 9 Years

• PE Teacher/Adapted PE Teacher/ Biology/Inclusion Teacher

• Varsity Football Coach

• JV Basketball Coach

• Head Baseball Coach - District 18-4A Coach of the Year 2015,2016

Nominated by:  

Taylor Hotchkiss -

• RJ has a way of connecting with her students so that they feel safe in her classroom. Many students feel connected to her because of her ability to connect with them. RJ contributes to her planning team, department, and grade-level team. She is always coming up with new ideas, following through on her part of planning, and thinking about what is best for her students. RJ is a teacher that newer teachers feel like they can go to for advice. She is a listening ear to all and one of the best teachers I know. 

Current Team/Department: Team 7-1/ELAR

Current Teaching Position: 7th Grade ELAR

Total Years of Teaching in Denton ISD:  5 years

Years in Present Position:  5 years

Denton ISD/RCMS/Leadership/Other Teaching Positions: 

• Denton ISD/RCMS Teacher of the Year Nominee 2023-2024

• SEL Ambassador for RCMS 2022-Current

• RCMS Cowboy Coalition 2022-Current

• RCMS Student Council Sponsor 2019-Current

Nominated by:  

Kristin Breneman - 

• Mrs. McClung is a wonderful math teacher. She makes sure the students understand the "why" behind what they are are learning. She advocates for her students and works hard to ensure they are respected and heard. Mrs. McClung encourages students to take risks and cultivates an open and trusting environment. 

Emily Graf  - 

• Amanda works tirelessly to meet the needs of every single student in her class. She is incredible at making her lessons engaging, providing her students with rock star material, and reteaching, reteaching, reteaching, giving every kid the opportunity to make mistakes and learn at the pace they need. She is a data wiz and knows the knowledge level of every student on every single standard. She cares about her students and is also great at building relationships with them. She does all this with a cute decorative flair while also being a great colleague (helping her department be the best they can be too). Overall, she is an AMAZING teacher and deserves to be RCMS 2023-2024 teacher of the year. 

Cameryn Graves -

• Ms. McClung has qualities that make her an excellent teacher and leader. She has a huge heart for her students. She finds a way to connect with students first and then figure out how they learn best. She is always looking for ways to engage students in math. Through humor, the newest slang, music, and well-planned lessons, she gets students to think. She is committed to not leaving any student behind and guiding them to feel successful in math. She is also a reliable leader for the math department. She advocates for our math teachers and is ready with advice and encouragement when a team member needs it. 

Current Team/Department: Team 8-1/Math Department

Current Teaching Position:  8th Grade Math & MS Honors Algebra 1

Total Years of Teaching in Denton ISD: 11

Years in Present Position:  4

Denton ISD/RCMS/Leadership/Other Teaching Positions:

• Denton ISD RCMS Teacher of the Year Nominee 2017-2018, 2021-2022, 2023-2024

• Denton ISD/RCMS Math Department Chair 2017-Current

• Denton ISD/RCMS 8th Grade Math Curriculum Writing Team 2021-Current

• Denton ISD Understanding by Design Team 2018-Current

• Denton ISD/RCMS Jump Start Summer Program 2021-2023

• Denton ISD/RCMS Coalition Team 2019-2022

• Denton ISD/RCMS 6th Grade Math Curriculum Writing Team 2013-2021

• Denton ISD/RCMS Administrative Intern 2018-2020

• Denton ISD/RCMS Assessment for Learning Team 2017-2020

• Denton ISD/RCMS National Junior Honor Society Advisor 2015-2018

• Denton ISD/RCMS UIL Chess Puzzles Coach 2013-2017

• Denton ISD/RCMS Look to Learning Team 2013-2016

• Denton ISD/RCMS ATPE Campus Representative 2014-2015

Nominated by:  

Staci Gilmore -

• She is a valued asset to her students as she has the ability to reach the unreachable. 

Current  Team/Department: Inclusion/Special Education Department 

Current Teaching Position:  7th Grade ELAR Inclusion Teacher 

Total Years of Teaching in Denton ISD:  8

Years in Present Position: 8

Denton ISD/RCMS/Leadership/Other Teaching Positions:

Denton ISD/Crownover Middle School ISS/Inclusion 2016-Present

• RCMS Teacher of the Year Nominee 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024

Little Elm ISD/Lakeside Middle School PE Teacher Spring 2011-May 2016

• 7th A Team Volleyball Coach

• 8th A Team Volleyball Coach

• 7th/8th C Team Basketball Coach

• Track - Jump Coach

Belton ISD/Belton High School PE Teacher 1996-2005

• Head Volleyball Coach

• Track - Jump Coach

• Tennis Coach

Navarro College PE Teacher 1993-1996

• Started the volleyball program

• Head Tennis Coach

Nominated by:  

Jasmindar Deo -

• He works well with the students and tries his best to get them motivated. 

Clive James -

• Mr. V has been one of the finest teachers by far. He has demonstrated his characteristic calm, poise, and professionalism through many trying situations with our PABS students and, thus, rightly deserves this honor. His breadth of knowledge and expertise has greatly improved student behavior/success. We are truly fortunate to have such an exceptional educator and exemplar of his field. 

Current Team/Department: PABS/Special Education Department 

Current Teaching Position:  Positive Academic Behavioral Support (PABS) Teacher Grades 6-8

Total Years of Teaching in Denton ISD:  14

Years in Present Position:  3

Denton ISD/RCMS/Leadership/Other Teaching Positions:

• Denton ISD/RCMS Teacher of the Year Nominee 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024

• Denton ISD/ RCMS  Teacher of the Month for March 2021

• Denton ISD/ RCMS  Coalition Team/ Campus Culture Team 2020 to Present

• Denton ISD/ RCMS Debate Team 2016-2018

• Denton ISD GOAL (Guys Operating as Leaders) Game Changer Award 2017

• Denton ISD/ RCMS GOAL (Guys Operating as Leaders) Coach 2014-2018

• Denton ISD/ RCMS  Look to Learn Team 2014

• Denton ISD/ RCMS  Champs Committee 2012

• Denton ISD/ RCMS  Maps Charts and Graphs Coach 2011-Present

• Denton ISD/ RCMS  UIL Social Studies Coach 2010-Present