AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) — Metro school districts near Amarillo have announced the winners of the Teacher of the Year award.

On Friday morning, the Amarillo Independent School District named Tiffany Ryals Teacher of the Year and Rhonda Obenhaus Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Ryals is a third-grade teacher at Humphrey’s Highland Elementary and Obenhaus teaches advanced culinary arts at the School of Culinary Arts at AmTech Career Academy.

Amarillo ISD winners will compete for Regional 16 Teacher of the Year.

On Tuesday, April 26, the Canyon Independent School District named Kristi Van Winkle of Lakeview Elementary as Elementary District Teacher of the Year and Aly Harmon of Canyon Junior High as Secondary Teacher of the Year.

The AISD winners were announced Friday morning at the annual Lamar Lively Teacher of the Year Breakfast and teachers who were recognized each received a glass block and poster symbolic of their achievements at from campus.

The Canyon ISD winners were announced at the Happy State Bank Stadium Conference Center.

Last year’s AISD winners, Teacher of the Year Gayla Martin and 2020-2021 Secondary Teacher of the Year Heather Blythe-Yaws spoke about how important it is for teachers to hang on during recent difficult times.

Martin and Blyth-Yaws said teachers have the unique privilege and responsibility to educate all professions.

“I am grateful to our teachers who are in the hallways and classrooms of our 55 campuses every day,” said AISD Superintendent Doug Loomis. “You are indeed the face and heart of our neighborhood. During this special week, I think of the dedication and love for the profession that it takes to be a teacher in our world today.

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