Annually, each Hempstead ISD campus selects one teacher and one support staff employee who has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in education. These teachers and support staff were surprised on their campuses by their leadership teams and school staff.
Every Campus Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year will be honored at the Monday, May 18, school board meeting. The 2026 District Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year will be named at the meeting and will represent Hempstead ISD in the Region 4 Teacher of the Year Contest.
2026 Teachers of the Year
Hempstead High School Teacher of the Year
Ronald Walker, Director of Bands
Years in Education: 20 years
What do you love most about your job?:
“There is only one thing to love about teaching, and that is the students. They are the reason I do what I do.”
Hempstead Middle School District Secondary Teacher of the Year &
Hempstead Middle School Teacher of the Year
Sandra Smith, 7th-Grade RLA Teacher
Years in Education: 16 years
What do you love most about your job?:
What I love most about my position at HMS is helping our students realize how smart they truly are and that they can do what they set their minds to. I love seeing them be successful.
Hempstead Elementary School Teacher of the Year
Amberly Wagner, Dyslexia Interventionist and Specialist
Years in Education: 23 years
What do you love most about your job?:
What I love most about my role is the opportunity to make a lasting impact on students and help build confident, lifelong readers. Watching students grow from reading simple words to reading fluently and choosing books for pleasure is rewarding.
Being named Teacher of the Year is truly an honor, especially after spending 23 wonderful years serving the same school I once attended as a student.
I’m thankful to all of the parents for your support throughout the years. It has truly been a pleasure to be part of your child’s educational journey, and I feel incredibly proud when I see their successes.
Hempstead Early Childhood Center District Elementary Teacher of the Year & Hempstead Early Childhood Center Teacher of the Year
Sandra Lozano, Pre-K Teacher & Team Lead
Years in Education: 7 years
What do you love most about your job?:
What I love most about my role is nurturing curiosity and wonder in our youngest learners, while sharing in the joy of those meaningful moments of discovery right alongside them.
2026 Campus Support Staff of the Year
Hempstead High School Support Staff of the Year
Kristie Toliver, Librarian
Years in Education: 27 years
What do you love most about your job?:
Being an 1984 alumnus of Hempstead High School, I wanted to give back to the students. I love the relationships that I've built over time here with staff and students. Teaching first grade, serving as a paraprofessional, and now working as a librarian have all filled my life with gratitude, joy, and a deep love for education.
Hempstead Middle School Support Staff of the Year
Alma Harvey, Registrar/Attendance Clerk
Years in Education: 19 years
What do you love most about your job?:
I enjoy helping current and new families in our community and district. I like to see our students grow through the years.
Hempstead Elementary School Support Staff of the Year
Shakita Garvie, Registrar/Attendance Clerk
Years in Education: 8 years
What do you love most about your job?:
What I love most about being the Hempstead Elementary Registrar/Attendance Clerk is the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our students and families every day. I want every child who walks through our doors to feel welcomed, safe, and cared for. Seeing our students grow throughout the year and being part of a school community built on compassion and teamwork is what makes this role so meaningful. Hempstead Elementary truly feels like family, and I’m grateful to support our students, staff, and families each day.
Hempstead Early Childhood Center Support Staff of the Year
Abbigail Compean, Pre-K Paraprofessional
Years in Education: 3 years
What do you love most about your job?:
What I love most about being a paraprofessional is witnessing the students' growth and seeing the joy and confidence they gain when they master a new skill or concept. It is incredibly rewarding to play a role in their first educational experiences and help create a positive foundation for their future learning journey.