EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Socorro Independent School District (SISD) celebrated its top two educators from across the district at the annual Teacher of the Year Gala.
The 2025 Teacher of the Year Gala took place on Friday, May 9, at the El Paso Convention Center.
Edith Miranda, a bilingual pre-K to fourth-grade teacher at Sgt. Roberto Ituarte Elementary School was named the 2025 SISD Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Michael Neff, a 10th-grade world history teacher at Montwood High School, was named the 2025 SISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.
“You have continued the great legacy all while holding ourselves to the highest standards of achievement in SISD,” Interim Superintendent James Vasquez said. “All of you have been instrumental in leading our students to excellence in the classrooms, on the field, on the pitch, in the concert halls. I applaud and thank everyone in this room for your contributions to our successes.”
Socorro ISD teachers, administrators and community members were in attendance for the gala, according to the news release by SISD.
In addition, the event recognized 50 Teachers of the Year from across all SISD campuses, including the eight finalists who underwent a “rigorous” selection process.
According to Socorro ISD, Miranda and Neff received the Teacher of the Year awards for “their enthusiasm for teaching and for inspiring their students to seize the opportunities provided by SISD for long-term success.”
“Oh, my babies are going to be so excited,” Miranda said. “They’re 4 years old, 5 years old. They just knew I was coming to a celebration, and they were like, ‘Ms. Miranda, have so much fun! We’ll see you Monday.’ So, they’ll be excited.”
“It’s a big responsibility to carry on my shoulders being representative of the entire school district and to represent my awesome Montwood community and feeder pattern. I mean, I’m just so grateful for the opportunity,” Neff said.
Miranda has been an educator for 12 years and Neff has been an educator and coach for 10 years, according to Socorro ISD.
According to the school district, the Teacher of the Year award is “one of the highest accolades that an educator can receive.”
Miranda and Neef will represent Socorro ISD at the Region 19 Teacher of the Year program and they will have the opportunity to advance to the state level, SISD said.
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