Teacher of the Year Past Recipients
TLA Teacher of the Year Recipients
Congratulations to our 2023 Teacher of the Year -
Kevin Pumphrey
Tom C. Clark High School
San Antonio, Texas
The Judging committee for the Texas Lawyers Auxiliary, Law - Related Education Teacher of the year, is pleased to announce their selection for the award. Mr. Kevin Pumphrey, a Social Studies teacher at Tom C. Clark High School, Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas is this year’s winner. Mr. Pumphrey will receive his award, which includes $1500, at the TLA fall meeting in Austin, Texas on Oct. 9 2023.
Candidates for the prestigious award applied from across the state. Applicants were scored by the judges based on curriculum, programs, law related education, an essay, AP scores, impact on the school community and enriching their students.
Mr. Pumphrey was selected because of his outstanding leadership of the Model United Nations program at Tom C. Clark High School, his positive impact on students and faculty and devotion to expansion of knowledge in this field. He has been an educator for 27 years, and he is currently the coordinator of social studies programs at Tom C. Clark High school.
The Texas Lawyers Auxiliary is a non-profit organization which includes local auxiliary groups who raise money for legal scholarships, volunteer and mentor in various areas and are involved in legal education within their communities. Their mission, as stated is:
“To promote an understanding and appreciation of the American legal system. To recommend projects to affiliates and members in cooperation with the State Bar of Texas. To recognize outstanding volunteer service. To promote law¬related education, citizenship awareness, and public service advocacy.”
Congratulations to our 2020 Teacher of the Year -
Beth Storm
Bishop Lynch High School
Dallas, Texas
The Texas Lawyers Auxiliary, a statewide organization and a Law Related Education partner of the State Bar of Texas, has named Bishop Lynch High School teacher, Elizabeth Storm, the 2020 Law Related Education Teacher of the Year. Selection of the Law Related Education Teacher of the Year is held annually through a competitive application process judged by a three person panel. The framed certificate and statewide recognition is accompanied by a $1,000 stipend for use by the teacher. Plans for a formal presentation this fall are pending due to Covid 19 considerations.
Storm has taught at Bishop Lynch since 2007. In addition to Social Studies she has taught Debate, Advanced Business Law and has coached the Mock Trial team since 2015. Under her tutelage the team expanded its tournament schedule to include national competitions garnering accolades as well as team and individual awards in 2019 at Yale and Princeton Universities. That same year the team was named Texas Mock Trial State Champion. Increasing participation in mock trial by other Dallas area high schools remains an important goal of Storm’s program, but the area for which she is most proud is increasing the diversity of team participation. She proudly reports the many achievements of those she has recruited: “All five of this year’s graduating seniors plan on competing in college mock trial.” Marking a true milestone, this fall one of her former team members will attend law school.
One of the judges in her selection process writes of Storm: “All of us have had teachers that made a difference. Ms Storm is definitely one of those teachers. She has emphasized diversity, has had her pupils face and discuss ‘hot button’ issues and teaches civic responsibility to a generation which has lost faith in government.”
In support of her nomination Dr. Chad Riley, Principal of Bishop Lynch, states: “Mrs. Storm’s efforts serve the needs of students which will in turn benefit the common good of society as these students grow into their professional roles. These young men and women will be positioned to serve others through what they have learned.”
Storm notes the improved success of her teams over the last six years but is more focused on the success of the individual students participating in the program: “Most have recognized the benefits of their time, realizing better research and writing skills, better presentation skills, and overall raised levels of confidence. I am also better for having had the opportunity to spend time with these kids.”
Texas Lawyers Auxiliary congratulates Elizabeth Storm on her well-deserved honor and thanks her for demonstrating how to instill in her students faith and trust in the institutions that insure our universal freedom.
2019 TOY Award Recipient
Congratulations to the Texas Lawyers Auxiliary 2019 Teacher of the YearShannon Rosenfeld!
Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht presented Mrs. Shannon Rosenfeld, the 2019 Texas Lawyers Auxiliary Law-Related Education Teacher of the Year, a framed certificate and a $1,000 check at the Texas Law Center in Austin on October 7, 2019.
Mrs. Rosenfeld has taught AP Government and economics for the past 18 years, including four years in the Plano ISD and 14 years in the Frisco ISD. She currently also serves as a social studies instructional coach, a curriculum writer, and department chairperson at Centennial H. S. in the Frisco ISD.
After intense competition throughout the state, Mrs. Rosenfeld was chosen based on her passion for the law, her innovation, and her commitment in the field of law-related education as she inspires her students, mentors other teachers, and consults with the Law-Related Education program for the State Bar of Texas. One of the three judges who selected her commented that she stood out among the other fine candidates with her certiorari projects and other engagement with her students, as well as with her consulting with legislative involvement.
She has built a successful AP Government program over a 13-year period with increasing enrollment – from 27 to 220 students. The average student passing rates for the AP national exams vary from 71 to 80 percent.
Mrs. Rosenfeld’s goal as a civic educator is to strengthen the political debate by sharpening the minds of her students and sending them into the world to engage in a healthy, respectful manner. She encourages her students to formulate their own political positions rooted in fact and reasoning as they begin their active participation in our democracy.
Congratulations to this amazing and very deserving Texas public high school teacher!
2018 TOY Award Recipients
Past Recipients
- 2018 - Teresa Candelaria - Americas High School, El Paso
- 2018 - Becky Likin - Tivy High School, Kerriville
- 2015 - Debbie Keen - Career and Technical Education Center, Frisco
- 2014 - Kim Grosenbacher - Champion High School, Boerne
- 2013 - Helen Bradley - Nimitz High School, Irving
- 2012 - Ben Ewald - Career & Technology Center , Frisco
- 2011 - Patience LeBlanc - Liberty High School, Frisco
- 2010 - Joseph Wicker - Skyline High School, Dallas
- 2009 - Cynthia Knox - Travis City Leadership Academy & Travis City Day School, Austin