In a celebration filled with elegance, gratitude, and recognition of exceptional service to students, DeSoto Independent School District proudly announced Sabrina Mayberry as the 2025–2026 Elementary Teacher of the Year during the May 15 Cadence of Celebration gala themed “Putting on the Ritz: An Ode to Employee Excellence.”
In classrooms filled with curiosity, comfort, and the quiet confidence of young learners discovering their voices, Sabrina Mayberry has spent 28 years proving that teaching is not just instruction—it is legacy-building in real time. For 18 of those years in DeSoto ISD, Ms. Mayberry has served as a steady, heart-led presence for her “little scholars,” earning recognition as the 2025–2026 Elementary Teacher of the Year.
At Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy, Ms. Mayberry is known for transforming her classroom into a sanctuary of belonging, where academic growth is inseparable from emotional safety and every child is seen, valued, and celebrated.
“For me, one of the things I love most about teaching is being able to impact the life of a little scholar,” Mayberry shared. “In spite of everything going on in the world, I will always have a group of littles ready to give hugs, tell me I’m beautiful, and give their very best—even when it’s a struggle.”
That deep sense of connection extends far beyond the school year. Ms. Mayberry’s impact is reflected in the lasting relationships she maintains with former students who continue to invite her into some of life’s most meaningful moments—graduations, weddings, and milestone celebrations years after leaving her classroom.
“The respect, care, concern, and appreciation from a student years after I’ve taught them says a lot,” she said. “It reminds me that I have touched their lives and left a lasting impression that years later they still love them some ‘me’—and I remember them and love them back.”
Colleagues describe her approach as both intentional and transformative, grounded in what she calls her “GRIT”—a commitment to Radical Consistency, Bespoke Instruction, and Collaborative Growth. Each day, Ms. Mayberry shows up with unwavering dedication, ensuring students feel safe, supported, and challenged, while also sharing best practices to elevate teaching across her campus.
Her instructional philosophy is simple but powerful: every child deserves a teacher who treats them like their own.
For Ms. Mayberry, the recognition as Elementary Teacher of the Year is deeply meaningful, yet humbly received.
“It is truly humbling,” she said. “I tell my peers all the time that this recognition represents everyone because they pour into me constantly. The best of the best are the teachers who show up every day to give DeSoto students what they deserve. I just happen to be one of those teachers.”
Mayberry’s recognition as DeSoto ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year also advances her to the Region 10 Teacher of the Year competition, where she will represent the district among other outstanding educators from across the region. In this next level of selection, she will join a distinguished cohort of campus and district honorees who exemplify excellence in teaching and student impact. In prior years, DeSoto ISD has been proudly represented at the regional level by educators such as Woodridge Elementary’s Lauren Stewart, who was named Region 10 Teacher of the Year, underscoring the district’s continued legacy of cultivating exceptional instructional leaders who achieve recognition beyond the local level.
DeSoto ISD proudly celebrates Sabrina Mayberry for her extraordinary commitment, enduring impact, and unwavering belief that the heart of education is love in action.