The Wylie Way Awards Gala returned to the Plano Event Center May 8, where Wylie ISD honored standout educators and staff from across the district — including Elementary Teacher of the Year Kati Ozols, Secondary Teacher of the Year Julianne Zuniga, Elementary Paraprofessional of the Year Kylee Merrick of Hartman Early Childhood Learning Center, and Secondary Paraprofessional of the Year Harold Lacey from Achieve Academy.
The 10th annual gala was a full-house celebration with trustees, district leaders, teachers and community supporters on hand to applaud a year of hard work. The mood was upbeat, proud and very local — a night that put faces on the everyday efforts that keep classrooms running in Wylie ISD. It felt like the whole district was there to tip its hat to dedication and longevity.
Kati Ozols, a teacher at Cox Elementary, took the elementary teacher award after a year of standout classroom leadership and community engagement. Her recognition highlights the classroom innovations and steady presence that principals and parents say make a real difference. Those kinds of wins aren’t just for trophies; they’re the backbone of the district’s culture.
On the secondary side, Julianne Zuniga from Davis Intermediate earned top honors, a nod to her impact with older students and her role in shaping young learners during a formative stage. Zuniga’s award reminds everyone that teaching at the intermediate level requires a blend of patience, skill and creative problem-solving. It’s where students begin to stretch beyond basics, and strong teachers help them take that leap.
Paraprofessionals also took center stage, with Kylee Merrick from Hartman Early Childhood Learning Center named Elementary Paraprofessional of the Year. Merrick’s recognition underscores the crucial hands-on work paraprofessionals do every day with the district’s youngest learners. Harold Lacey of Achieve Academy earned the Secondary Paraprofessional of the Year honor, showing that dedicated support staff are vital at every grade level.
Beyond the individual awards, the gala honored service and longevity, with a focus on those who have invested decades in the district. Wylie ISD recognized 49 retirees who together accounted for more than 890 years of combined service — a staggering total that speaks to commitment across generations. Those retirements are moments of mixed emotion: gratitude for service, and the reality that experience walks out the door.
District leaders used the evening to highlight how staff at every level contribute to student success, from early childhood centers through intermediate grades. The event mixes celebration with a public reminder of how much daily small efforts add up over time. It’s one thing to read test scores; it’s another to watch people who’ve committed years to students get a real, public thank you.
The Wylie Way Awards Gala has become an annual tradition that spotlights more than just individual winners — it showcases teams, mentors and the network of support that operates behind the scenes. Teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and support staff all play different roles in the same mission: education that prepares kids for what comes next. That shared mission is what keeps communities invested and classrooms humming.
Local schools and families left the event with a renewed sense of appreciation, and for many staff members it was a reminder that their work is noticed and valued. Award nights like this also send a message to younger educators: longevity and excellence are seen and celebrated. For a district growing and changing like Wylie ISD, those values are essential.
If you want to follow local coverage and celebration of Wylie ISD achievements, local newspaper reporting remains a steady place for stories like this and more community updates, including profiles and district announcements from The Wylie News.
