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2024 Educator of the Year
This Westie goes to a Westlake area teacher or administrator in recognition of his or her outstanding contributions to the educational community and to the enrichment in the lives of children through academic achievement. He or she inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn, has the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues, and plays an active and useful role in the community as well as in the school.
(see below for past winners)
Finalist: Norman Morgan, Westlake High School
Norman Morgan began his teaching and coaching career in 1986 and has been with Eanes ISD since 1997. In 2007, at the request of administration, he founded the district’s robotics program. Few educators have the opportunity to start a program, and Norman has played a pivotal role in the robotics team’s success. Drawing from his coaching experience, he brings confidence, determination, and inspiration to his work.
Norman is a recent recipient of the Woodie Flowers Award, the 2014 Eanes ISD Teacher of the Year, and a three-time Westlake High School Teacher of the Year. He has elevated the program to international acclaim, championed efforts to expand STEM access, and transformed the FIRST robotics community. Most importantly, he has fostered a sense of family within the team.
Norman’s philosophy is that students’ priorities should be health, family, school, and then robotics. Scott McMahon, the program’s first volunteer mentor, reflects, “Coach Morgan is an individual who dreams big, always seeing the possibilities for our team and how we can impact our community, both near and far.”
Finalist: David Poole, Westlake High School
David Poole’s 27 years at Westlake reflect an unparalleled dedication to developing student leaders through the Westlake Technical Entertainment Crew and Football Television Broadcast Organizations. Students in the Technical Theatre program staff major productions like the Nutcracker Spectacular, the WHS Choir’s Musical, and the Dance Department’s Zenith production, along with concerts and community events. They also manage technical support for the Black Box Theatre, gaining hands-on experience in team building, problem solving, and leadership.
David has an ongoing mission of placing state of the art professional technology in the hands of his students. David’s vision led to the inclusion of a black box theatre in the Ninth Grade Center. And most recently, David led the effort to install a high-definition video wall on the concert hall stage which allows art students to design scenery for PAC productions.
For 22 seasons, the Football Video Crew has operated the video board at Chaparral Stadium and partnered with KXAN to broadcast Westlake football games on TV and streaming platforms.
David has developed a leadership framework that includes an annual summer retreat, where student leaders reflect on successes and plan for improvement. His programs thrive on a culture where every student is valued, creating an environment that inspires growth, collaboration, and excellence.
Finalist: Gary Stein, Westlake High School
Gary Stein has been a dedicated educator for 23 years, beginning his teaching career at the Texas School for the Deaf, where he worked with preschool, elementary students, and adult transition services for 12 years. For the past 11 years, he has been teaching American Sign Language (ASL) at Westlake High School.
During his time at Westlake, Gary has grown the ASL program from 114 students to over 300 and elevated the curriculum by upgrading ASL 3 and ASL 4 to honors-level courses. His passion lies in teaching students the beautiful language of ASL and sharing the rich, valued Deaf culture with them.
Gary has an energy that is simply fun to be around. He has a way of putting his students at ease, creating a classroom environment where they feel supported and encouraged to grow. What he loves most about teaching is connecting with his students and getting to know them as individuals. Seeing their growth in both language proficiency and cultural understanding is what drives him every day in the classroom.
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VOTE FOR & PURCHASE YOUR 2025 WESTIES TICKETS HERE
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