2026 Texas Teacher of the Year

Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor that the State of Texas can bestow upon a teacher. The official State of Texas program, facilitated by TASA since 2011, annually recognizes and rewards teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching.

Vickiela Wright is a National Board-Certified educator with 14 years of experience across multiple grade levels. Wright serves as a fifth-grade English language arts teacher, grade level instructional coach, and team lead at Clear Creek ISD’s McWhirter School in Webster, Texas. In these roles, she is a link between administration and grade-level teams, collaborating to enhance instructional practices and improve student achievement.

Inspired by teachers and her great-grandmother who believed in her potential, Wright says she is devoted to fostering supportive, empowering environments for students and educators alike. Beyond the classroom, she leads extracurricular initiatives such as mentoring, student council, and volunteers with her sorority and Clear Creek Education Foundation.

She holds a BA in Education and a Master of Education in Reading from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, and an Education Specialist certificate in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago.