The Socorro Independent School District proudly announced the eight finalists in the district’s teacher of the year program during the annual 2026 Elite 8 Teachers of the Year Reception on Feb. 18. Four elementary school finalists and four secondary school finalists were selected, highlighting the remarkable contributions of educators in shaping the future of SISD students.
The 2026 Elite 8 finalists include elementary teachers Amy Choudhary from Vista Del Sol Environmental Science Academy, Cristina Garcia from Mission Ridge Elementary School, Serena Sky Luevano from Jane A. Hambric School and Lorena Alarcon from Elfida P. Chavez Elementary School. The finalists from secondary schools are Javier Esparza from Socorro High School, Eric Jacob Palomares from Montwood Middle School, Vanessa Granados from SSG. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School and Illissa Marie Alvillar from SPC. Rafael Hernando III Middle School.
In addition to the announcement, the event honored all 50 campus Teachers of the Year.
During the celebration, Socorro ISD Superintendent James Vasquez thanked teachers for their profound impact on their students’ lives through their dedication to teaching.
“Most importantly, you help them feel loved and seen. These are the reasons that years later, students still talk about you, they still remember you, and share the impact you made — that is the true heart of teaching. So, thank you for being unforgettable educators and making a difference for all students,” Vasquez said.
The top eight teachers were first selected by their peers as Campus Teachers of the Year, then underwent an interview process with a committee of district stakeholders. They will now advance to the next round of the program, where they will compete for the district Teacher of the Year title in both elementary and secondary education. As part of the Elite 8 announcement, each finalist was surprised with a video highlighting them, which was shown just before their name was officially announced.
For Vanessa Granados, a sixth-grade reading teacher and bilingual coordinator at SSG Manuel R. Puentes Middle School, being named an Elite 8 secondary finalist was a full-circle moment. As a child, she would play teacher and pretend that her brother was her student.
“I went from pretending my brother was my student to now having over 120 students. And it's awesome to be able to wake up every morning and go to the classroom and show them how passionate I am about what I do,” Granados said.
Eric Palomares, a seventh and eighth-grade science teacher at Montwood Middle School, dedicated his Elite 8 award to all the people who have had a positive influence on him, including his kindergarten teacher, who was especially patient with him.
“This is an award not only for me, but all the people who've impacted me and who have made me who I am today. So, this award goes out to them,” Palomares said.
Next, top winners from both elementary and secondary categories will be selected in a separate process to represent SISD at the regional level. The two top winners will be announced during SISD’s annual Teacher of the Year Gala on May 8 at the El Paso Convention Center.
