Navarro Independent School District

GERONIMO, TX - May 9, 2025 – In a heartwarming surprise capping off Teacher Appreciation Week, Navarro ISD proudly announced its first-ever District Teacher of the Year: Elizabeth "Liz" Munster, a passionate third-grade math teacher at Navarro Intermediate School. The momentous announcement was made today in front of a team appreciation lunch that included Superintendent Dr. Mandy Epley, Navarro Intermediate Principal Michelle Schwarzlose, and members of the district's leadership team.

Mrs. Munster, a dedicated third-grade math teacher at Navarro Intermediate, is in her first year serving the students of Navarro ISD and brings a wealth of experience with 14 years in the education field.

"The selection process for our first District Teacher of the Year was a rigorous one," stated Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and School Leadership Dr. David Kauffman. "Each campus teacher submitted a comprehensive application detailing their teaching philosophy, professional goals, and then participated in an interview conducted by last year’s NISD campus teachers of the year, district leaders, Navarro Education Foundation (NEF) President Katie Clark, and a high school student currently enrolled in our education program." Dr. Kauffman further added, "Mrs. Munster now has the exciting opportunity to compete at the Region 20 level for the Elementary Teacher of the Year award."

Chief Academic Officer Wendy McMullen highlighted a particularly impactful moment from Mrs. Munster's interview. "When asked what message she would offer as a spokesperson for the entire district staff, Liz simply and powerfully stated, 'I have hope. It is so important to have hope for your students, your families, and your colleagues. I am data-driven, but data can’t track hope.”

Mrs. Munster holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies along with certifications in EC-6 Generalist, ESL, and Science of Teaching Reading. A clearly gifted educator, she has previously been recognized with multiple "Educator of the Year" awards in her former district, in addition to receiving the Customer Service Award and "First Year Teacher of the Year” award.

Demonstrating strong leadership within the educational community, Liz leads "Building Thinking Classrooms" professional development and has previously served as a Campus Instructional Coach and Teacher Leader. Her passion lies in cultivating a positive and engaging learning environment that nurtures both a growth mindset and robust problem-solving skills in her students.

A cornerstone of Mrs. Munster's teaching philosophy is exploring multiple pathways to problem-solving, emphasizing the crucial concept that "mistakes make our brains grow" – a motto she playfully reinforces with the acronym MATH (Mistakes Allow Thinking to Happen). In her classroom, she strategically employs "thinking tasks" with randomized groups to foster collaboration and productive struggle, creating a safe space where risk-taking is encouraged and the problem-solving process is highly valued. Mrs. Munster firmly believes in the power of respectful math discourse and learning from errors as essential components in enhancing mathematical skills and cultivating a resilient growth mindset.

Adding to the celebration, the Navarro Education Foundation presented Mrs. Munster with a generous $500 grant as a token of appreciation for her outstanding achievement and leadership.

Navarro ISD is incredibly proud to recognize Elizabeth Munster as its inaugural District Teacher of the Year and wishes her the best in the upcoming regional competition.