Special Education Teacher Displays Passion, Heart for Students

TANYA CRISP embodies the Energizing Educator spirit.

Spend any time with this 24-year educator at Monaco Elementary School and you’ll see her passion in action. She taught first and second grades during the first half of her career.  But special education is where she found her calling.

“I wouldn’t trade what I do. I wish I had done it sooner,” she said.

Her job is to not only prepare her children for middle school but to ensure they can become productive, independent members of society. She also oversees the Special Olympics program for all of Aubrey ISD.

“My heart lies with them. I feel like I owe these kids something,” Tanya said. “You get attached. You see them grow so much. I look at the kids I have now who couldn’t talk or couldn’t read when they came to me. It’s the successes I see in them and their growth. They need you, a lot.”

Racheal Maugaotega was one of the parents who nominated Tanya because of all the improvements she’s seen in her son Ezra, who is starting fifth grade at Monaco this year.

“She’s an awesome educator. She’s taught my son more than just reading and writing. She also teaches him life skills,” Racheal said. “She motivates him more than anything. Without her motivation, I don’t think he’d be in the same position that he is now.”