May 30, 2023

At the May board meeting, Dripping Springs ISD announced Jennifer McGinnis and Dan Shane as the District Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year, respectively. McGinnis and Shane were chosen following an interview with a selection committee and will now represent DSISD in the Region 13 Teacher of the Year selection process this summer. 

A third-grade teacher at Walnut Springs Elementary, McGinnis is in her fourth year teaching for DSISD. Prior to arriving in Dripping Springs, she spent 18 years teaching in Illinois where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Elmhurst College. 

Shane is in his seventh year teaching at DSISD where he currently teaches speech and debate. He is in his 20th year in education, spending six years with Austin ISD and seven years with the New York City Department of Education. Shane received a Bachelor of Arts in History from American University and earned a Master of Science in Middle School Education/Special Education from Touro College. 

McGinnis and Shane were selected as District Teachers of the Year after being named a Campus Teacher of the Year in March. Other Campus Teachers of the Year were Katie Anderson (DSE, Music), Jennifer Blackmon (SSE, 3rd Grade), Chrissy Hinkle (DSHS, English Language Arts), Jennifer Morris (DSMS, World Cultures), Stephanie Stamps (CSE, Special Education) and Kathryn Wilson (RSE, 4th Grade).