Amanda Ashmead named Region 10 secondary teacher of the year
Amanda Ashmead has been honored as the Region 10 Secondary Teacher of the Year. With 22 years of service in Dallas ISD, Ashmead currently teaches Advanced Placement English language and composition, AP macroeconomics, and AP U.S. government at the School of Science and Engineering at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, where she has also served as the department chair for humanities for the last 10 years. 
“As a child, I loved knowing things and explaining things, and teaching seemed the natural fit.” said Ashmead, who was chosen as the district’s Secondary Teacher of the Year this spring. “Once I became a teacher, I learned there was a lot more to it—creativity, problem-solving, and logistics are also huge components. Luckily, those are also things I enjoy.”
One of Ashmead’s most notable accomplishments is her involvement with the College Board’s Advanced Placement program. Since 2016, she has participated in the AP reading process, initially as a reader and later advancing to the role of question leader in 2020. Her leadership skills were further recognized when she was appointed as an operational question leader from 2021 to 2023 when she supervised over 1,000 teachers and college instructors in scoring more than half a million essays for the AP English language exam.
In addition to her work as a question leader, Ashmead is also an AP consultant, certified by the College Board to conduct workshops for AP teachers. Her presentations at AP national conferences and College Board forums have covered a wide range of topics, from passage-based reading strategies to using Instructional Planning Reports data to improve instruction.
Ashmead’s commitment to professional development extends beyond her AP-related work. She has presented at various national and regional conferences. Her presentations often focus on strategies for improving student retention, analyzing instructional practices, and embedding college access within the curriculum.
Ashmead published two articles in “Social Education“, focusing on preparing students for the AP Economics exams and building AP Social Studies programs for non-traditional students.
Ashmead holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and recently completed her Master of Education in Educational Technology Leadership from Lamar University.
She has earned multiple recognitions, including being named Teacher of the Year at the School of Science and Engineering at Townview in 2016 and 2024.
Ashmead attributes her success to her love for words and writing, despite knowing that there are many other equally deserving teachers. Her advice to aspiring teachers includes valuing the lessons learned from veteran educators but also listening critically and being willing to challenge outdated or situationally inappropriate advice.
“If you want to be teacher of the year, in addition to all the things an exemplary teacher does, spend an hour or two a day on average writing,” Ashmead said. “The award requires not just accomplishing things but being able to write about them in an engaging and insightful way.”
As she moves forward in the Texas State Teacher of the Year competition, her work will be recognized for having an impact on students, colleagues, and the educational community.
