Region 7 Education Service Center is honored to announce that Jackie Terry from Gilmer ISD and Shyrah Jones from Troup ISD have been named Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year for Region 7.
KILGORE, Texas — Chef Shyrah Jones, culinary arts instructor at Troup High School, has been named the 2025 Region 7 Secondary Teacher of the Year, a distinction that places her among the top educators in East Texas and makes her a semifinalist for the 2026 Texas Teacher of the Year award.
Jones, a Troup ISD teacher known for her passion for hands-on learning and student empowerment, was nominated for her innovative approach to classroom instruction and dedication to student success. She leads the school’s Culinary Arts program, teaching Intro to Culinary Arts, Advanced Culinary, and an 18+ continuing education class that includes Life Skills students.
Bringing real-world culinary experience to the classroom each day, Jones holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Graphics and New Media from Johnson & Wales University and an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu. Under her leadership, Troup High School students operate a student-run Bistro three days a week, participate in a competitive BBQ team that has qualified for the National High School BBQ Association’s Texas State Championship, and benefit from a local SkillsUSA chapter she helped launch.
“My students learn that their culinary skills have the power to nourish, connect, and inspire—not just within the school, but throughout the entire community,” Jones said. “Actively connecting my culinary arts students with the community is a fundamental aspect of my teaching philosophy, transforming theoretical knowledge into real-world experience and creating lasting impacts on student learning and success.”
Troup ISD Superintendent Tammy Jones praised Chef Jones for her commitment to students and the district.
“We are thrilled for Shyrah to be recognized for the outstanding work that she does every day,” Tammy Jones said. “This recognition is so well deserved, and we are honored to have her as part of our district family in Troup ISD.”
Chef Jones and Elementary Teacher of the Year Jackie Terry from Gilmer ISD were honored July 15 at the Region 7 Teacher of the Year Luncheon, where both received grand prizes courtesy of Orr Cadillac GMC, which donated $2,500 to be split between the two winners.
As the Region 7 Secondary Teacher of the Year, Jones will advance to the state level and compete with educators from 38 other regions for the title of Texas Teacher of the Year. Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges at the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) headquarters in Austin in October, with the winners announced at the Texas Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock.
The Texas Teacher of the Year program recognizes outstanding educators who serve as advocates and ambassadors for the profession, representing all teachers across the state in a demanding schedule of workshops, presentations and classroom leadership.
Region 7 ESC, which serves 94 school districts and 7 charter schools in East Texas, supports district, charter and student success through a range of quality educational programs and services. For more information, visit www.esc7.net.
For more information about the Texas Teacher of the Year program, visit tasanet.org/awards.