A teacher from North Austin’s Lanier Early College High School is the 2018 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year, a news release from Austin ISD said.

The Texas Association of School Administrators announced today that teacher Tara Bordeaux received the award and will represent the state as Texas Teacher of the Year in the National Teacher of the Year competition, Austin ISD said.

https://twitter.com/AustinISD/status/908762906518487041

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Bordeaux teaches media arts at Lanier High School. Before joining the staff in 2013, she spent 10 years in the television and film industry in Los Angeles.

The news release said Bordeaux’s students’ work have been featured in national advertising for Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, public service announcements on PBS and short films premiered at SXSWedu.

Bordeaux said in the news release she hopes to inspire her students to succeed because as a high school dropout, she understands it can be easy to give up.

“I believe that every student deserves the opportunity to learn from teachers who truly care about the impact they are making in a child's life," Bordeaux said. "I chose to become a teacher because I wanted to give students the chance to chase their dreams and learn how to believe in themselves even if the world gives them reasons to stop believing."

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To achieve recognition as Secondary Teacher of the Year, a teacher must first be chosen as a campus and district teacher of the year, then a regional honoree, the news release said.

From the group of 40 regional teachers of the year, six finalists are chosen and interviewed by a panel of judges composed of representatives of education associations, community and business leaders, a member of the State Board for Educator Certification, a member of the State Board of Education and prior Texas Teacher of the Year.

As one of the winners, Bordeaux will receive a cash award and a commemorative trophy.

https://twitter.com/AustinISD/status/908793923715264513