During Frenship ISD’s 2024 Convocation celebration to kick off the new school year, Denning was brought on stage and surprised with the award from Region 17 in front of the entire school district of 1,400 staff and members of her family.

“I was so honored and excited to learn that Region 17 selected me for their teacher of the year. I am blessed to work with the best administration, support staff, and teachers that I have ever known. I am grateful that the Region recognizes we are doing great things in the classroom,” said Denning.

Denning started her educational career in 2019 and joined the Frenship family in 2023 as a reading language arts teacher at Frenship ISD’s newest campus, Alcove Trails Middle School. As a published author, Denning took her love of writing and established the Tigers Writer’s Club to provide her students with a creative outlet to express themselves. Inspired by her work, Dennings’s students became published authors, and their book is now available for other students to read at the Alcove Trails library.

“You see her passion for wanting her students to excel in every lesson she delivers. That passion pushes her to try new strategies and creative ways to engage her students,” said Alcove Trails Principal Rebecca Whipkey. “She is a strong advocate for her students, always going above and beyond to meet their individual needs. Sarah's dedication to ensuring her students' success makes her an outstanding and exceptional teacher!”

Now in her second year at Frenship, Denning hopes to continue building that strong foundation of life-long learners in her classroom as they go through middle school and into high school.

“I am passionate about teaching because I love having the opportunity to ignite a passion for reading and learning in a new generation,” said Denning. “I am continually encouraged by the young people in my classroom. They are bright, kind, and eager to learn and explore. It is a blessing to spend every day reading with them.”

As the Region 17 Secondary Teacher of the Year, Denning will now move on to the Texas Teacher of the Year competition with the winner being announced later this school year.