Northwest ISD honors 2025 Teachers of the Year: Brytnei Rocha and David Wolf

Northwest ISD is proud to recognize Brytnei Rocha as the Elementary Teacher of the Year, while David Wolf has earned the title of Secondary Teacher of the Year. Both were celebrated at the district’s annual Inspire Celebration on April 10.

These exceptional teachers were chosen from a pool of Exemplar Educator finalists — individuals recognized for cultivating student growth, fostering creativity, motivating learners, and tailoring instruction to meet diverse needs. The rigorous selection process includes written essays, a personal video reflection on lifelong learning, interviews with a district panel and classroom visits to observe their teaching in action.

Brytnei Rocha: A model of compassion and collaboration

Ms. Rocha, a third-grade teacher at Beck Elementary, has dedicated all 15 years of her teaching career to Northwest ISD. Her commitment extends beyond the classroom; she actively contributes to the district’s curriculum writing team, Leadership Pathways program and Instructional Leadership Team. She also served for six years as a mentor teacher and has previously been recognized as an Exemplar Educator and a nominee for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards.

“Ms. Rocha is a compassionate and wise leader who remains cool, calm, and collected in every situation, always finding the silver lining and inspiring others to do the same,” said Amanda Bunch, Beck Elementary principal. “Her highly collaborative nature fosters a supportive learning environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to grow, be it students or staff.”

She affectionately referred to Ms. Rocha as the “Disney princess of teachers” for her warm, nurturing presence that draws students in and makes them eager to come to school.

Ms. Rocha says her students are the heart of her work.

“It’s the children,” she said when asked what drives her passion for teaching. “They become like family over the years. We all stay connected. I do love getting to work with other educators. I love the team bonding, the collaboration, the cohesiveness that we have built together, and of course, getting to build school culture and climate with my campus and all of our staff has been so rewarding — that's what keeps me coming back.”

In her own words, Rocha defines success not by awards, but by the culture she fosters in her classroom. She places a strong emphasis on character education, actively modeling and instilling values in her students.

David Wolf: Empowering students to think, write and learn

Described as “special” by Eaton High School Principal Stacy Miles, Mr. Wolf stands out as a powerful advocate for students, his department and public education.

“He is an example of what happens when you believe students can succeed, help them believe in themselves, and teach them how to be thinkers, writers, learners. That is his magic power,” said Miles.

With over 17 years of experience, Mr. Wolf has spent the past nine years at Eaton High School teaching social studies. He has served as department chair, a member of the district’s AP World History Curriculum Team, and a UIL academic coach in social studies, current events, and literary criticism. Currently, he serves as Eaton’s UIL academic coordinator and was an Exemplar Educator finalist in 2023.

When asked why he teaches, Wolf’s answer was simple: “It’s the kids.”

“I get to try to be a part of their path – their journey,” Mr. Wolf said. “I told them when I was going through this whole process if I win this is for them. They push me to be a better teacher, they push me to be just a better person. It always comes back to my students.”

Mr. Wolf comes from a family of teachers. For him, teaching is more than a career, he considers this his calling.

"Teaching allows me to give back in ways that are both deeply personal and widely impactful," he said. "Whether in the classroom, at school events, or through extracurricular programs, I strive to inspire my students just as my own mentors inspired me."

Ms. Rocha and Mr. Wolf will go on to represent Northwest ISD in the Region XI Teacher of the Year competition.

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Photographs of the Inspire Celebration can be found on the district's Flickr page.