Argyle ISD’s Teachers of the Year

Argyle ISD is proud to recognize the outstanding educators selected as our 2024-2025 Campus Teachers of the Year. Chosen by their peers and campus leadership, these teachers exemplify passion, dedication to student success and the core values that define our district.

Each of them goes above and beyond–creating meaningful connections, inspiring young minds and leaving a lasting impact on their campuses and the Argyle ISD community.

Join us as we highlight these exceptional educators and celebrate the heart of what makes our schools so special!

Jordan Johnson, Hilltop Elementary

Jordan Johnson, a first-grade teacher at Hilltop Elementary, has been in education for seven years–five of those in Argyle ISD. She’s passionate about helping her students grow, especially in reading, and finds joy in watching their incredible progress throughout the year.

Being named Teacher of the Year is a humbling honor for Jordan, who credits her amazing colleagues for their shared dedication to student success. She originally chose to teach at Argyle for its small-town feel and has built meaningful relationships along the way. Jordan is also set to graduate in May with her Master’s in School Counseling and looks forward to serving students in a new way!

Neal Karpienski, Argyle South Elementary

Neal Karpienski is in his sixth year of teaching Music and comes from a family of educators, including his father, a high school business teacher, and his grandmother, a school nurse. He grew up in San Antonio and graduated from Northeast ISD, where he was drum major at Ronald Reagan High School. In his senior year, he was chosen as first chair clarinetist for the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. Neal plays all kinds of instruments including woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion–and brings them into the classroom to share with his students. 

Neal has been teaching music to Pre-K through fifth grade students in Argyle ISD since 2019. He started the “Southern Songbirds” school choir and leads the UIL Music Memory team. He loves teaching in Argyle because of the strong sense of community  and the support for both the arts and educators.

Marilyn Mykel, Argyle West Elementary

After 30 years in Argyle ISD, Marilyn Mykel still loves what she does–as it all comes down to relationships. Being named Argyle West’s Teacher of the Year means more to her than she can put into words. To Marilyn, it is a reflection of the respect and support she feels from the AWEsome community. It’s also a reminder that all her years of hard work have made a real difference. Marilyn chooses to stay in Argyle ISD because of the connections she has built and she is excited to continue supporting the growth of the Life Skills Program.

Noel Nightingale, Jane Ruestmann Elementary

Noel Nightingale, STEM teacher at Jane Ruestmann Elementary, is a passionate educator with nine years of experience—four of those in Argyle ISD. For Noel, teaching is about more than just content–it’s about connection. She treasures those powerful moments when students realize what they’re capable of, whether it’s building a robot, designing a bubble wand or mastering a chess strategy.

Being named Teacher of the Year is deeply meaningful to her because it reflects the heart and teamwork of a campus that lifts each other up and shows up for students every day. Noel chose Argyle for her own daughter’s education and has found exactly what she hoped for–strong academics, passionate educators and a close-knit community.

She is now using this recognition as a launching pad for leadership–building cross-campus partnerships, leading professional development, and creating real-world learning opportunities. Noel is committed to keeping Argyle’s small-town spirit alive while helping it grow and she’s proud to be part of a district that values both innovation and heart.

Karen Rast, Sixth Grade Center

Karen Rast, a dedicated special education teacher at the Sixth Grade Center, has been in education for 20 years, with the last three spent serving students in Argyle ISD. She teaches for the joy and purpose her students bring–moments of wonder, discovery and endless learning possibilities. Being named Teacher of the Year is an honor that exemplifies the respect of her colleagues she deeply admires.Karen is passionate about supporting her campus beyond the classroom. She hopes to continue serving as special education team lead, offer professional development for teachers across the district, and help implement a mentorship program to support and retain new educators. She chose Argyle for its high standard and strong sense of community–where staff and families work together to do what’s best for students.

Erin Turek, Argyle Middle School

Erin Turek, Director of Theatre at Argyle Middle School, is celebrating her 20th year in education and her sixth in Argyle ISD. Passionate about the power and possibilities of teaching, Erin believes that each day brings a chance to impact a student’s life. She feels lucky to teach a subject she loves and hopes to inspire her students to discover that same passion for theatre. Mrs. Turek adds that since joining the district 6 years ago there has been immense growth and change, but one thing has remained the same–the pride of being an Eagle! 

Being named Teacher of the Year is a very important honor for Erin, who holds great admiration for her AMS colleagues. She is also excited to begin a new role as Argyle ISD’s Visual Arts Coordinator next school year, a position that will allow her to support fellow arts educators districtwide. Erin is committed to helping the arts thrive across the district, believing that creative programs foster empathy, engagement and a lifelong love of learning. 

Steven Orlowski, Argyle High School

Steven Orlowski, a U.S. History teacher at Argyle High School, has been teaching for 15 years and has been serving Argyle ISD for the last 5 years. He is passionate about helping students succeed and he values the strong relationships he has built with his students and colleagues. He is proud to share his love of history in a district known for excellence. 

Being named Argyle High School’s Teacher of the Year is an incredibly rewarding recognition for Steven, who credits his success to hard work, dedication and a deep commitment to public education. Looking ahead, he plans to mentor fellow teachers, share best practices and stay active both on campus and in the community as a leader and advocate for students and public schools.