One of our alumni is getting national attention for going above and beyond for her students, and now you can help her get the ultimate recognition.

Photo courtesy of Today.com‌

• Vote for Deborah Young • Official contest rules

Deborah Young '00, M.Ed. '07, a teacher at J.C. Thompson Elementary School in Haslet, is one of three finalists in the Kathy Lee and Hoda "Teacher of the Year" contest. Through Nov. 4, your vote can help her win the award.

Young, who is not only a Texas Wesleyan alumna but also the daughter of former faculty member Stan Rummel, was nominated for the honor by Lashawnda Pringle-Washington, the mother of several of her students. Here's just some of what Pringle-Washington had to say about Young inside the classroom:

"I have been fortunate to have [Young] for four years, maybe not as the homeroom teacher, but in some way I have been blessed to have her. One of my sons was very shy and she came up with a curriculum that focused on his strengths and now that he is in middle school he is in the band, plays football and guess what, is even in theater arts because she motivated him."

What really stood out to Pringle-Washington, however, was Young's kindness when tragedy struck her family.

"Three years ago I was in the eighth month of my pregnancy when the unthinkable happened — my son got tangled up in the umbilical cord and died. I was devastated and so were my other kids. ... Mrs. Young took it upon herself along with a few other teachers and made sure I did not have to cook for my kids or anything. ... This was the first year that I really met her and she showed me so much kindness, I can only imagine the impact that she had on all her students and parents."

You can read all of Pringle-Washington's praise for Young on the Today Show contest page. 

Dr. Carlos Martinez, dean of the School of Education, remembers Young well and is very proud of her achievement.

"Deborah's work as a teacher and her subsequent nomination is a testament to the quality of our students, their commitment to their communities and the relationships that our students develop with our faculty," said Martinez.