After only a few minutes with Tierra Rosa Elementary (TRE) teacher Tara Currywood, it’s clear she has a heart for her special education students. It’s no wonder she is being honored with two prestigious awards by her school and the special education community. We spoke with her, her colleagues, and one special family about her well-deserved recognition.

Currywood joined Liberty Hill ISD five years ago and currently  serves as a Building Essential Skills Together (BEST) teacher and the special education team lead at TRE. In that role, she works with elementary students with a range of special needs, including those with autism and Down syndrome. Her role is to help them develop social skills, build relationships, and improve communication and self regulation, among other skills.

Currywood didn’t start out pursuing a degree in education. “I was in the nursing program in college because I had a passion to help people,” she said. “I wanted to help those in a vulnerable position and be the person who made them feel okay.” After having children, Currywood realized she could fulfill that goal and be closer to her own children by working in special education. Now, she can’t imagine working in any other role.

“The best part of my job, 1,000%, is the students,” she said. “They are the most loving kids you’ll ever meet.” She works hard, even taking paperwork home at night, to make sure she is giving her all to her students. In her view, they are just like other kids. “They want to be included, to play, and run and laugh. They are creative, imaginative and silly, just like everybody else,” she said.

Inclusion is a big part of her work with her BEST students. Even though some of her students don’t have an audible voice, they communicate in other ways, and Currywood sees her role as advocating for them. Inclusion is one of the key areas she focuses on. When the students she supports are in a general education classroom, they learn from their peers in areas like how to sit on the carpet, listen to a story and transition between tasks. But Currywood emphasized that other students also learn from her students. “They learn empathy, compassion and acceptance,” she said.

The family of Daniela Gonzales has seen the benefits of this focus on inclusion. Daniela is part of the BEST program at TRE. Her mother, Victoria Gonzales, said, “Inclusion has had such a positive impact on Daniela, and I would like to think it has had the same effect on her peers. They get to see that not everyone is the same, and that being different is not a bad thing.”

TRE Principal Brandi Pennington said she is grateful for Currywood’s work and excited to see her recognized as TRE Teacher of the Year. “Tara has been a steady and supportive presence for so many students and staff members on our campus this year,” Pennington said. “She manages a demanding caseload, thoughtfully develops behavior plans, willingly mentors colleagues, and is always open to feedback as she continues to grow.”

Currywood is also receiving recognition this spring from the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas (DSACT) with the 2026 Lori Tullos Outstanding Educator Award. Families in the organization nominate individuals or teams who have had a meaningful impact on their child and supported their family. Currywood was nominated by the Gonzales family, who shared, “Because of her efforts, she has created a safe space for kids with disabilities, especially those with Down syndrome. Mrs. Currywood’s leadership has made it possible for our kids to learn alongside their peers.”

Daniela has also benefited socially. She gets to participate in activities like running on the football field at games alongside her older sister, and has been embraced by her peers. “When we go to activities on campus, I see kids coming up to my daughter to say hello. She is a friend to them, a peer,” Gonzales said. “She is not just the kid with Down syndrome, and that makes me happy.” Daniela has also been recognized by TRE staff, earning a character award twice. She is thriving, with a growing vocabulary and a love for school, according to her mother.

Kimberly De La Houssaye, executive director of the LHISD student support services department, also praised Currywood’s work. “Tara has gone above and beyond supporting special education students at TRE with her time, patience and compassion, while also supporting her team through her leadership,” she said. “She exemplifies what it means to lead with compassion and be a determined problem-solver. Our department is truly grateful that she shares her talents with our students and staff.”

At the end of the day, Currywood is grateful for the recognition but remains focused on advocating for her students. “We are all different — students with disabilities, different ethnicities or unique home cultures,” she said. “Diversity is something we should always welcome.”

Learn more about the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas here. 

*photos shared by the family of Daniela Gonzales