On November 1, Wimberley was recognized during a special ceremony at the TXCSS State Convention in Frisco. She was one of five educators in Texas honored at the luncheon, and the only one to receive the award at the elementary level.

“I was pretty astonished to be chosen out of all the elementary teachers in the state,” said Wimberley. “Honored doesn’t even scratch the surface of how I am feeling. It’s a big deal for me personally to be nominated and selected by my peers for something that I am so passionate about teaching.”

Back in May, Wimberley was selected as the Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the Staked Plains Council for Social Studies, the local chapter of the TXCSS. As the area winner, her nomination advanced to the state level, and in late October, she was announced as the overall TXCSS 2025 Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year.

To those who know Wimberley, this award does not come as a surprise. Her love of social studies goes far beyond the walls of her classroom. Known for creative lessons, Wimberley has a special gift for making history come alive for her students.

“At 62 years old, this award is telling me that I still got it - I still have the passion, I still have the love of teaching, and I still have the ability to impact my students,” said Wimberley.

In her 25th year of teaching, all at Crestview Elementary, her projects have become traditions that students and staff look forward to each year. Most notable is her historical reenactment in the National Ranching Heritage Center’s Candlelight at the Ranch event.

Since 2001, Wimberley has been bringing pioneer life to her classroom to teach students about settlers on the West Texas Plains. She then brings history to life when her class volunteers at the Candlelight at the Ranch event to reenact scenes in a 19th-century one-room schoolhouse. More than 500 Crestview students over the past 25 years have participated in the reenactment that is viewed by 10,000+ visitors per year.

“In first grade, the students have a natural curiosity about who we are, where we are, how we got here, and the way we live,” said Wimberley.  “They’re hungry to learn about people, history, timelines, and cultures.”

She is also known for her quilt-making and is creating her 25th classroom quilt this year, where each student brings a piece of fabric that holds special significance to them, their family, or their culture. She carefully sews the pieces together to create one classroom quilt that is displayed all year long.

“They see how unique they are individually, but also how amazingly beautiful we are together,” she said.

Quilts and historical reenactments are just two of the many lessons that Wimberley uses to spark a love for social studies among her young students. Her lessons challenge students to think deeply, to be curious, to ask questions, and most importantly, to love one another and embrace our differences, cultures, and who we are as a community.

“Any teacher can discover the excitement a child has for learning about real people, real events, and celebrations. Social studies are the lives and history of us,” said Wimberley.

Congratulations, Saundra Wimberley! Frenship ISD is proud to have you as an educator.