Congratulations to our Jurupa Unified School District 2025-2026 Teachers of the Year!
These phenomenal educators are passionate about their students and school community. This year’s honorees are:
Elementary School Teacher of the Year – Alexandra Rangel, Peralta Elementary School
Mrs. Rangel is the kind of person you can always count on. She does so much to support students and help them grow. Outside of her classroom, she is always stepping up for the school community as a whole and helps wherever needed. Mrs. Rangel works hard behind the scenes and leads by example through her dedication, reliability, and genuine care for students and coworkers, and she truly goes above and beyond every day.
Middle School Teacher of the Year – Krystal Thiessen, Mission Middle School
Ms. Thiessen does so much for Mission Middle School. She is the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Site Coordinator, Yearbook and Newspaper Advisor, 8th-Grade English Language Arts Data Team Lead, and the Chair of the Instructional Leadership site team. From coordinating spirit weeks, to planning college field trips and leading professional development programs, Ms. Thiessen continually invests in the Mission Middle School community. Her commitment to developing student leaders has made a tremendously positive impact on campus, and the MMS team appreciates her hard work and dedication to students and staff.
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High School Teacher of the Year – Heather McIntosh, Patriot High School
Heather is a transformative leader and the architect of Patriot’s school-wide literacy initiative, skillfully "training the trainers" across all disciplines. As a collaborative team lead and a vital member of the Advanced Placement vertical alignment team, her impact is felt campus-wide. Heather also supervises two clubs and even provided personal funds for the "Warriors are Readers" program to ensure every student has access to books that inspire them. Beloved by her students, she balances academic mentorship with bi-weekly mental health check-ins, ensuring every Warrior feels seen, supported, and challenged. Heather’s selfless investment in Patriot’s campus culture embodies the spirit of an exemplary educator. Ms. “Mac” truly empowers every Warrior.
Our teachers and employees of the year will be recognized at the JUSD Celebrating Educations event in March.
