Wylie High School’s very own Mr. Garrett Dowell was named Teacher of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year. He has been teaching for 12 years now and really loves what he does. I got to talk with Mr. Dowell about what got him into teaching and what he loves about it.
Mr. Dowell talked about how the teachers he had growing up inspired him to become one himself, from his first grade teacher all the way to his high school English and science teachers. He went to a very small school, and those teachers really made a difference in his life. He has been making a difference in students’ lives for 12 years now, and 11 of those years have been at Wylie. He started out teaching Spanish for three years, but mostly teaches history, specifically World Geography and World History. Not only does he teach just History, but also the Social Studies UIL team. In fact, he is the director of all UIL events at the high school. When asked what his greatest accomplishment of teaching was, he responded with the Social Studies UIL getting second place at state two years ago when they lost only by one point. He said that was a proud moment for him and the team, and they are striving to win state this year!
His favorite part of teaching is when his students get interested in what they are learning. He enjoys it when they are interested in a topic he is very passionate about. He says that kind of energy makes class fun for everyone. Mr. Dowell is a great example of what it means to be a dedicated and hard working teacher. Wylie High is very lucky to have him. Congratulations Mr. Dowell!
