Preparing for her fourth year as a teacher, Rilee Prestwood was named the Rising Star Teacher on Brownwood ISD’s Coggin Elementary campus for the 2025-26 school year. Her path to the classroom was not originally in her plans upon completing college.
“After graduating from the University of North Texas with a degree in Speech-Language Pathology, I quickly realized there wasn’t a strong demand for speech-language pathology assistants,” Prestwood said. “I felt discouraged because I had truly loved my time working with children in the university clinic and helping them make meaningful progress. In 2019, my aunt, who was an assistant principal in Jacksonville, Texas, told me her school was looking for a fifth-grade math teacher. My first reaction was to laugh because, growing up, math was never my strongest subject. But the opportunity also meant I could continue doing what I loved most, working with kids and making a positive difference in their lives. Looking back, saying yes to that opportunity changed everything. I owe so much to my aunt for encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone and believing in me before I fully believed in myself. Her confidence in me led me to discover a career that has become my true passion.”
Regarding her teaching background, Prestwood said, “I recently completed my third year of teaching. When COVID hit, my husband and I relocated to Lubbock, where I stepped away from the classroom for a period of time. Although it wasn’t part of the original plan, that season only reinforced how much I missed teaching and confirmed that it was where I was meant to be. I began my teaching career at Nichols Intermediate in Jacksonville, Texas, where I taught fifth-grade math. Later, I moved to Alvarado Intermediate, to be closer to my sister in the Fort Worth area. I am now beginning my second year at Coggin Elementary, where I have the opportunity to teach fourth-grade math. Every step of my journey has shaped me into the educator I am today, and I’m grateful for each experience and the students I’ve had the privilege of teaching.”
A fourth-grade math teacher at Coggin, Prestwood said, “One of the reasons I love it is because math didn’t come easily to me growing up. I was blessed with patient teachers and tutors who encouraged me, helped me learn from my mistakes, and never gave up on me. Because I understand what it’s like to struggle, I can often recognize where my students are getting stuck and use those moments as opportunities to build their confidence and deepen their understanding.”
Prestwood will be expanding her duties beyond the classroom for the 2026-27 school year.
“This school year, I will also begin serving as the assistant coach for the high school girls’ soccer team,” Prestwood said. “Soccer has always been a big part of my life, and I was fortunate to play through college. When Coach Mosqueda asked if I would be interested in coaching, I jumped at the opportunity. I’m excited to make an impact on students both in the classroom and on the field.”
Prestwood graduated from Grace Community High School in Tyler, then went on to Tyler Junior College where she obtained an Associates degree in English and played volleyball and soccer. After two years, she transferred to the University of North Texas.
Recalling her days as a young student, Prestwood said, “I was incredibly fortunate to have some of the best teachers a student could ask for. One who had a lasting impact on me was my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Gibson. She was one of the most gentle, caring, and compassionate teachers I’ve ever known. As a feisty and talkative child, she taught me far more than academics. She modeled patience, kindness, and respect, and she showed me the importance of treating others with compassion. The lessons she taught about character and integrity have stayed with me long after I left her classroom. Another teacher who greatly influenced me was my seventh-grade science teacher and basketball coach, Coach Lanford. She was an incredible role model who challenged each of her students to reach their full potential. She held us to high expectations, encouraging us to excel both in the classroom and as student-athletes. More importantly, she was always there for us. Whether we needed help with school, sports, or life, Coach Lanford made the time to listen, encourage, and support us. Her constant commitment to her students is something I will always remember and strive to reflect in my own classroom.”
The most rewarding aspect of teaching, according to Prestwood, is, “Building relationships with my students. I hope to create a classroom where every child feels valued, supported, and encouraged to be their best. I believe students learn best when they know someone truly believes in them. Seeing their confidence grow throughout the year, both academically and personally, is the greatest reward. My hope is that long after they leave my classroom, they remember not only what they learned, but also that they had a teacher who genuinely cared about them.”
When it comes to misconceptions, or what is misunderstood about being an educator, Prestwood pointed to, “The impact we have outside of academics. Teaching is about so much more than lesson plans and test scores. Every day, we’re building relationships, encouraging students, celebrating their successes, and helping them navigate challenges. Sometimes the biggest difference we make isn’t something that can be measured on a test, it’s making sure a child feels seen, supported, and believes in themselves. Those moments often have the greatest lasting impact as they did on me as a student.”
Looking ahead to her future in teaching, Prestwood said, “What excites me most is knowing that there is always something new to learn and new ways to connect with students. Every group of students is different, which challenges me to continue growing as an educator and finding creative ways to make learning meaningful and engaging. I’m excited to keep learning alongside my students and fellow teachers, while continuing to build relationships and create a classroom where every student feels supported, challenged, and excited to learn.”
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BrownwoodNews.com will highlight one Brown County educator per day in the month of July, based on nominations received on our Facebook page, for our Teacher Feature series.