A&M-Victoria student named Rookie Teacher of Year
Connie Pettitt’s Rookie Teacher of the Year award is more than a story of success for the Texas A&M University-Victoria student. It’s a tale of failure followed by perseverance and determination to give students the same support that she received as a student.
“I’m very happy to receive this award, especially when reflecting on all the hard work and determination it took to get here,” Pettitt said. “I give all the glory to God. There’s no way I could have done this by myself. Sometimes I still can’t believe that I’ve finally reached this point.”
Pettitt of Katy recently was named Rookie Teacher of the Year at Bonnie Holland Elementary School in the Katy Independent School District, where she teaches third-grade math and science. The award is given to teachers who display excellent performance in their first year of teaching.
“The College of Education & Health Professions at Texas A&M University-Victoria proudly congratulates Connie Pettitt on being named Rookie Teacher of the Year,” said Mary Lasater, associate dean and professor in the university’s VOICE program. “This well-deserved honor reflects Connie’s resilience, commitment, and genuine heart for students.”
Pettitt’s journey toward her teaching career had a rocky beginning. She graduated from the university in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in fourth to eighth grade education. However, when she took the state examination to earn her teacher certification, she had some trouble passing the test, even after taking it multiple times.
“I was so discouraged, I wanted to just throw in the towel,” she said. “But my family encouraged me not to give up. I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and their support and faith in me, as well as my faith in God, helped me take the next step.”
After taking six months off to rest and refocus herself, Pettitt decided to enroll in the university’s VOICE, or Victoria Online Initial Certification for Educators, program with a plan to become certified to teach early childhood to sixth grade. In April 2025, she earned her certification, and she is scheduled to complete the VOICE program in May.
“I was so anxious about the test, and it did take a couple of tries, but it was so amazing to get that message that I was certified,” she said. “I never thought that I would teach little children, but I fell in love with it, and now I get to spend every day working with and encouraging them.”
Teaching third grade is something of a full-circle moment for Pettitt. Her family first moved to Katy when she was in third grade, and the teachers in Katy ISD were some of her first role models. It was teachers in Katy who identified that Pettitt was dyslexic, and throughout her education, they were supportive and pushed her to succeed.
In ninth grade, Pettitt decided that she wanted to become a teacher and help students in the same way that she had been helped by her teachers. Now, thanks to the lessons she’s learned at A&M-Victoria through the VOICE program, as well as the support of her family and her faith, she has made that dream become a reality.
“The faculty at A&M-Victoria are amazingly responsive and supportive,” she said. “The program itself has a wonderful curriculum, but the professors are what make all the difference. They tell their students it’s OK to reach out to them at any time, especially because we’ll often face unexpected situations in our classrooms, and they are happy to give us advice or share some encouragement.”
As a faculty member, Liping Wei, associate professor and director of field experiences in the College of Education & Health Professions, believes that Pettitt's award is a testament to her hard work and the supportive learning community fostered through the program.
“Connie embodies the commitment and excellence we strive to develop in all of our teacher candidates,” Wei said.
As she reflects on her own journey, Pettitt hopes that sharing her story will encourage others who are struggling to achieve something they believe in.
“My father is an educator, and one of the things he told me as I was struggling was that my story can become an inspiration for those who one day will look up to me,” Pettitt said. “Now, I see the truth in that when I work with my students. I know how important it is to encourage them to keep trying even after they fail at something.”
As amazing as it was to receive the Rookie of the Year award for her school, Pettitt knows that this is just the beginning of her career, and she is grateful to everyone who helped her get this far and who will continue to support her in the years ahead.
“I want to thank my family, as well as the team at Holland Elementary School, and all my previous educators,” she said. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. I’m excited to impact young lives the same way that you impacted mine.”
Texas A&M University-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the colleges of Business, Education & Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, and Natural & Applied Science. A&M-Victoria provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as online classes that students can take from anywhere. The university supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.