Carthage Resident and UT Tyler Alum Named Tyler ISD 2024 Principal of the Year

May 2, 2024 | Hannah Buchanan

Rachel Sherman of Carthage, a double alumna of The University of Texas at Tyler, was named Tyler Independent School District’s 2024 Principal of the Year. She serves as principal at Three Lakes Middle School and was recognized at this year’s Tyler ISD Educators of the Year Banquet.

“We are so proud of the work Mrs. Sherman has accomplished. She has used her training from UT
Tyler and excelled as both an educator and administrator,” said Dr. Staci Zolkoski, UT Tyler associate professor and School of Education interim director. “It has been amazing to see what she has accomplished specifically at Three Lakes Middle School. As a parent of children who have been at Three Lakes, I am thankful for her and the work she has done.”

Sherman was also named a 2024 UT Tyler College of Education and Psychology Distinguished Alumni. Awardees are recognized for noteworthy success in their professions and significant contributions to their field or discipline.

With 16 years of experience as a public school educator, she previously served as principal at Center Elementary in Center ISD, Fred Douglass Elementary in Jacksonville ISD, and Tyler ISD’s Owens Elementary.

Sherman holds a UT Tyler Bachelor of Science of interdisciplinary studies, Master of Education in
educational administration, and principal and superintendent certification.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 10,000 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine.