for school year 2025-26
June 17 @ 3-5 p.m.
Now a senior at the University of Arkansas majoring in architecture, Stockton is making his mark in meaningful ways. His work will be featured in the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, one of the world’s most prestigious design exhibitions. He is also preparing to spend the summer in Copenhagen, Denmark, refining his skills in furniture making.
Most recently, Stockton wrapped up the semester by contributing to the research, design, and fabrication of custom architecture desks—now installed in the University of Arkansas’ new architecture building. Sponsored by Weyerhaeuser, the desks are already in use by future designers, making Stockton’s work both lasting and impactful.
But his journey didn’t start in Venice or Fayetteville—it began at the Guthrie Center, where the Architecture program helped transform a budding interest into a defined and purposeful career path.
“The Guthrie Center taught me all the things I would need to know for my freshman year at the university. I wasn’t learning anything for the first time—I was already prepared,” Stockton said.
“Time management, effective teamwork, and clear communication—these are all skills I learned in the program, and they’ve helped me succeed both academically and professionally.”
This is what T-2-4 success looks like: a student discovering purpose early, gaining industry-level skills, and entering college and career with confidence and clarity.
SBISD also proudly celebrates the dedicated educators behind the program—Fuad Loutfi and Nabila Nuray Jarin—who inspire students to dream big and work hard.
“What a wonderful year it has been,” Loutfi said. “We’re so thankful for our team and the continued exciting journey of all of our Career and Technical Education (CTE) Architecture students, seniors, and alumni in this gift of life.”
Explore more of the program’s exceptional student work, alumni stories, and highlights in the newest edition of the Guthrie Architecture Magazine:
To our current and future students: Stockton’s story is proof that when passion meets preparation, anything is possible!
Graduates of the Guthrie Center’s programs in Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management, and Engineering have earned acceptance to — and are currently attending — top universities nationwide.
While these two educators received the district’s highest honor, SBISD also recognized the four additional finalists who were part of the final selection process. With the generous support of our community partner, Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union, each finalist received a special recognition celebrating their contributions to the classroom and their commitment to Every Child.
We are thankful to Gulf Coast Educators for helping us honor these outstanding teachers and for their continued investment in public education and the SBISD community.
Elementary Finalists:
Secondary Finalists:
This year, as part of the Teacher of the Year awards process, SBISD received 3,354 nominations from students, families, staff, and community members—recognizing 1,138 individual educators across the district. From this impressive group, six finalists were selected through a thorough review process and exemplify the very best of SBISD.
Want to make a difference? SBISD is hiring passionate, student-focused educators for the upcoming school year.
#SBISDProud #ThankATeacher #GulfCoastCU #NowHiring #EducatorExcellence
SBISD students earned a total of 104 top ratings and 11 state-level medals in the TEAM, Junior VASE, and VASE competitions.
This performance underscores SBISD’s commitment to arts education and our ongoing recognition as a District of Distinction by TAEA—a title earned multiple times thanks to the excellence of our students and teachers. These programs help support the development of T-2-4 Ready Graduates, equipping students with creativity, communication, and critical-thinking skills essential for success.
Out of 6,396 submissions statewide, only 533 received a Top of TEAM medal. SBISD submitted 88 entries, with 80 students earning the highest possible rating of 4. Impressively, 7 students earned the prestigious Top of TEAM honor, spotlighting SBISD’s youngest artists as standouts at the state level.
Top of TEAM Medalists:
SBISD submitted 41 entries to the 2025 Junior VASE competition, with 15 students earning the highest possible rating of 4. Across Texas, more than 14,000 middle school students entered the contest, and while no SBISD entries earned the rare Platinum Medal this year, the strong showing of high scores reflects the district’s deep bench of emerging talent.
Top Rating Recipients:
At the high school level, SBISD submitted 14 artworks to the TAEA State Visual Arts Scholastic Event. Of these, 9 entries earned the top rating of 4, and 4 students received the prestigious Gold Seal Award—the highest honor given in the state. Out of tens of thousands of entries across Texas, only 164 Gold Seal recipients were selected.
Gold Seal Winners:
State 4 Rating Recipients:
Students were judged not only on their finished artwork, but also on how well they planned, reflected, and explained their creative process—skills that connect directly to the Core Characteristics of a T-2-4 Ready Graduate. From telling stories through art to speaking about their work in interviews, students built confidence in collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.
With award-winning fine arts programs across all grade levels, SBISD continues to demonstrate the strength of our curriculum, the dedication of our educators, and the incredible talent found throughout our schools and community.
To learn more about TAEA contests, visit: TAEA VASE Overview
VIEW PRESENTATION OF WINNERS HERE.