Haley Spencer was nominated anonymously.
Ms. Spencer believes all children are artists! She creates an environment where children have a lot of agency in how they choose to express themselves. She uses a choice-based art program that gives students exposure to a variety of art methods and materials, including drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, and fiber arts. This method requires students to be responsible and independent when choosing and caring for their materials. It allows for each student to explore creative self-expression that they might not have ever considered or been exposed to.
Ms. Spencer has been trained as a North Texas Master Naturalist to teach students science and ecology. She holds the role of Lead Teacher for Specials, has served on the SBDM committee, works with the committee for cultural awareness, and serves on the PTA Board as the Teacher Liaison. She is currently in her 20th year as an educator, impacting thousands of children, and her fifth year as the Art Teacher at Hexter Elementary School. Her students compete in a variety of art competitions and shows, and have won awards in the Texas Elementary Art Meet and Youth Art Month shows. She has been previously nominated for Teacher of the Year.
Ms. Spencer does so much for our school! She has dedicated years helping our garden program, putting on free educational events for the community, and developing personal relationships with all of the students. Her love for art and the kids is contagious. She is helpful, supportive, and kind to everyone. She deserves this!
Ms. Spencer puts her whole heart into teaching all of her students the love of art. She is fabulous!
Haley truly cares about each and every child she interacts with. She is an accomplished artist herself who has such a gift for teaching art while fostering a community of love and care for other people and the world we live in.
Awesome teacher with a true heart for the kids!
Ms. Spencer is a fantastic teacher, deeply committed to her profession and truly capable of helping respectful, free, and creative minds grow. She is attentive, kind, and a wonderful person who makes a positive impact on her community. I have had the honor of knowing her for the past ten years, and her dedication and humanity continue to inspire me.
Ms. Spencer is a true gem and is passionate about sharing her love of creativity and art with her students!
Haley Spencer is a life changer not just professionally but in her private life as well. She is someone I look to for inspiration of how to get THROUGH the hard things life challenges us with & there is no one more deserving of this award
Haley is not just incredibly talented, but also creates with an open heart and compassion. Her work with children and in the community will positively impact them and ripple outward for generations. We are lucky to have her in our lives!
Haley was my son's favorite teacher!
Haley is an amazing teacher and does so much for our school!
She spends countless hours of her time to make sure the students are all taken care of and the school has the best of everything!
Mrs. Spencer is the best!!! She is great with our kids, incredibly kind, and very passionate.
Haley Spencer changes lives by adding beauty to the world around her and empowering other people to add their own beauty!
Haley Spencer is a gifted and prolific artist! Her many unique, vibrant pieces always tell an important story about humanity and caring and community. She cares deeply about people and her world, and children love her! She knows how to relate to and encourage their personalities as a super mom, gifted teacher, and loving person; and their imaginations for artwork as a passionate artist; and their enthusiasm for growing beautiful gardens and environments as a Master Naturalist. She will always bring beauty and make a difference wherever she is!
Haley is an absolute gem and the perfect example of love and compassion in the classroom and wherever she goes. Her students and the school community are lucky to have her guiding the next generation of great artists.
Ms. Spencer is my son’s favorite teacher. She brings out his best work and creativity every time he has art class with her. She represents the best of what Hexter and DISD have to offer. She deserves this honor!
My son looks forward to his art classes and spends more time than ever experimenting and creating at home. He loves Ms. Spencer!
My daughter loves being in Mrs. Spencer’s classroom! Truly an inspired educator that we are proud to have at our school.
Ms. Spencer is such an important part of Hexter Elementary. She brings so much joy to our sweet school and truly loves her students. She’s also very active around the school and with the Hexter Garden. We appreciate all she does!
Hexter is so lucky to have Ms. Spencer! You can really feel her passion for art and also her passion for making the students feel like artists!
Art class with Ms. Spencer is my daughter’s favorite day of the week. She is so kind and encouraging!
Ms. Spencer’s artwork is so pretty and she teaches us about art and nature. She is the best teacher and artist ever! Ms. Spencer is encouraging and kind to her students.
My children look forward to her class every week and have learned to do so many creative activities that they now do at home. She is the best!
We absolutely love Ms. Spencer!
Haley Spencer is the kind of teacher who sees the soul of her students and, with amazing grace, guides them into their brightest light. She truly is a remarkable woman and an honest to God life changer.
Kids never stop talking about her! Hope she wins!
Miss her as the art teacher!
Great teacher for my kids!
I met Ms. Spencer a few years ago during an art market. We are both art teachers and were able to click right away because of that. I have had the chance of getting to know her a little more and I can truly say she’s not only an amazing teacher but also a wonderful human being. She is not only teaching art history, skills, techniques, she’s truly inspiring children to open their hearts and minds to the beauty of the world and to the relevance of caring for the planet and one another. Her students are truly lucky to have someone like her to guide them in a creative journey of learning to open their eyes to the beauty of art, but also to the beauty of community.
I'm new at Hexter Elementary, and have known Haley for only a few months. Even in that short amount of time I realized how special and talented she is through all of the amazing art projects her students have done thus far. She is truly devoted to her career!
Ms. Spencer is truly an extraordinary educator. She creates a classroom environment where every student feels empowered to explore art through their own unique lens. She doesn’t just teach techniques; she nurtures creativity, confidence, and individuality. She also brings learning to life by weaving in frequent cross-curricular connections, giving students the chance to explore a wide range of content areas within the art room. Her passion, innovation, and genuine care make her a true life changer, and she absolutely deserves this recognition.
Haley is the epitome of a selfless teacher. She goes above and beyond to care for and nurture her students as she teaches about art and nature to our students. She is the best coworker!
Sweet kind and always smiling has a beautiful heart
I am so proud to support Haley Spencer for LifeChanger of the Year. Haley is one of the most caring and dedicated educators I know. She always puts her students first and works hard to make sure everyone feels included and supported.
Her positivity, patience, and commitment make a huge difference every day. Haley truly changes lives, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor.
Haley Spencer is an amazing educator who truly cares about her students. She works hard every day to make a positive impact and always goes above and beyond to help others. Haley creates a welcoming, supportive environment where students feel encouraged to do their best.
She is kind, dedicated, and always willing to lend a hand. Haley deserves this recognition because she makes a real difference in the lives of everyone around her.
I want to share how grateful I am for Ms. Spencer. She truly makes a meaningful difference in the lives of her students every single day, inspiring them through creativity and compassion. She brings so much pride, warmth, and positive energy to Hexter Elementary, helping shape a school culture where everyone feels valued. On top of that, she leads by example—whether in the art room or across the campus—showing what dedication and kindness look like in action. She’s not only an exceptional teacher, but also a wonderful friend, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have her.
