Suellen Perry- 2023 Teacher of the Year

Suellen Perry, a Legal Studies CTE (Career and Technical Education) Instructor at Henderson High School in Henderson, Texas, has been named a Law-Related Education Teacher of the Year by the American Lawyers Alliance. The American Lawyers Alliance is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote understanding and appreciation of the law and the American legal system. Ms. Perry was chosen for her innovative course curriculum including Principles of Law, Court Systems & Practices and Dual Credit Criminal Justice Courses among several other law-related courses. 

Ms. Perry is a graduate of UC Berkeley School of Law, and with her experience as a Law Clerk to the Honorable John Hannah, US District Court Judge in Tyler, Texas, as Assistant United States Attorney in Tyler, Texas, and as attorney in private practice for twenty years, she has a background in the law which truly gives her students a real-world experience. Among her many classes, she also coaches the Mock Trial team which has advanced to State in three of the past four years. In 2022, Ms. Perry was named the Tex-Abota Champion of Civil Justice. 

Through grant funding she has created a mock courtroom in her classroom; through another grant, she obtained a set of “Drunk Busters” goggles that simulate the effects of impairment from various sources and substances. Another classroom project is having the students compare the “Rule of Law” in different countries to understand what the “Rule of Law” really means. 

Ms. Lisa McCreary, Coordinator, Career and Technical Education/Dual Credit Henderson ISD, writes: “Mrs. Perry goes above and beyond the call of duty. She has sponsored several extra-curricular student organizations and has served in several leadership roles during her years as a teacher. She was also chosen by students as the Most Influential Teacher in 2020, 2021 and 2022.”