The Lewisville Education Foundation is proud to announce Monica Marsh as the recipient of the 2025 Ted Barnes LHS Award of Excellence.
The Ted Barnes LHS Award of Excellence was established in memory of Ted Barnes, a former LHS teacher and coach for over 25 years. The award is given to a LHS teacher demonstrating outstanding educational service, preferably for at least 10 years.
As a high school senior, Marsh received the 2002 Ted Barnes Memorial Scholarship. Now, receiving another award honoring Barnes’s legacy, it’s clear that Marsh embodies the commitment to education and community seen in the life of Ted Barnes.
“I cannot think of a more deserving candidate to receive the Ted Barnes Award of Excellence in Education,” LHS Killough Assistant Principal Ashlyn Straw said. “Monica Marsh embodies the values that Ted Barnes instilled, and her exceptional service to the school community is a true reflection of his legacy.”
Marsh has worked in LISD for 22 years, teaching for 18 of those years. She began her career in LISD with the LHS main campus before moving to LHS Killough (LHS-K). Marsh has taught a wide array of subjects and levels but has spent most of her time as an on-level World Geography and World History teacher. For Marsh, teaching at LHS is a dream come true.
“I always wanted to be [a teacher] as a kid,” she said. “I know its cliché, but I wanted to give back to my community and help the next generation of Future Farmers.”
Beyond teaching core subjects, Marsh supports students as a member of the AVID team. AVID aims to prepare students for college application and acceptance by teaching organization and study strategies, communication skills, and self-advocacy while building strong community relations.
“One of my favorite times of the year is working the Salvation Army Red Kettle with our AVID students,” Marsh said. “It is a great opportunity to serve with the students, teaching them how we build community by serving others. I love how we continuously build positive relationships with the students outside of the school setting. The true pride of a teacher really shines when you can see the impact of things that you taught them outside of the classroom.”
Marsh displays a genuine care for her students, evident in and out of the classroom. She shows the same care for her colleagues, too, as a former LHS Social Studies Department Sunshine Committee member and a current LHS-K Staff Wellness Committee member.
“We want everyone to feel valued and welcomed at our campus,” Marsh said. “Our goal is to create a family culture on our campus. We send out monthly hangouts for staff to meet up for fun and fellowship along with supporting our students at their extracurricular activities.”
Marsh’s colleagues note that she extends kindness without the need for a committee membership or title. When a former teacher moved from Texas to Alaska in 2008, Marsh maintained consistent communication to check in on this teacher and her family.
“Monica [Marsh] messaged me on Facebook and told me how much LHS was going to miss my presence,” Bernette Lindamood, current LHS teacher and former teacher of Marsh, said. “Where I thought the communication was going to stop…it didn’t. Every few months, Monica would message me and ask me how I was doing and ask about my family! She still does that to this day!”
Marsh’s kindness extends to her students, too. When asked about Marsh, students in her class described her as “nice” and “caring”. They remarked that “class was challenging”, and that “we knew she cared.”
“Building relationships with our students is the number one way we get them to ‘buy in’ to our subject matter,” Lindamood said. ‘When you have a teacher that makes her students feel safe, cared for, and valued, you have successful students. [Marsh] is that teacher and I am so proud to have been a small part of her journey.”
Marsh’s care for her student’s success and wellbeing coupled with her commitment to building relationships on her campus and within her community show how she honors the legacy of Ted Barnes in her lifestyle and career.
“[Marsh’s] longevity and the relationships she has cultivated over the years stand as a testament to her commitment to LHS Killough,” Straw said. “She has become more than just a teacher—she is a mentor, a role model, and a source of constant support for students and staff alike. The influence she has had on generations of students is immeasurable, and I believe her work will continue to resonate for many years to come.”
LEF is honored to recognize Marsh’s outstanding character, love for community, and inspiration of education by awarding her the 2025 Ted Barnes LHS Award of Excellence, along with a $1,000 cash prize.
