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Memorial High teacher honored with top teaching excellence award
Chris Preston recognized for going above and beyond in the classroom
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
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Chris Preston, a science teacher at Memorial High School in Wichita Falls, Texas, was surprised with the 2026 Roberta Faulkner Sund award, an honor recognizing excellence in teaching and student engagement. Preston was praised for his creative, hands-on approach to teaching science and his dedication to helping students prepare for life after high school.
Why it matters
Teachers play a crucial role in shaping young minds, and this award highlights the importance of recognizing educators who go above and beyond in the classroom. The Roberta Faulkner Sund award was created to honor teachers like Preston who are making a lasting impact on their students.
The details
Preston was surprised with the award during a typical school day at Memorial High. The WFISD Education Foundation presented him with the honor, which is named after longtime WFISD educator Roberta Faulkner Sund. Preston was praised for his creative, hands-on teaching methods that help students experience science firsthand rather than just reading about it in a book. He said his goal as a teacher goes beyond just teaching biology, as he aims to help students prepare for life after high school.
- The award was presented to Preston on March 6, 2026.
The players
Chris Preston
A science teacher at Memorial High School in Wichita Falls, Texas, who was honored with the 2026 Roberta Faulkner Sund award for excellence in teaching and student engagement.
Roberta Faulkner Sund
A longtime WFISD educator whose family created the Roberta Faulkner Sund award to honor teachers who go above and beyond for their students.
Nikki Davis
The Executive Director of the WFISD foundation, which presented the award to Preston.
What they’re saying
“It's very flattering, although those who know me know that I don't like my class being interrupted; we've got stuff to do. But no, it's an amazing honor. We often are unsung heroes, so it's nice to get that recognition.”
— Chris Preston, Science Teacher (texomashomepage.com)
“Sometimes being a teacher is very thankless. We're just very proud of our teachers at the WFISD foundation, and we want to recognize their efforts. So, if there's something that we can do to show them our appreciation and extend a monetary award to help support what they do in their classroom, then we're happy to do so.”
— Nikki Davis, Executive Director of the WFISD Foundation (texomashomepage.com)
“Kids coming back, going to Stanford, going to MIT, coming back and saying, hey you influenced me to do this. It's crazy to think that you can impact somebody's life like that. So, when they come back and they tell you about it, it's rewarding.”
— Chris Preston, Science Teacher (texomashomepage.com)
What’s next
The WFISD Education Foundation plans to continue recognizing exceptional teachers like Chris Preston through the Roberta Faulkner Sund award in the years to come.
The takeaway
This award highlights the vital role that dedicated and creative teachers like Chris Preston play in shaping the lives of their students. By fostering hands-on learning and preparing students for the future, Preston and other award-winning educators are making a lasting impact on their communities.
