School of Education Graduate Student Named 'Teacher of the Year' at Grand Prairie School

When UNT Dallas graduate student Steve Cipriani was growing up and hanging out with friends on the streets of Dallas, he had no idea of his potential. But Mr. Cifuentes, a sixth-grade teacher at XXX Elementary School in XXX, did. “He impacted my life,” Cipriani said, about the educator known as Mister C.

During a time before smartphones, apps and video games, Cipriani had a lot of idle time as a child approaching his teens. Mister C captured Cipriani’s attention at the right time. “I took everything seriously after Mister C,” he said, who offered tutoring, a sketch book and inspiration to go to class.

Fast-forward 33 years and now Cipriani is referred to as Mister C by his elementary school students at Suzanna Dickinson Montessori Academy in Grand Prairie ISD. “When kids started calling me Mister C, I knew I’m needed here,” said Cipriani, recalling a moment of pride, joy and purpose.

Recently, Cipriani was named Dickenson’s “Teacher of the Year,” chosen by his fellow educators for the honor. He is eligible for district-wide recognition in the coming months. “It’s nice because special education teachers don’t always get recognized,” he said.

Cipriani has worked fulltime in Grand Prairie ISD for 13 years but got his foot in the door even earlier as a parttime substitute willing to interact with students who had disciplinary issues. It was an easy fit. “I knew those kids, because that was me,” he said. Just setting foot in the school resonated with Cipriani. “I knew that’s what I needed to so.”

Cipriani then became a paraprofessional, working with special education students, who required not only academic support but also emotional and social support. Later, he felt a yearning for more, so he could help students thirive in new ways. His goal: become a state-certified teacher.

Six years ago, in 2019, Cipriani went back to school himself, earning an associate’s degree from Dallas College, followed by a bachelor’s degree in (XXX) from UNT Dallas in 2023. Luckily, most classes were online and, in the evening, with a few in-person following the pandemic. “It’s hard to go to school when you’re married with kids,” Cipriani said. He has a blended family with a son and daughter of his own and his wife’s two daughters.

And he’s not done yet. In May, Cipriani will walk the commencement stage to receive his master’s in XXXXXX from UNT Dallas. The achievement will be the culmination of four continuous years here.

Cipriani credits a leadership and mentorship program called “Call Me MiSTER” aimed at male teachers for sparking his interest in pursuing a graduate degree. “The fellowship and brotherhood were inspiring,” he said, emphasizing the need for more men in the teaching profession. They serve as role models, leaders and mentors. “I need to be that example, that Trailblazer.”

At Dickinson Academy, Cipriani displays his degrees and certificates in his classroom to send a message to students. “They can see their future potential – a goal,” he said. “Everyone has a chance.”

Right now, Cipriani leverages his talent, passion and experience with a variety of students. “I’m all over the school,” he said. Officially, Cipriani is Special Ed Certified, ESL Certified and an EC-6 Generalist. He will soon add XXX to that description.

Cipriani is grateful for the knowledge, skills and training he has received in the UNT Dallas School of Education and the professional growth and development it encompasses. He is also grateful to the teacher named Mister C who took a chance and took him under his wing back in sixth grade. If only Mister C could see him now.