Paraprofessional Trina Myrick at Spicewood Elementary School. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey

For paraprofessional Trina Myrick, there is something special about Spicewood Elementary School, the kids she works with, and the people she serves alongside.

“This is like my second home,” she said. “We’re like family. We support each other, tell all of our secrets and stories to each other. I just love it. I love the children. They keep me young.”

Myrick has been with Spicewood Elementary for 17 years, working with students who need an extra boost. She was voted Favorite School Paraprofessional in the Kingsland/Llano area by The Picayune Magazine readers and KBEY 103.9 FM Radio Picayune listeners in the 2025 Locals Love Us contest.

Myrick grew up in Dallas, lived in Hawaii for years, then came back to Texas, landing in Austin. She eventually settled down in Spicewood in 2001. Her children all grew up as Mustangs and graduated from Marble Falls High School. 

She was working as a substitute teacher at Spicewood Elementary when she was asked to come aboard full time as a paraprofessional. She never looked back.

“This place is special. Anybody who’s worked here knows,” she said. “I’m just doing what I love, and I would do it all over again if I had to.”

As a paraprofessional, Myrick works with children who need additional support with reading, forming small groups for more focused attention.

“There’s just certain children that need extra help,” she said. “I like to give attention to the kids that are struggling most. There is usually an underlying issue there. It touches my heart, and I feel like I have good communication with those kids, just giving them good attention.”

Myrick was grateful for the Locals Love Us acknowledgment but gave credit to her fellow Spicewood Elementary staff.

“(Winning) is a shock, but it’s great,” she said. “I didn’t know what this was all about. I don’t feel like I’m special. I feel like everybody here does the same thing. We’re all here for the same goal: to help the students and the kids.”

dakota@thepicayune.com