H-E-B has announced the winners of the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, a program launched in cooperation with TASA in 2002 as a positive way to support public education in Texas.
At the 16th annual awards ceremony, held in Austin, H-E-B awarded $430,000 in cash awards and grants, and honored eight educators, two school districts, one early childhood agency, and a public school board for being among the best in Texas.
Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates delivered the keynote address to a ballroom packed with hundreds of H-E-B employees, community leaders, elected officials, and educators.
2017 H-E-B Excellence in Education Award Winners
Large School District ($100,000 cash prize)
Grand Prairie ISD — Susan Simpson Hull, superintendent
Small School District ($50,000 cash prize)
Alamo Heights ISD — Kevin Brown, superintendent
Early Childhood Education Facility ($25,000 cash prize)
Pre-K San Antonio Education Center — Sandy Weser and Belinda Gonzalez, directors
Public School Board ($25,000 cash prize)
Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees — Kristen Tassin, board president
Elementary
Dr. Myrtha Villarreal, Colonel Santos Benavides Elementary, United ISDSecondary
Julie Diaz, Travis High School, Fort Bend ISD
Teachers
Lifetime Achievement
The Lifetime Achievement Category salutes teachers with more than 20 years of experience. Winners received $25,000 in cash for themselves and a $25,000 grant for their schools.
ElementaryRhonda Pena, Bryan Elementary, Mission CISD
SecondaryMichael Bailey, Omar Bradley Middle School, North East ISD
Leadership
The Leadership Category honors teachers with 10 to 20 years in the classroom. Winners received a $10,000 check for themselves and a $10,000 grant for their schools.
Elementary
Raul Munoz, George Evans Elementary, Corpus Christi ISD
SecondaryJamie Flint, Spring Woods High School, Spring Branch ISD
Rising Star
The Rising Star Category recognizes teachers with less than 10 years of experience. Winners received a $5,000 check for themselves and a $5,000 grant for their schools.
ElementaryRicky Davis, Schertz Elementary, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD
SecondaryRichard Embrick, David Crockett Middle School, Fort Bend ISD
About the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards
H-E-B launched the Excellence in Education Awards program in cooperation with TASA in 2002 as a positive way to support public education in Texas. It has become the largest monetary program for educators in the state, spotlighting best practices and celebrating the passion and creativity of Texas educators.
