Fifty Texas educators have been named finalists in the 2024 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, spotlighting them as some of the best teachers, counselors and principals in Texas. H-E-B’s Excellence in Education Awards is the largest monetary awards program for educators in Texas, and among the largest in the nation.
Over the last two months, H-E-B representatives notified every educator with the news they were a finalist during a surprise visit to their school. Teacher finalists were presented with a $1,000 check for themselves and a $1,000 check for their school; counselors were presented with a $1,000 check and a $1,500 check for their school; and principal finalists received a $1,000 check for themselves and a $2,500 check for their school.
The statewide finalists are as follows:
Cesar E. Chavez High School, Houston ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Bob Hope Elementary, Southwest ISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Dwight D. Eisenhower High School, Aldine ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Zachary Kolda Elementary, Corpus Christi ISD (Leadership Elementary)
Morris T. Griffin Middle School, Lewisville ISD (Counselor Secondary)
Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Midland ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Mary Branch Elementary, Bryan ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
Sam Houston Elementary, Galena Park ISD (Principal Elementary)
Blanca E. Sanchez Elementary, McAllen ISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Carlos F. Truan Junior High School, Edcouch Elsa ISD (Principal Secondary)
Samuel L. Martin Middle School, Austin ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Douglas MacArthur High School, North East ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Obra D. Tompkins High School, Katy ISD (Leadership Secondary)
North Shore Middle School, Galena Park ISD (Principal Secondary)
Westwood Terrace Elementary, Northside ISD (Leadership Elementary)
John Glenn Elementary, Northside ISD (Principal Elementary)
Hunt Elementary, Cuero ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
Robert E. Hendrickson High School, Pflugerville ISD (Principal Secondary)
Brundrett Middle School, Port Aransas ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Fabra Elementary, Boerne ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
M.H. Moore Elementary, Fort Worth ISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Carthage High School, Carthage ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Otis Brown Elementary, Irving ISD (Leadership Elementary)
Blackland Prairie Elementary, Round Rock ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
Thorndale Elementary, Thorndale ISD (Counselor Elementary)
Sarah Beth Lively Middle School, Austin ISD (Counselor Secondary)
Crossroads Academy High School, Uvalde CISD (Principal Secondary)
Harlingen School of Health Professions, Harlingen CISD (Counselor Secondary)
South Knoll Elementary, College Station ISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Sue Evelyn Rattan Elementary, Anna ISD (Counselor Elementary)
Sam Houston Elementary, Galena Park ISD (Counselor Elementary)
Spring Creek Elementary, Garland ISD (Principal Elementary)
R.J. Richey Elementary, Burnet CISD (Principal Elementary)
Dr. Hector P. Garcia Middle School, Northside ISD (Counselor Secondary)
Robert E. Hendrickson High School, Pflugerville ISD (Leadership Secondary)
Round Rock High School, Round Rock ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Sorters Mill Elementary, New Caney ISD (Leadership Elementary)
Sunfield Elementary, Hays CISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Sellers Middle School, Garland ISD (Principal Secondary)
Lee H. Means Elementary Fine Arts Academy, Harlingen CISD (Counselor Elementary)
Cibolo Green Elementary, North East ISD (Counselor Elementary)
Glenmore Elementary, San Angelo ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
Teravista Elementary, Round Rock ISD (Leadership Elementary)
William Adams Middle School, Alice ISD (Leadership Secondary)
Abilene High School, Abilene ISD (Leadership Secondary)
Weslaco High School, Weslaco ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Earl Warren High School, Northside ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Bryon P. Steele II High School, Schertz-Cibolo, Universal City ISD (Leadership Secondary)
Brabham Middle School, Willis ISD (Counselor Secondary)
The statewide finalists are as follows:
Cesar E. Chavez High School, Houston ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Bob Hope Elementary, Southwest ISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Dwight D. Eisenhower High School, Aldine ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Zachary Kolda Elementary, Corpus Christi ISD (Leadership Elementary)
Morris T. Griffin Middle School, Lewisville ISD (Counselor Secondary)
Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Midland ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Mary Branch Elementary, Bryan ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
Sam Houston Elementary, Galena Park ISD (Principal Elementary)
Blanca E. Sanchez Elementary, McAllen ISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Carlos F. Truan Junior High School, Edcouch Elsa ISD (Principal Secondary)
Samuel L. Martin Middle School, Austin ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Douglas MacArthur High School, North East ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Obra D. Tompkins High School, Katy ISD (Leadership Secondary)
North Shore Middle School, Galena Park ISD (Principal Secondary)
Westwood Terrace Elementary, Northside ISD (Leadership Elementary)
John Glenn Elementary, Northside ISD (Principal Elementary)
Hunt Elementary, Cuero ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
Robert E. Hendrickson High School, Pflugerville ISD (Principal Secondary)
Brundrett Middle School, Port Aransas ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Fabra Elementary, Boerne ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
M.H. Moore Elementary, Fort Worth ISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Carthage High School, Carthage ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Otis Brown Elementary, Irving ISD (Leadership Elementary)
Blackland Prairie Elementary, Round Rock ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
Thorndale Elementary, Thorndale ISD (Counselor Elementary)
Sarah Beth Lively Middle School, Austin ISD (Counselor Secondary)
Crossroads Academy High School, Uvalde CISD (Principal Secondary)
Harlingen School of Health Professions, Harlingen CISD (Counselor Secondary)
South Knoll Elementary, College Station ISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Sue Evelyn Rattan Elementary, Anna ISD (Counselor Elementary)
Sam Houston Elementary, Galena Park ISD (Counselor Elementary)
Spring Creek Elementary, Garland ISD (Principal Elementary)
R.J. Richey Elementary, Burnet CISD (Principal Elementary)
Dr. Hector P. Garcia Middle School, Northside ISD (Counselor Secondary)
Robert E. Hendrickson High School, Pflugerville ISD (Leadership Secondary)
Round Rock High School, Round Rock ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Sorters Mill Elementary, New Caney ISD (Leadership Elementary)
Sunfield Elementary, Hays CISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Sellers Middle School, Garland ISD (Principal Secondary)
Lee H. Means Elementary Fine Arts Academy, Harlingen CISD (Counselor Elementary)
Cibolo Green Elementary, North East ISD (Counselor Elementary)
Glenmore Elementary, San Angelo ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
Teravista Elementary, Round Rock ISD (Leadership Elementary)
William Adams Middle School, Alice ISD (Leadership Secondary)
Abilene High School, Abilene ISD (Leadership Secondary)
Weslaco High School, Weslaco ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Earl Warren High School, Northside ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Bryon P. Steele II High School, Schertz-Cibolo, Universal City ISD (Leadership Secondary)
Brabham Middle School, Willis ISD (Counselor Secondary)
All finalists are invited to Houston on May 5, 2024, to compete on a statewide level alongside schoolboard, district, and early childhood education center finalists for larger cash prizes totaling $480,000.
Each year, H-E-B asks customers, Partners (employees) and community members to nominate teachers, counselors, principals, districts, early childhood facilities, and school boards in Texas. Each nominee is sent an invitation to complete an application online and is asked about their professional experiences, educational philosophies and achievements both in and out of the classroom/district.
A team of judges reviews the applications, narrowing the field to semi-finalists. From that pool, five regional judging panels comprised of former winners, administrators, and university and community leaders not affiliated with H-E-B select 50 teacher, counselor, and principal finalists. Finalists and their schools receive a cash prize of $1,000 to $2,500, depending on category.
Three separate panels select eight school districts and five early childhood facilities as finalists, awarding $5,000 in cash prizes to each finalist. Up to five school boards may also be recognized and awarded $5,000 towards the district they serve. Additionally, one or more school boards may receive a special judge’s award totaling up to $25,000. Site visits are conducted to determine winners. Teacher, principal and counselor finalists are invited to compete on a statewide level for larger cash prizes totaling $480,000. A statewide panel of judges, not affiliated with H-E-B, conducts a personal interview with each finalist to select winners.
Ten winners—six teachers, two counselors, and two principals—are announced along with two school districts, one large and one small, a public-school board and an early childhood facility, at a celebratory dinner. The winning large school district receives a $100,000 cash prize and the winning small school district receives $50,000. The winning early childhood facility receives $25,000 and a school board could be awarded up to $25,000.
The six winning teachers include one elementary and one secondary teacher in each of three categories:
● The Rising Star Award—honors exceptionally promising teachers with less than 10 years of experience. These winners will each receive a $5,000 check for themselves and a $5,000 grant for their schools.
● The Leadership Award—honors teachers with 10 to 20 years in the classroom. These winners will each receive a $10,000 check for themselves and a $10,000 grant for their schools.
● The Lifetime Achievement Award—salutes teachers with more than 20 years of experience. These teachers will each receive $25,000 in cash for themselves and a $25,000 grant for their schools.
The two winning counselors—one elementary and one secondary—receive $10,000 in cash for themselves and $15,000 grant for their school. Each winning principal—one elementary and one secondary—receives $10,000 in cash for themselves and a $25,000 grant for their schools.
