On Sunday, May 5, H-E-B announced statewide winners for the 22nd annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards during an awards ceremony at the Marriott Marquis in Houston. During the ceremony, $480,000 in cash awards and grants were awarded to six teachers, two counselors, two principals, two school districts, one early childhood facility and a public school board for being among the best in Texas. Since 2002, the program has awarded more than $13 million in cash and grants to Texas teachers and schools, and is the largest of its kind in the state of Texas and the nation.
J.J. Watt delivered the keynote address to a ballroom packed with hundreds of educators, community leaders and H-E-B employees. Watt, a Pewaukee native, was the number 11 Overall Pick in the 2011 National Football League (NFL) Draft by the Houston Texans, and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times. Off the field, as president and founder of the Justin J. Watt Foundation, he provides after-school athletic opportunities for children.
The winners are selected from a pool of 68 finalists by judges who include former winners, school administrators, and university and community leaders.
On Sunday, May 5, H-E-B announced statewide winners for the 22nd annual H-E-B
Excellence in Education Awards during an awards ceremony at the Marriott Marquis in Houston. During the ceremony, $480,000 in cash awards and grants were awarded to six teachers, two counselors, two principals, two school districts, one early childhood facility and a public school board for being among the best in Texas. Since 2002, the program has awarded more than $13 million in cash and grants to Texas teachers and schools, and is the largest of its kind in the state of Texas and the nation.
J.J. Watt delivered the keynote address to a ballroom packed with hundreds of educators,
community leaders and H-E-B employees. Watt, a Pewaukee native, was the number 11 Overall Pick in the 2011 National Football League (NFL) Draft by the Houston Texans, and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times. Off the field, as president and founder of the Justin J. Watt Foundation, he provides after-school athletic opportunities for children.
The winners are selected from a pool of 68 finalists by judges who include former winners, school administrators, and university and community leaders.
2024 H-E-B Excellence in Education
Award Winners:
2024 H-E-B Excellence
in Education
Award Winners:
Blanca E. Sanchez Elementary, McAllen ISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Booker T. Washington, Midland ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Otis Brown Elementary, Irving ISD (Leadership Elementary)
Obra D. Tompkins High School, Katy ISD (Leadership Secondary)
Glenmore Elementary, San Angelo ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
Weslaco High School, Weslaco ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Sam Houston Elementary, Galena Park ISD (Counselor Elementary)
Dr. Hector P. Garcia Middle School, Northside ISD (Counselor Secondary)
John Glenn Elementary, Northside ISD (Principal Elementary)
Sellers Middle School, Garland ISD (Principal Secondary)
Blanca E. Sanchez Elementary, McAllen ISD (Rising Star Elementary)
Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Booker T. Washington, Midland ISD (Rising Star Secondary)
Otis Brown Elementary, Irving ISD (Leadership Elementary)
Obra D. Tompkins High School, Katy ISD (Leadership Secondary)
Glenmore Elementary, San Angelo ISD (Lifetime Achievement Elementary)
Weslaco High School, Weslaco ISD (Lifetime Achievement Secondary)
Sam Houston Elementary, Galena Park ISD (Counselor Elementary)
Dr. Hector P. Garcia Middle School, Northside ISD (Counselor Secondary)
John Glenn Elementary, Northside ISD (Principal Elementary)
Sellers Middle School, Garland ISD (Principal Secondary)
Early Childhood
M. Rivas Primary Discover Academy, Donna ISD
School Board
Plainview ISD, Plainview, Texas
Early Childhood
M. Rivas Primary Discover Academy, Donna ISD
School Board
Plainview ISD, Plainview, Texas
Small School District
Gregory-Portland ISD, Portland, Texas
Large School District
Galena Park ISD, Houston, Texas
Small School District
Gregory-Portland ISD, Portland, Texas
Large School District
Galena Park ISD, Houston, Texas
About the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards
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.
Do you know an excellent educator?
Nominate them for the 2024 Excellence in Education Awards!
Want to Tweet about the winner announcements? Please tag @HEB and use the hashtag #HEBEducation. Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/HEBExcellenceinEducationAwards. To stay in the know on the latest updates on applications, winners and more, be sure to sign up for our newsletter.
About the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards
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.
Do you know an excellent educator? Nominate them for the 2024 Excellence in Education Awards!
Want to Tweet about the winner announcements? Please tag @HEB and use the hashtag #HEBEducation. Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/HEBExcellenceinEducationAwards. To stay in the know on the latest updates on applications, winners and more, be sure to sign up for our newsletter.
