H-E-B Names Excellence in Education Award Winners
H-E-B has named the statewide winners of its 12th annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards during a banquet at Austin’s Hilton Hotel Friday, during which H-E-B chairman and CEO Charles Butt handed out $585,000 in cash awards and grants and personally congratulated 23 educators, campuses, school districts and one early childhood agency for being among the best in Texas.
Soledad O’Brien delivered the keynote address to a ballroom packed with hundreds of educators, elected officials, community leaders and H-E-B employees.
H-E-B launched the Excellence in Education Awards program in cooperation with the Texas Association of School Administrators in 2002 as a positive way to support public education in Texas by spotlighting best practices and celebrating the passion and creativity of Texas educators.
Since its inception, H-E-B has given more than $6.5 million, making it the state’s largest monetary award program dedicated to education.
The 2013 H-E-B Excellence in Education Award Winners Are:
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 school.
- Rising Star Elementary: Monica Perez, Thomas Esparza Elementary, Edinburg, Edinburg CISD
- Rising Star Secondary: Jessica Janota, Rockport-Fulton Middle School, Rockport, Aransas County 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 school.
- Leadership Elementary: Charlotte Dolat, Woodridge Elementary, San Antonio, Alamo Heights ISD
- Leadership Secondary: Lisa Windolph, McNeil High School, Austin, Round Rock ISD
Lifetime Achievement: The Lifetime Achievement Elementary 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 school.
- Lifetime Achievement Elementary: Martha McLeod, Fulton 4-5 Learning Center, Rockport, Aransas County ISD
- Lifetime Achievement Secondary: Dr. Mary Velasquez, Luther Burbank Middle School, Houston, Houston ISD
School Principal: Winning principals received $10,000 in cash for themselves and a $25,000 grant for each of their schools.
- Principal Elementary: Mike Walker, Walter W. Fondren Elementary, Houston, Houston ISD
- Principal Secondary: Dr. Scott Allen, High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Houston, Houston ISD
Large School District: The winning large school district received a $100,000 cash prize: Round Rock Independent School District, Round Rock: Superintendent Dr. Jesus Chavez
Small School District: The winning small school district received a $50,000 cash prize: Hillsboro Independent School District, Hillsboro: Superintendent Dr. James Gilcrease
Early Childhood: The winning early childhood facility received a $25,000 cash prize: Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District: Principal Consuelo Casas
Healthy Campus: Each campus received a $15,000 grant to be paid over three years.
- Hemphill Elementary — Hays Independent School District, Kyle
- Allison Elementary — Austin Independent School District, Austin
- Glover Elementary — Fort Bend Independent School District, Missouri City
- Edgewood Elementary — Spring Branch Independent School District, Houston
- Atkinson Elementary — Pasadena Independent School District, Houston
- Robb Elementary — Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, Uvalde
- St. Mary’s Catholic School — Brownsville
- Lyford High School — Lyford Consolidated Independent School District, Lyford
- IDEA Quest — IDEA Public Schools, McAllen
- Tuscany Heights Elementary — North East Independent School District, San Antonio
- Indian Springs Elementary — Comal Independent School District, San Antonio
- James and Margie Marion Elementary – Allen Independent School District, Allen
H-E-B operates more than 350 stores in Texas and Mexico.