H-E-B Names Winners in 2020 Excellence in Education Awards

H-E-B announced the statewide winners for the 19th annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, handing out more $430,000 in cash awards and grants to eight educators, two school districts, an early childhood agency and a public school board. The winners were announced during a virtual Toast to Texas Teachers organized by the #TeachersCan initiative in celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Week and included surprise appearances from Matthew McConaughey, Eva Longoria, Matt Bonner and Kendra Scott.

The H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards has given away more than $12 million in cash and grants to dedicated educators and schools across Texas since 2002. The following winners were selected from a pool of 58 finalists by judges who include former winners, school administrators and university and community leaders.

The 2020 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.

• ​​ RisingStar Elementary: Gerardo Villegas Juarez, Charles Graebner Elementary School, San Antonio ISD
• ​​ Rising Star Secondary:Laura Dunham, Clear Lake High School, Clear Creek 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:Morgan Castillo, Woodgate Intermediate School, Midway ISD
• Leadership Secondary:Porfirio Zamora, Veterans Memorial High School, Corpus Christi ISD

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 school.

• Lifetime Achievement Elementary: Diana Garcia, DeZavala Elementary School, San Marcos ISD
• Lifetime Achievement Secondary: Nicole Vickerman, R.C. Clark HIgh School, Plano ISD

School Principal

Winning principals received $10,000 in cash for themselves and a $25,000 grant for each of their schools.

• Principal Elementary: Dana Boyd, East Point Elementary School, Ysleta ISD
• Principal Secondary: Dr. Carlos Phillips II, Booker T. Washington High School & the High School for the Engineering Professions

Early Childhood 

The winning early childhood facility received a $25,000 cash prize.

• Lawson Early Childhood School, McKinney ISD

School Board

The winning public school board received a $25,000 cash prize.

• Mission Consolidated ISD, Mission

Small School District

The winning small school district received a $50,000 cash prize.

• Boerne ISD, Boerne

Large School District

The winning large school district received a $100,000 cash prize.

• Dallas ISD, Dallas

*For a full list of the 2020 H-E-B Excellence in Education finalists, please click here. https://www.heb.com/static-page/article-template/2020-eie-award-finalists