Originally published on 1/11/2022
H-E-B announced today that eight school districts and five early childhood facilities have been selected as finalists for the retailer’s 20th annual Excellence in Education Awards program. H-E-B is also recognizing five public school boards to highlight the importance of strong leadership at the board level. Alvin ISD's School Board was named a finalist for this year's award.
"We are thrilled to have our school board honored as one of the best in Texas," said Carol Nelson, Alvin ISD Superintendent. "The Alvin ISD Board is a great reflection of the community they serve, a community that is very supportive of our schools."
The Alvin ISD Board of Trustees provide strong leadership and great vision that has been a key factor in the district's recognition at the state level.
"The Alvin ISD staff and students are honored to have such a dedicated School Board," Superintendent Nelson said. " We are also grateful to the H-E-B Excellence in Education Program for highlighting the great things going on in Texas public schools."
Since the program’s inception, H-E-B has awarded more than $12 million in funding to benefit outstanding Texas public schools. This year, H-E-B will award a total of $82,500 to the finalists and school boards, who will go on to compete for even greater cash prizes at the statewide level. Each finalist in the district and early childhood categories, as well as the five recognized school boards, will receive $5,000; the three finalists in the small district category will receive $2,500.
To determine overall statewide winners, a panel of judges visits each district, early childhood facility and school board, tours campuses and talks with administration, staff, parents, and community members.
Winners will be announced at the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards ceremony on April 30 at the Fairmont Hotel in Austin. The winning large district will receive $100,000; the winning small district $50,000. An early childhood facility will receive $25,000. If selected, one or more school boards will receive up to a total of $25,000.
The 2022 school board finalists are:
PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS
- North East ISD – San Antonio, Texas
- Alvin ISD — Alvin, Texas
- Allen ISD — Allen, Texas
- Frisco ISD – Frisco, Texas
- McAllen ISD – McAllen, Texas
About the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards:
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. It has become the largest monetary program for educators in the state, spotlighting best practices and celebrating the passion and creativity of Texas educators.
H-E-B asks customers, Partners (employees) and community members to nominate teachers, 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.
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 40 teacher 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 $2,500 to $5,000 in cash prizes. 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.