SAN ANTONIO, Texas—Today, H-E-B announced 50 Texas teachers, counselors and principals as finalists in the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program, which awards cash prizes to educators who go the extra mile to serve their students and communities.
Over the last two months, H-E-B awarded $120,000 to the 50 finalists and their schools during surprise visits across the state. 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 for themselves and a $1,500 check for their school; and principals received a $1,000 check for themselves and a $2,500 check for their school.
The 2025 teacher, counselor and principal finalists for each region are:
CENTRAL TEXAS
- Sara Allen, Cullen Elementary School, Hays CISD, Rising Star Elementary
- Kylee Zapalac, La Grange High School, La Grange ISD, Rising Star Secondary
- Gloria Ramirez Vega, Pflugerville Elementary School, Pflugerville ISD, Leadership Elementary
- Wendell Norris Marquez, Lively Middle School, Austin ISD, Leadership Secondary
- Carol Fernandez, Maria Hernandez Elementary School, San Marcos CISD, Lifetime Achievement Elementary
- Vicki Rowe, Taylor High School, Taylor ISD, Lifetime Achievement Secondary
- Candace Barnes, Sunfield Elementary School, Hays CISD, School Counselor Elementary
- Karen Terry, Bertha Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Austin ISD, School Counselor Secondary
- Dr. Amy Sharp, River Place Elementary School, Leander ISD, Principal Elementary
- Monica Collins, Pearson Ranch Middle School, Round Rock ISD, Principal Secondary
HOUSTON
- Alyssa Cuevas, Sylvan Rodriguez Elementary School, Houston ISD, Rising Star Elementary
- Jose Muniz, Eisenhower 9th College Prep, Aldine ISD, Rising Star Secondary
- Olivia Watson, Roosevelt Alexander Elementary, Katy ISD, Leadership Elementary
- Dr. Alicia Adkins, Kempner High School, Fort Bend ISD, Leadership Secondary
- Abigail Eliezer, Klentzman Intermediate School, Alief ISD, Lifetime Achievement Elementary
- Nora Martinez, Shadow Creek High School, Alvin ISD, Lifetime Achievement Secondary
- Ashley Wright, Annette Gordon-Reed Elementary, Conroe ISD, School Counselor Elementary
- Christie Wootton, Kingwood Middle School, Humble ISD, School Counselor Secondary
- Lorena Carrasco, LF Smith Elementary, Pasadena ISD, Principal Elementary
- Dr. Doreen Martinez, Lance Corporal Anthony Aguirre Junior High, Channelview ISD, Principal Secondary
NORTH TEXAS
- Erica Silva, La Vega Primary School-Phil Bancale Campus, La Vega ISD, Rising Star Elementary
- Aaron Peralez, Abernathy High School, Abernathy ISD, Rising Star Secondary
- April Gholston, Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted, Grand Prairie ISD, Leadership Elementary
- Jennifer Rottkamp, W.H. Adamson High School, Dallas ISD, Leadership Secondary
- Kristi Leff, Humphrey’s Highland Elementary School, Amarillo ISD, Lifetime Achievement Elementary
- Karen Galley, Success High School, Fort Worth ISD, Lifetime Achievement Secondary
- Kelly Taylor, Comanche Springs Elementary School, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, School Counselor Elementary
- Danielle McCray, James Bowie High School, Arlington ISD, School Counselor Secondary
- Dr. Anabel Ruiz, Carolyn G. Bukhair Elementary School, Richardson ISD, Principal Elementary
- Jennifer Garcia, O’Banion Middle School, Garland ISD, Principal Secondary
SAN ANTONIO
- Kassandra Smith, Murray E. Boone Elementary School, Northside ISD, Rising Star Elementary
- Melissa Zuniga, New Braunfels High School, New Braunfels ISD, Rising Star Secondary
- Matthew Trevino, Roan Forest Elementary School, North East ISD, Leadership Elementary
- Brandy González-Kee, Tom C. Clark High School, Northside ISD, Leadership Secondary
- Lydia Sanchez, Marin B. Fenwick Academy, San Antonio ISD, Lifetime Achievement Elementary
- Carlos Perez, Judith Resnik Middle School, Southwest ISD, Lifetime Achievement Secondary
- Verlene Wallace, Hunt School, Hunt ISD, School Counselor Elementary
- Rubina Sanchez, Byron P. Steele ll High School, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, School Counselor Secondary
- Troy Latiolais, Fabra Elementary School, Boerne ISD, Principal Elementary
- Margaret Bray, Marshall Law and Medical Services Magnet School, Northside ISD, Principal Secondary
SOUTH TEXAS
- Cindy Gonzalez, J.P. LeNoir Elementary, Donna ISD, Rising Star Elementary
- Natalie Vidal, Memorial High School, McAllen ISD, Rising Star Secondary
- Amanda Hawes, Faulk Elementary School, Aransas Pass ISD, Leadership Elementary
- Christine Martinez, Cathey Middle School, McAllen ISD, Leadership Secondary
- Marisa Flores, Flour Bluff Elementary School, Flour Bluff ISD, Lifetime Achievement Elementary
- Mary Martin, Weslaco High School, Weslaco ISD, Lifetime Achievement Secondary
- Jessica Vigstol, Treasure Hills Elementary School, Harlingen ISD, School Counselor Elementary
- Dr. Valerie Paredes, Harlingen Collegiate High School, Harlingen ISD, School Counselor Secondary
- Vanessa Ortegon, Francisco Farias Elementary School, Laredo ISD, Principal Elementary
- Sheree Bogany, A.C. Jones High School, Beeville ISD, Principal Secondary
All finalists will go on to compete for even greater prizes at the statewide level in May. To determine the winners, a panel of judges will interview educators on Saturday, May 3. Winners will be announced at the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards ceremony on Sunday, May 4 at the Hilton Austin where $480,000 in cash awards and grants will be awarded.
H-E-B will select six winning teachers including one elementary and one secondary teacher in each of the following 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.
Two winning counselors—one elementary and one secondary—will receive $10,000 in cash for themselves and $15,000 grant for their school. Two winning principals—one elementary and one secondary—will receive $10,000 in cash for themselves and a $25,000 grant for their schools. H-E-B will also select one early childhood facility, a public school board and two school districts for being among the best in Texas.
Since the program’s inception in 2002, H-E-B has awarded more than $14 million in funding to outstanding Texas teachers, school counselors, principals, early childhood centers, public schools, districts and school boards.
Call for 2026 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards Nominations
Nominations for the 2026 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards are now open to all state-certified public school professionals currently working in Texas. Teachers, counselors, principals, early childhood centers, school boards and districts can win cash prizes for their outstanding work. Nominations will close on September 30, 2025.
Nominate your favorite Texas educator at heblovesteachers.com/nominate.
About the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards
Each year, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program awards cash prizes to honor outstanding public school professionals, and to thank them for their dedication and commitment. Through this program, H-E-B seeks to pay tribute to those educators who go the extra mile every day to serve their students and their communities and who inspire others to do the same.
Since the program’s inception in 2002, H-E-B has awarded more than $14 million in funding to outstanding Texas teachers, counselors, principals, public schools, early childhood centers, school boards and school districts.
To learn more, visit HEBLovesTeachers.com.