Meet the
The results are in! We can’t wait to introduce our 2026 finalists. This page will be updated in the coming weeks.
North Texas
Maria Bofi
Dan D. Rogers Elementary School, Dallas ISD
Rising Star Elementary
Phil Vilar
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Dallas ISD
Rising Star Secondary
Joe Parthemore
Heritage Elementary School, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
Leadership Elementary
Alejandro De La Peña Jr.
Parkland Pre-Engineering Middle School, Ysleta ISD
Leadership Secondary
Margo Anderson
Jim & Betty Hughes Elementary School, Prosper ISD
Lifetime Achievement Elementary
Angie Redwine
Abernathy High School, Abernathy ISD
Lifetime Achievement Secondary
Amanda Still
Charles A. Tosch Elementary School, Mesquite ISD
School Counselor Elementary
Kaniesha McEwen
Jack E. Singley Academy, Irving ISD
School Counselor Secondary
Mahlee Johnson
Charles A. Tosch Elementary School, Mesquite ISD
Principal Elementary
Dr. Melissa Saenz
Montwood Middle School, Socorro ISD
Principal Secondary
San Antonio
Grecia Aguilera
James Madison Elementary School, San Antonio ISD
Rising Star Elementary
Monica Lopez
Alamo Heights High School, Alamo Heights ISD
Rising Star Secondary
Jessica Welch
Sun Valley Elementary, Southwest ISD
Leadership Elementary
Oscar Garcia
CAST Med High School, San Antonio ISD
Leadership Secondary
Silvia Corado
Charles Graebner Elementary School, San Antonio ISD
Lifetime Achievement Elementary
Kevin Korpi
New Braunfels High School, New Braunfels ISD
Lifetime Achievement Secondary
Courtney Allison
Memorial Elementary School, New Braunfels ISD
School Counselor Elementary
Kristen Guerra
Pieper High School, Comal ISD
School Counselor Secondary
Summer Gault
Van Raub Elementary, Boerne ISD
Principal Elementary
Michele Ramirez-Castaneda
“Tex” Hill Middle School, North East ISD
Principal Secondary
South Texas
Carolina De Anda
Carmen Anaya Elementary School, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
Rising Star Elementary
Deanna Evans
Mary Carroll High School, Corpus Christi ISD
Rising Star Secondary
Anahi Espinoza
Dr. R. E. Margo Elementary, Weslaco ISD
Leadership Elementary
Claudia Cortez
Gladys Porter Early College High School, Brownsville ISD
Leadership Secondary
Tami Bhadai
Cesar Chavez Elementary, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
Lifetime Achievement Elementary
Valton Acree
Yorktown Secondary Campus, Yorktown ISD
Lifetime Achievement Secondary
Angelica Ramos
Blanca E. Sanchez Elementary, McAllen ISD
School Counselor Elementary
Flor Villarreal
Judge Mario E. Ramirez, Jr. Juvenile Justice Center, Edinburg CISD
School Counselor Secondary
Michelle Gonzalez
Macdonell Elementary, Laredo ISD
Principal Elementary
Dr. Tina Garza
Harlingen School of Health Professions, Harlingen CISD
Principal Secondary
Houston
Latoya Davis
Stafford Early Childhood Center, Stafford MSD
Rising Star Elementary
Heather Rodriguez
North Shore Senior High School, Galena Park ISD
Rising Star Secondary
Dustin Perez
Robert L. Crippen Elementary School, New Caney ISD
Leadership Elementary
Richard Embrick
Wright Junior High School, Lamar CISD
Leadership Secondary
Tammy Wise Sanchez
Sneed Elementary School, Alief ISD
Lifetime Achievement Elementary
James Sheridan
YES Prep East End Secondary School, YES Prep Public Schools Inc
Lifetime Achievement Secondary
Wendy Reyes
Margaret S. McWhirter Elementary, Clear Creek ISD
School Counselor Elementary
Emily Wilcox
Sartartia Middle School, Fort Bend ISD
School Counselor Secondary
Dr. Lisa Hamblen
James B. Havard Elementary School, Galena Park ISD
Principal Elementary
Ruth Pena
Charles H. Milby High School, Houston ISD
Principal Secondary
Central Texas
Marissa Marciel
Trinity Ranch Elementary School, Elgin ISD
Rising Star Elementary
Megan McCune
Chapa Middle School, Hays CISD
Rising Star Secondary
Megan Vasquez
Becker Elementary School, Austin ISD
Leadership Elementary
Azucena Overman
Cedar Ridge High School, Round Rock ISD
Leadership Secondary
Alasin DeVeny
Joslin Elementary School, Austin ISD
Lifetime Achievement Elementary
Carol Reese
West Ridge Middle School, Eanes ISD
Lifetime Achievement Secondary
Jennifer Blum
Adelton Elementary School, Bastrop ISD
School Counselor Elementary
Molly Heath
Marble Falls High School, Marble Falls ISD
School Counselor Secondary
Shannon Morrison
Thorndale Elementary School, Thorndale ISD
Principal Elementary
Daniel Garcia
John B. Connally High School, Pflugerville ISD
Principal Secondary
Early childhood
Bonham Pre-Kindergarten School (San Marcos CISD, San Marcos)
Goodwill Exploration Center (Austin)
Gregory-Portland Early Childhood Center (Gregory-Portland ISD, Portland)
Lena Pope Early Learning Center (Fort Worth)
Menchaca Early Childhood Center (Southside ISD, San Antonio)
school board
Alice ISD
Corpus Christi ISD
Garland ISD
Lake Dallas ISD
Mesquite ISD
Large School district
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
Dickinson ISD
Garland ISD
Pearland ISD
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
small school district
Alice ISD
Angleton ISD
Midway ISD, Woodway, Texas
Have questions about the Excellence in Education Awards?
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