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 H-E-B
Press Release
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Kimberly Rezk, Flour Bluff High School In 2002 Rezk joined the team at Flour Bluff High School, where she currently serves as a special education teacher. In that short time, she has become a role model for other teachers on campus and in 2005, she was named was named to the prestigious list of "Who’s Who Among American Teachers." "Ms. Rezk models enthusiasm, humor, confidence and compassion–all qualities we want every student to possess," said Sharon Walton, director of special education for Flour Bluff ISD. Rezk teaches students with significant cognitive impairments and emotional challenges. To prepare students for life outside of school, she develops hands-on activities that teach critical life skills such as banking, check writing, grocery shopping and completing job applications. Upon graduation, Rezk assists many of her students with job placement in the community. "I teach my students that they have to be advocates for themselves and let others know what they require to be successful," Rezk said. "I show them that with proper assistance and training they can do anything." Rezk is a finalist in the Rising Star category, for teachers with less than 10 years of experience in the classroom. If chosen as a statewide winner at the awards ceremony in San Antonio on June 15, she will receive $5,000 and a $5,000 grant for her school. Becky Gloria, Luther Jones Elementary School As a former special education teacher, Gloria understands the critical role that self-esteem plays in her students’ success. Now a fourth-grade teacher, she readily distributes compliments, pats on the back and words of kindness to her students, all of whom she refers to as "scholars." In addition to teaching, Gloria is actively involved in the community, volunteering with the local women’s shelter, Metro Ministries, March of Dimes, United Way, the annual Beach Clean Up and the American Leukemia Society. With her guidance, her students learn the importance of volunteerism at a young age and actively support the community through a number of service projects. Recognized by peers as a determined teacher, Gloria sees it as her personal responsibility to nurture and academically challenge each child. When one of her students was battling leukemia and missing class, Gloria went to the child’s home after school to tutor her. "Ms. Gloria is a positive role model for us all," Joan Tuttle, a colleague, said. "She possesses a genuine interest in helping others, whether it is a scholar struggling in her class or a fellow teacher needing assistance." Gloria is a finalist in the Rising Star category, for teachers with less than 10 years of experience in the classroom. If chosen as a statewide winner at the awards ceremony in San Antonio on June 15, she will receive $5,000 and a $5,000 grant for her school. Nancy Drew, Mary Carroll High School An educator at Carroll High School since 1995, Drew teaches Advanced Placement (AP) English to juniors and seniors. She also serves as the U.I.L. coach and the campus leader for Academic Decathlon and Challenge, a local quiz bowl show broadcast on public television. Under her direction, the AP English mastery rates at Carroll are the highest in Texas for a school with open enrollment. Known throughout the school for her rigorous and cutting-edge teaching strategies, Drew’s coursework includes everything from full-fledged 19th Century mock trials to a classroom drama based on the lifestyle and clothing of John Steinbeck's the Grapes of Wrath. Each year, students are asked to write an editorial about a current issue in the school system and submit their work to the local paper. Recently, one of the editorials written by a junior-year student was selected for publication. Drew is a leader and a role model on her campus. Realizing that many teachers were too overwhelmed to grade essays in a timely, effective manner, she created the innovative software program Triplet Ticket. This electronic grading system, which has proven to be 97 percent accurate, enables teachers to assign more writing assignments in preparation for the TAKS exam. "She provides direction that insures consistent and constant improvement to the quality of instruction for students both in and outside of her classroom," Carroll High School Assistant Principal Ada Besinaiz said. Drew is a finalist in the Leadership category, for teachers with 10 to 20 years of experience in the classroom. If chosen as a statewide winner at the awards ceremony in San Antonio on June 15, she will receive $10,000 and a $10,000 grant for her school. Vinay Dulip, Foy H. Moody High School Having taught in India, Nigeria and the United States, Dulip successfully blends an array of teaching strategies and techniques into his classroom. He relies heavily on hands-on participation to teach his chemistry students. Throughout the year, they make everything from snow and homemade root beer to water rockets and liquid nitrogen ice-cream. "Every day of every year, he magically transforms his classroom into a huge laboratory encouraging his students to enthusiastically embrace a new scientific concept," Lillian Garza, fellow teacher, said. Dulip illustrates the role of chemistry outside of school, too. Through his initiative, Moody High School has received numerous grants to help subsidize important field research, essential instruments and new technologies. Students participate in an ongoing research project monitoring water quality in the Oso Bay and Nueces River. Their findings are shared with scientists and other students from around the world. An avid supporter of all sciences, Dulip serves as a sponsor for the U.I.L. Science team, Science Club and Destination Imagination Team. He serves on the Technology and College-Bound program committees and spearheads "Science Night," where elementary school children receive help on their science fair projects from his chemistry students. He also recently earned his National Board Certification. Dulip is a finalist in the Lifetime Achievement category, for teachers with more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. If chosen as a statewide winner at the awards ceremony in San Antonio on June 15, he will receive $25,000 and a $25,000 grant for his school. Conrado Garcia, Foy H. Moody High School An educator with 27 years of experience, Garcia has served as principal of Moody High School for the last nine. Praised as a leader who is not afraid to take risks, he was named "Educator of the Year" by the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers in 2004. Garcia’s boldest move, to date, was the establishment of "academies" tailored to specific career paths that students wish to pursue following graduation. After garnering a $500,000 grant from the United States Department of Education, he led his staff through the process of creating these small career-based learning communities. This cutting-edge approach has caught the attention of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the National League of Cities, and the Texas High School Project, among others, who have all visited the school. "Mr. Garcia is a visionary," said Norma Trevino, a teacher at Moody High School. "His vision has moved our school into the forefront of school reform, allowing all students at all levels to achieve their life goals." Of the 73 students in the first graduating class of the academies, 66 were accepted into college or university programs and seven chose to enter a branch of military service. This group of graduates also received more than $1.9 million in scholarships and grants. Garcia is a finalist in the Secondary Principal category, for principals of middle and high schools. If chosen as a statewide winner at the awards ceremony in San Antonio on June 15, he will receive $10,000 and a $25,000 school grant. About the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards In 2006, H-E-B selected 30 teacher finalists from across the state. As a statewide finalist, each individual will receive $1,000 and a $1,000 school grant. The 10 principals on the finalist list receive a $1,000 check for themselves and a $2,500 grant for their schools. The five school districts selected as finalists receive $5,000 each. Finalists Go On to Compete in Statewide Competition–Winners Receive Huge Cash Awards and School Grants Each finalist will receive an all-expense-paid trip to San Antonio in June. They will stay at the Westin La Cantera Resort, participate in personal interviews with the statewide selection committee and enjoy a special reception in their honor on Wednesday, June 14. Finally, at an awards ceremony on June 15, nine finalists will be named statewide winners. The winning school district will receive a check for $100,000. The two winning principals–one elementary and one secondary level–will each receive $10,000 for themselves and a $25,000 grant for their schools. The six winning teachers will include one elementary and one secondary teacher in each of three categories:
"Over 90 percent of Texas children attend public schools," Kate Rogers, H-E-B’s director of advertising, said. "H-E-B is pleased to help recognize the tremendous work that goes on every single day in our classrooms as our teachers and administrators work together to provide a quality education to all Texas children." The Excellence in Education Awards are presented by H-E-B in cooperation with the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) and the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP). For over 100 years, H-E-B has been an innovative retailer. Known for its fresh food, quality products and convenient services, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience at the lowest prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B proudly employs over 56,000 Partners and serves millions of customers in more than 150 communities throughout Texas and Mexico. For more information about H-E-B, please visit www.heb.com.
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