The wait is over! The 2019 Excellence in Education regional finalists have been announced. Each finalist's love of learning and leadership have made them all winners to the students they inspire every day.
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 May 5, 2019 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 2019 finalists are as follows:
Central Texas
Rising Star Elementary:
Mark Rogers | Austin Achieve Public Schools | Austin Achieve Public Schools
Rising Star Secondary:
David Walker | Liberal Arts and Science Academy HS | Austin ISD
Leadership Elementary:
Molly McFee | Dripping Springs Elementary | Dripping Springs ISD Gearing
Leadership Secondary:
Shamaa Lakshmanan | The Ann Richards School For Young Women Leaders | Austin ISD
Lifetime Achievement Elementary:
JoLisa Hoover | Officer Leonard Reed Elementary | Leander ISD
Lifetime Achievement Secondary:
Carol Reese | West Ridge Middle School | Eanes ISD
Principal Elementary:
Kathy Cawthron | Claude Berkman Elementar Arts Integration Academy | Round Rock ISD
Principal Secondary:
David Pierce | Jack C. Hays High School | Hays CISD
San Antonio
Rising Star Elementary:
Rebekah Ozuna | Wilbur J Knox Early Childhood Education Center | San Antonio ISD
Rising Star Secondary:
Anna Olguin | Longfellow Middle School | San Antonio ISD
Leadership Elementary:
Lauren Bain | Carl Schurz Elementary | New Braunfels ISD
Leadership Secondary:
Erika Guerrero | Alamo Heights High School | Alamo Heights ISD
Lifetime Achievement Elementary:
Andrea Greimel Carvajal | Early Childhood Education Center | San Antonio ISD
Lifetime Achievement Secondary:
Jodi Ramos | Coke Stevenson Middle School | NISD
Principal Elementary:
Dr. Traci Smith | Stonewall Flanders Elementary | Harlandale ISD
Principal Secondary:
Kathy Bieser | Advanced Learning Academy | San Antonio ISD
Houston
Rising Star Elementary:
Leslyn Jacks | Katy Elementary | Katy ISD
Rising Star Secondary:
Ryan Beeler | Spring Woods High School | Spring Branch ISD
Leadership Elementary:
Heather Villaloboz | E.C. Mason Elementary | Alvin ISD
Leadership Secondary:
Dr. Nghia Le | Booker T. Washington HS & High School for Engineering Professionals | Houston ISD
Lifetime Achievement Elementary:
Karen Naiser | Bay Colony Elementary School | Dickinson ISD
Lifetime Achievement Secondary:
Carrie Teague | Taylor Career and Technology Center | Beaumont ISD
Principal Elementary:
Dr. Doreen Martinez | Memorial Parkway Elementary School | Katy ISD
Principal Secondary:
Laura Gomez | South Houston Intermediate | Pasadena ISD
South Texas
Rising Star Elementary:
Vanessa Gruner | JC Kelly Elementary | Hidalgo ISD
Rising Star Secondary:
Tasha K. Jones | Tuloso Midway High School | Tuloso Midway ISD
Leadership Elementary:
Celena Miller | Cesar Chavez Elementary | Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
Leadership Secondary:
Ryan Piwetz | Port Aransas High School | Port Aransas ISD
Lifetime Achievement Elementary:
Rita Perez | Pearson Elementary | Mission CISD
Lifetime Achievement Secondary:
Rachelle Downey | Lamar Academy | McAllen ISD
Principal Elementary:
Irma Davis | Dishman Elementary | Harlingen Consolidated ISD
Principal Secondary:
Rose Longoria | James Pace Early College High School | Brownsville ISD
North Texas
Rising Star Elementary:
Joseph Parthemore | Cannon Elementary School: GCISD STEM School | Grapevine Colleyville ISD
Rising Star Secondary:
Bushra Haq | Lloyd V. Berkner High School | Richardson ISD
Leadership Elementary:
Katherine Miller | Cunningham Elementary School | Wichita Falls ISD
Leadership Secondary:
Kyle Christensen | Bill R. Johnson Career Technical Education Center | Crowley ISD
Lifetime Achievement Elementary:
Marcie Conrad | JC Thompson Elementary School | Northwest ISD
Lifetime Achievement Secondary:
Jane Smith | Centennial High School | Frisco ISD
Principal Elementary:
Israel Rivera | José "Joe" May Elementary School | Dallas ISD
Principal Secondary:
Jay Barrett | Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning | Amarillo ISD
Large
Austin ISD | Austin, TX
Burleson ISD | Burleson, TX
Klein ISD | Klein, TX
Socorro ISD | El Paso, TX
United ISD | Laredo, TX
Small
Canutillo ISD | El Paso, TX
Roma ISD | Roma, TX
Stephenville ISD | Stephenville, TX
Crockett Early Education School/Grand Prairie ISD | Grand Prairie, TX
Grace England Early Childhood & Prekindergarten Center | Houston, TX
Bonham Prekindergarten | San Marcos, TX
The House of Tiny Treasures | Houston, TX
Child Inc. | Austin, TX
Grapevine Colleyville ISD | Grapevine, TX
Corsicana ISD | Corsicana, TX
Socorro ISD | El Paso, TX
McAllen ISD | McAllen, TX
Del Valle ISD | Del Vale, TX