The wait is over! The 2018 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 6, 2018 in Houston. 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 2018 finalists are as follows:
Rising Star Elementary
Allie Duffy, Joe Lee Johnson Elementary, Round Rock ISDS
Veronica Guerrero, Herman Hirsch Elementary, San Antonio ISD
Amber Neal, Almeda Elementary, Houston ISD
Julian Salinas, Josephine Castaneda Elementary, Brownsville ISDS
Austin Aeschbacher, Northlake Elementary, Richardson ISD
Rising Star Secondary
Kimberlee McLeod, Marble Falls High School, Marble Falls ISD
Denisse Hernandez, Christa McAuliffe Middle School, Southwest ISD
Jennifer Chase, The High School for Performing & Visual Arts, Houston ISD
John Grossi, Palmview High School, La Joya ISD
Mr. JP Fugler, Lindale High School, Lindale ISD
Leadership Elementary
Stephanie Stoebe, Teravista Elementary, Round Rock ISDS
Angela Pichardo, Bob Hope Elementary, Southwest ISD
Bonnie McSpadden, Wood Creek Elementary, Katy ISD
Cynthia Cooksey, Dr. Pablo Perez Elementary, McAllen ISD
Stephanie Miller, Skyview Elementary, Richardson ISD
Leadership Secondary
Leticia Munoz, Park Crest Middle School, Pflugerville ISD
Noah Recker, La Vernia High School, La Vernia ISD
Kellie Karavias, Gregory-Lincoln Elementary, Houston ISD
Andrea Garza, United South High School, United ISD
Amanda McKnight, Briarhill Middle School, Lewisville ISD
Lifetime Achievement Elementary
Jewellyn Forrest, Kiker Elementary, Austin ISD
Bonnie Anderson, Coronado Village Elementary, Judson ISD
Ms. Terri Armendariz, Carpenter Elementary, Deer Park ISD
Louis Leal, Thomas W. Keller Elementary, Brownsville ISD
May Voltz, Richard J. Lee Elementary, Coppell ISD
Lifetime Achievement Secondary
Vicki Rowe, Taylor High School, Taylor ISD
Karen Brumley, Nixon-Smiley High School, Nixon-Smiley ISD
Pamela Broussard, Cypress Falls High School, Cypress Fairbanks ISD
Graciela Guzman, Homer Hanna ECHS, Brownsville ISD
Gary Cunningham, WFISD Career Education Center, Wichita Falls ISD
Principal Elementary
Julie Pryor, Walnut Springs Elementary, Dripping Springs ISD
Dr. Stephanie Ratliff, Frederick Douglass Elementary, San Antonio ISD
Diego Calderon, Luther Burbank Elementary, Houston ISD
Ms. Zaida Gonzalez, Andrew Trautmann Elementary, United ISD
Michelle Wooten, Donald Elementary, Lewisville ISD
Principal Secondary
Dr James Pasto, KIPP Austin Collegiate, KIPP Austin
Jacob Garcia, Dillard McC ollum High School, Harlandale ISD
Vanessa Reyes, V.W. Miller Intermediate, Pasadena ISD
Carrie Sauceda, Rising Scholars Academy of South Texas, South Texas ISD
Jerry Jerabek, Frenship Middle School, Frenship ISD
LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, Schertz
Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land
McAllen ISD, McAllen
Tomball ISD, Tomball
Harlingen CISD, Harlingen
SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Marble Falls ISD, Marble Falls
Angleton ISD, Angleton
Lancaster ISD, Lancaster
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FACILITIES
Hidalgo County Head Start Program, McAllen
Beaty ECS/Plano ISD, Plano
Lawson Early Childhood School, McKinney
Levelland Academic Beginnings Center, Levelland
West Texas Opportunities, Inc. Head Start/Early Head, Lamesa
PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS
Harlingen CISD, Harlingen
Mansfield ISD, Mansfield
Brazosport ISD, Clute
Southwest ISD, San Antonio
Humble ISD, Humble