Outstanding Teaching Awards
Each year, Humanities Texas presents awards recognizing and encouraging excellence in teaching the humanities in Texas schools.
Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Awards
The Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Awards recognize exemplary K–12 humanities teachers. Each year, eleven teachers are selected to receive a $5,000 cash award and an additional $500 for their respective schools to purchase humanities-based instructional materials.
One additional teacher, chosen from among the applicants for the Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award, will receive the James F. Veninga Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award. This award was established to honor James F. Veninga, Humanities Texas Executive Director Emeritus, for his twenty-three years of extraordinary contributions to the state council and to the public humanities in Texas and the U.S. This winning teacher receives a $5,000 cash award, with an additional $500 for his or her school to purchase humanities-based instructional materials.
Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award
The Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award was established in memory of Ms. Howell, former chair of our state humanities council Board of Directors, as a lasting tribute to her service to the organization and her commitment to the study of Texas history. The winning teacher receives a $5,000 cash award, with an additional $500 for his or her school to purchase instructional materials supporting Texas history.
2012 Outstanding Teaching Award Winners
James F. Veninga Oustanding Teaching of the Humanities Award
| Michael Acuff | Brewer Middle School | White Settlement |
Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award
| Dorothy Chegwidden | Flower Mound High School | Flower Mound |
| Charles Cooper | Northwest High School | Justin |
| Nancy Cooper | Veribest I.S.D. | Veribest |
| Bradley Grant | Salado Intermediate School | San Antonio |
| Patricia Hofeditz | Richardson High School | Richardson |
| Pamela Krippner | Weinert and Jefferson Avenue Elementary Schools | Seguin |
| Deborah Magnon-Nolting | Randolph High School | Universal City |
| Cathryne McNamara | L. C. Anderson High School | Austin |
| Wayne R. Nichols | Middle Level Learning Center | Fort Worth |
| Camille Quaite | Bellaire High School | Bellaire |
| Wendy Warren | Hastings High School | Houston |
| Sari Wilson | IDEA Mission College Prep | Mission |
Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award
| Erica Klein | Bonnette Junior High School | Deer Park |
Eligibility
Nominees must be full-time teachers in Texas public or private schools. Teachers of English and language arts, foreign languages, history, and social studies are eligible for the Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Awards. Teachers of art, drama, and music are eligible if they emphasize the history, criticism, and theory of the arts. Only teachers of Texas history courses are eligible for the Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award. Nominees should be skillful and dedicated teachers who possess an expansive and profound knowledge of the humanities subject(s) they teach. Nominees should also have a record of active involvement in community activities and professional organizations, particularly those that promote the humanities. Previous award winners are ineligible to apply.
Past recipients
A list of Texas teachers who have received the Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award and the Linden Heck Howell Award for Outstanding Teaching of Texas History
Questions about Teaching Awards
Call 512.440.1991 or email ota@humanitiestexas.org.
How to Nominate a Teacher
Nominations for the 2012 awards are no longer being accepted. Please subscribe to the Humanities Texas e-newsletter so you'll know when we invite nominations for the 2013 awards.
From left to right: Texas State Representative Jim Pitts; J. A. Vitovsky Elementary School Principal Cherie Wagoner; Liz James, Humanities Texas coordinator of educational programs; 2009 award recipient Stacee Johnson; and Michael Taylor, representative from U.S. Congressman Joe Barton’s office. Photo courtesy of the Waxahachie Daily Light.