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We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching Awards! Each year, we present awards recognizing and encouraging excellence in teaching the humanities in Texas schools. Over six hundred teachers from across the state were nominated for this year's awards. During the 2022–23 school year, each winning teacher will receive $5,000 and an additional $1,000 for their school to purchase humanities-based instructional materials.

Stay tuned for upcoming newsletter features on the 2022 recipients!


2022 Outstanding Teaching Award Winners

James F. Veninga Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award

Anthony GonzalesMarshall High SchoolSan Antonio

Julius Glickman Educational Leadership Award

Lisa BarryWoodridge Elementary SchoolSan Antonio

Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award
 

James BrewsterGarcia Young Men's Leadership AcademyAustin
Morgan DewittWestside High SchoolHouston
Emmie DrueckhammerSpring Hill High SchoolLongview
Diana GarciaDeZavala Elementary SchoolSan Marcos
Ashley GibsonGalena Park High SchoolGalena Park
Yuridiana LewisFrancisco Medrano Middle SchoolDallas
Alma SalazarFaulk Middle SchoolBrownsville
Ileana SherryThe International School of the AmericasSan Antonio
Jan TakacAlamo Heights High SchoolSan Antonio
Virginia WengerGeorge Dawson Middle SchoolSouthlake

Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award

Luz Alvarez-SimsTravis Heights Elementary SchoolAustin

Award for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching

Megan DurtcheCleveland High SchoolCleveland
Ariana LunaDonna Early College High SchoolDonna
2021 OTA winner Yvette Peña with a student at the International School of the Americas in San Antonio.
2021 OTA winner Della Watson with students in her classroom at Paducah High School.
2021 OTA winner Michelle Grajeda (left) with a student at Young Women's Leadership Academy in San Antonio.