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Each year, Humanities Texas presents awards recognizing and encouraging excellence in teaching the humanities in Texas schools. We hope you have enjoyed getting to know the 2020 winners, whom we highlighted in our e-newsletter over the past several months.

Today, we are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Outstanding Teaching Awards. Over six hundred teachers from across the state were nominated for this year's awards. During the 2021–22 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 features on the 2021 recipients!


2021 Outstanding Teaching Award Winners

James F. Veninga Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award

Sarah WisemanLiberty High SchoolFrisco

Julius Glickman Educational Leadership Award

Melonie MenefeeBuffalo High SchoolBuffalo

Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award
 

Jennifer CainO'Connor High SchoolHelotes
Rex EwertRochelle SchoolRochelle
Carlen FloydBowie High SchoolAustin
Michael GilletteBoerne-Samuel V. Champion
High School
Boerne
Michelle GrajedaYoung Women's Leadership AcademySan Antonio
Sarah PalmerMorton Ranch High SchoolKaty
Cynthia RiosFaulk Middle SchoolBrownsville
Leora UribeHarlandale Middle SchoolSan Antonio
Della WatsonPaducah SchoolPaducah

Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award

Chad HannoniUniversity PrepGrapevine

Award for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching

Steven CaplanLeadership AcademyAustin
Jacquelyn ManzHutchison Middle SchoolLubbock
Yvette PeñaThe International School of
the Americas
San Antonio

Questions about Teaching Awards

Call 512.440.1991 or email ota@humanitiestexas.org.

2020 OTA winner Cora Garner with students in her DeSoto High School classroom.
2020 OTA winner Sarah Walker with one of her students at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin.
2020 OTA winner Albert Peinado with students at Eastwood Knolls International School in El Paso.