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Each year, Humanities Texas presents statewide awards to recognize Texas classroom teachers who have made exemplary contributions in teaching, curriculum development, and extracurricular programming. We are pleased to feature four 2025 Outstanding Teaching Award recipients and their recent award presentations. Each winner received $5,000, with an additional $1,000 for their schools to support further excellence in the instruction of the humanities.
Read more about these remarkable educators below, and stay tuned for upcoming newsletter features on our other winners!
Rebecca Guerrero, Young Women's STEAM Research and Preparatory Academy, El Paso
On January 27, 2026, U.S. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and former Humanities Texas Board Member Hector Retta presented Rebecca Guerrero with the James F. Veninga Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award during a ceremony at Young Women's STEAM Research and Preparatory Academy (YWA) in El Paso.
Guerrero is in her ninth year at YWA, where she teaches English language arts. She also serves as the lead instructor for AP Research and AP Seminar and guides students through the AP Capstone program. In 2018, she was named one of the top five secondary educators in El Paso ISD.
Beyond the classroom, Guerrero was selected as a 2021 fellow for a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) summer institute "Migrant Waves in the Making of America" and co-led the 2023 NEH teacher professional development institute "Making the Good Reader and Citizen."
"Humanities classrooms are the beating heart of any campus," said Guerrero. "They are the spaces where students build their empathy muscles by experiencing the stories of others and where they learn to view their own stories as valuable and worth sharing. A robust humanities education prepares students to be informed and critical thinkers who are able to read the world."
"Her ability to create authentic learning experiences allows students to explore complex issues, think critically, and develop solutions that extend beyond the classroom," wrote Cynthia Ontiveros, YWA principal. "Through her innovative teaching, she has empowered students to see the relevance of the humanities in their everyday lives and future aspirations."
Gilbert Flores, Brackenridge High School, San Antonio
On January 28, 2026, State Senator José Menéndez and Humanities Texas Board Member Kerry Reyna presented Gilbert Flores with a Jay Taylor Moore Award during a ceremony at Brackenridge High School (BHS) in San Antonio.
During his fifteen years at BHS, Flores has taught both U.S. history and Mexican American studies. He was the first to pilot the latter course in his district. Flores emerged as a leader in San Antonio ISD, heading professional development sessions and organizing conferences for fellow teachers and students. Through his leadership, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to student-centered, culturally responsive, and sustainable pedagogical practices.
"A staple of my pedagogy is utilizing a flexible interdisciplinary lens to create lessons and assessments," said Flores. "This includes utilizing music, art, literature, and food to fit the multiple learning modalities of my students."
"[Flores] is celebrated across San Antonio ISD, his achievements lifted up as exemplars for his peers," said Luke Amphlett, fellow U.S. history teacher at BHS. "But up close, his teaching is breathtaking. For those of us lucky enough to have worked closely with him and to have experienced the ways in which he facilitates learning, discussion, and critical thinking first-hand, his example shapes our work going forward."
Joseph Fox, Rockport-Fulton Middle School
On January 30, 2026, State Representative Todd Hunter and former Humanities Texas Board Member Linda Valdez presented Joseph Fox with the Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award during a ceremony at Rockport-Fulton Middle School (RFMS).
At the time of his award, Fox was in his sixth year of teaching Texas history at RFMS. Fox also sponsors the Armadillo Gang—a Texas history club that meets monthly and sparks students’ interest in the past through visits to nearby historic sites, including The History Center for Aransas County, Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, Goose Island State Park, and Presidio la Bahía State Historic Site.
"In our modern era of cell phones and social media, teachers still face the same question of how to pass on stories treasured by previous generations to the current generation of students," said Fox. "Amidst modern-day challenges facing teachers, my approach to teaching focuses on heritage, critical thinking, and creating a sense of place for my students that connects them to the past."
"Mr. Fox's impact extends far beyond test scores or classroom participation," said colleague Amber Irving, a seventh-grade teacher at RFMS. "His students are inspired by the stories he tells, the questions he asks, and the way he approaches learning. He is an extraordinary educator."
Jennifer Jordan, Abilene High School
On February 4, 2026, former Humanities Texas Board Member Jay Moore and Humanities Texas Executive Director Eric Lupfer presented Jennifer Jordan with a Jay Taylor Moore Award during a ceremony at Abilene High School (AHS).
Jennifer Jordan has taught at AHS for twenty-six years. Her courses include U.S. history and Holocaust and genocide studies, and she serves as the social studies department chair. She is also the Abilene High School faculty representative to the Abilene Education Foundation. She has received numerous teaching awards, including Region 14 Secondary Teacher of the Year (2025) and Abilene ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year (2024).
Jordan developed the course on Holocaust and genocide studies herself and taught the inaugural section in 2023. Since then, she has received grants to purchase instructional materials for the course and has taken her students on an annual tour of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum.
"I wholeheartedly believe that history not only is a study of our past, but also a guide for our future," said Jordan. "In teaching both U.S. history and genocide studies, I constantly encourage my students to be upstanders in the world. . . . I believe this is a way in which each of my students can impact the world for the better."
"Jennifer has proven herself to be a passionate and dedicated educator who goes above and beyond to foster the historical knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to understand and learn from the mistakes of the past," said Emme Siburt, principal of Abilene High School. "Many of her former students credit her with not only shaping their academic growth but also fostering a deep sense of compassion and civic responsibility."