New Braunfels ISD was honored on one of the most prominent stages in Texas public education during the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards ceremony, held on Sunday, May 4th, in downtown Austin. The event celebrates outstanding educators, leaders, and school boards across the state who are making a lasting impact in their communities.

NBISD stood out among hundreds of applicants from across the state, and was one of the only school districts in Texas to be recognized with multiple finalists in different categories. The NBISD Board of Trustees was named one of five finalists in the Outstanding School Board category, a reflection of their commitment to visionary leadership, student success, and community engagement.

The NBISD Board of Trustees includes:

Eric Bergquist, President – District 3

Nancy York, Vice President – District 2

Steve Minus, Secretary – District 5

Morgan Renaud, District 1

Megan Stratemann-Willis, At-Large

Kim Goodwin, At-Large

John E. Tucker, District 4

In addition, New Braunfels High School teacher Melissa Zúñiga was selected as one of five statewide finalists for the Secondary Rising Star Award, which honors teachers in the first 10 years in the profession, who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and the potential to lead and inspire future generations of students.

During the ceremony, $480,000 in cash and grants were awarded to six teachers, two counselors, two principals, one early childhood facility, one public school board and two school districts. Since 2002, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program has awarded more than $14 million in funding to educators who go the extra mile to serve their students and their communities. 

“At a time when public school educators face many challenges, it’s critically important that we honor the extraordinary individuals who are inspiring the next generation of Texans. Their work not only changes lives—it defines the future of our state,” Winell Herron, H-E-B Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs, said. “We heard remarkable stories of dedication, resilience and impact during the awards selection process. While it’s difficult to pick one winner in each category, all our finalists represent the very best of what it means to be an educator in Texas.” 

Congratulations to our Board and Melissa Zúñiga for being honored at the state level!