Outstanding Teaching Awards
Each year, Humanities Texas presents monetary awards recognizing the achievements of teachers across Texas.
Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award
Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Awards recognize exemplary K–12 humanities teachers. Each year, twelve teachers are selected to receive a $5,000 cash award and an additional $1,000 for their respective schools 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 Linden Heck Howell, former chair of our 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 $1,000 for their school to purchase instructional materials supporting Texas history.
Award for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching
The Award for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching recognizes exemplary contributions of early-career humanities teachers who have completed three or fewer years of teaching. Teachers of English, language arts, foreign languages, history, and social studies are eligible for this award, as are teachers of art, drama, and music if they emphasize the history, criticism, and theory of the arts. Two teachers are typically selected to receive this $5,000 cash award, with an additional $1,000 for their schools to purchase humanities-based instructional materials.
Humanities Texas will name three of the fifteen winners across award categories with the following designations:
James F. Veninga Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award
From among the twelve Outstanding Teaching Award winners, the top candidate will receive the James F. Veninga Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award, an award 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.
Julius Glickman Educational Leadership Award
Humanities Texas will select one of the winners who demonstrates exceptional leadership in the educational field to receive the Julius Glickman Educational Leadership Award. The award honors former Humanities Texas board member Julius Glickman for his extraordinary leadership of our organization and many others.
Jay Taylor Moore Outstanding Teaching of U.S. History Award
The Jay Taylor Moore Outstanding Teaching of U.S. History Award recognizes a winner or winners who have shown outstanding achievement in the teaching of U.S. history and civic literacy. The award recognizes Jay Moore, former Humanities Texas board member and winner of the 2013 Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award.
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 and the Awards for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching. 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.
2026 Outstanding Teaching Award Winners
James F. Veninga Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award
| Carolina De Anda-Treviño | Carmen Anaya Elementary School | Pharr |
Julius Glickman Educational Leadership Award
| Christien Bings | Zachry Magnet Middle School | San Antonio |
Jay Taylor Moore Outstanding Teaching of U.S. History Award
| Aaron Sands | Plano West Senior High School | Plano |
Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award
| Valton Acree | Yorktown High School | Yorktown |
| Klara Aizupitis | Big Bend High School | Terlingua |
| Mark Dostert | Challenge Early College High School | Houston |
| Albert Guerrero Jr. | Veterans Memorial Early College High School | Brownsville |
| Sarah Honore | East Early College High School | Houston |
| Kimberly Molidor | Dallas County Juvenile Justice AEP | Dallas |
| Robert Steagall | Flour Bluff High School | Corpus Christi |
| Christina Swan | LASA High School | Austin |
Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award
| Katherine Rogge | Carolyn and Vernon Madden Elementary School | Richmond |
Award for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching
| Nikolai Burgardt | Chavez High School | Houston |
| McKaylyn Haynes | YES Prep–White Oak Secondary School | Houston |
| Casey Narzem | Hunt Middle School | Frisco |
Past recipients
A list of Texas teachers who have received Outstanding Teaching Awards from Humanities Texas.
How to Apply
If you have been nominated for an Outstanding Teaching Award, please complete the application by Monday, February 2, 2026.
Questions about Teaching Awards
Call 512.440.1991 (press 2) or email ota@humanitiestexas.org.