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Humanities Texas is now accepting nominations for our 2022 Outstanding Teaching Awards! We are immensely thankful for the hard work and dedication of teachers across Texas, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to continuing our tradition of recognizing outstanding K–12 teachers with this next round of teaching awards. Nominations will be accepted through December 17, 2021 (deadline extended).

Each year, Humanities Texas recognizes the achievements of fifteen exemplary classroom teachers with monetary awards.

Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award

This award recognizes exemplary contributions of teachers of humanities subjects in Texas elementary, middle, and high schools. The top candidate will receive the James F. Veninga Outstanding Teaching of 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. (12 recipients)

Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas
History Award

This award recognizes outstanding achievement in the teaching of Texas history at the primary and secondary levels. This award was established in memory of Linden Heck Howell, former chair of the Humanities Texas Board of Directors, as a lasting tribute to her service to the organization and her commitment to the study of Texas history.
(1 recipient)

Award for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching

This award recognizes exemplary contributions of early-career humanities teachers in Texas who have completed three or fewer years of teaching. (2 recipients)

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.

All award winners will receive a $5,000 prize, with an additional $1,000 for their schools to purchase humanities-based instructional materials.

For more information on the awards, including eligibility and a list of past recipients, please visit the Teaching Awards section of our website or email ota@humanitiestexas.org. Nominations will be accepted through December 10, 2021.

To nominate a teacher, please complete the online nomination form.

2020 OTA winner Cora Garner with students in her DeSoto Early College High School classroom.
(From l to r:) Former Humanities Texas staff member Marissa Kessenich, 2019 OTA winner Andres Lopez, Stevens High School Principal Ryan Purtel, Senator José Menéndez, and Northside ISD Superintendent Dr. Brian T. Woods at Lopez's award presentation in San Antonio.
2020 OTA winner Sarah Walker with a student in her classroom at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin.