Articles
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 2024 Outstanding Teaching Award winners and their award presentations. Each recipient 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 amazing Texas teachers, and stay tuned for upcoming newsletter features on our other winners!
Sarah Holzbauer, Whitehouse High School, Whitehouse
On November 11, 2024, U.S. Congressman Nathaniel Moran and Humanities Texas Board Member Amanda S. Nobles presented Sarah Holzbauer with an Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award during a presentation at Whitehouse High School.
Holzbauer, who is in her twentieth year of teaching, incorporates innovative teaching methods in her English language arts classes to make the learning experience both engaging and meaningful. Her teaching has been recognized with many honors and awards, including Whitehouse High School Teacher of the Month, Whitehouse Junior High School Teacher of the Month, and Hubbard Middle School Teacher of the Year. Holzbauer also received a grant to bring Edith Eger, a Holocaust survivor and best-selling author, to speak to seventh- and eighth-grade students about her experiences.
Holzbauer believes that ". . . every child, every voice, and every life can make a difference in this world" and wants students to ". . . gain confidence in their own voice, share, give back, and learn that the future of the world is within each and every one of them."
"Mrs. Holzbauer has consistently demonstrated a profound passion for her subject matter, implementing her lessons with creativity, enthusiasm, and a deep understanding of the study of the humanities," said Randall Speights, associate principal for Whitehouse High School. "She goes beyond traditional instructional approaches, integrating multimedia resources, real-world examples, and interactive activities to captivate her students and inspire a genuine curiosity about the world around them."
Erika Garza-Silva, Flour Bluff Junior High School, Corpus Christi
On December 11, 2024, Humanities Texas Education Program Officer Marc Veloz presented Erika Garza-Silva with an Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award during a presentation at Flour Bluff Junior High School in Corpus Christi.
Garza-Silva, who is in her seventeenth year of teaching, currently teaches language arts, serves as department chair and University Interscholastic League coordinator, and assists with the school's English as a Second Language program.
In her classroom, Garza-Silva incorporates cross-curricular activities and project-based learning. For example, her students explore 1960s culture by analyzing song lyrics, researching fashion, dressing up, and tie-dying old t-shirts. These immersive activities enhance her students' understanding of course readings and help them feel more connected to the characters in the works they read.
When describing her teaching journey and experience as a former ESL student, Garza-Silva said, "I strive each and every day to be the teacher that sees beyond labels, language barriers, or economic status and only sees a student who is full of possibilities. It is not only because I know what it feels like to be treated differently, but because I know first-hand what can happen when a teacher believes in you."
"Erika Garza-Silva's consistent devotion to her students, community, and school makes her such a valuable asset to education," said Brooke Zepeda, intervention specialist at Flour Bluff Junior High School. "As head of the English department, she has led her team to achieve record-high ELA STAAR scores and is a phenomenal role model for the teachers she leads. As a bilingual educator, she also helps tremendously with our English as a Second Language (ESL) program, working with eighth-grade ESL students to ensure they are excelling in their classes. Erika embodies strength, dignity, and compassion in every aspect of her work."
Lorenzo Ventura, Anson Jones Middle School, San Antonio
On December 13, 2024, U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro, Humanities Texas Board Chair John Phillip Santos, and Humanities Texas Executive Director Eric Lupfer presented Lorenzo Ventura with a Humanities Texas Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award during a presentation at Anson Jones Middle School in San Antonio.
Ventura, who is in his fourth year of teaching, currently teaches Texas history, facilitates his school's professional learning communities, and was awarded the State Association of Texas Pioneers Teacher of the Year award in 2023. His teaching strategies go beyond traditional methods, capturing the interest of his students in creative ways, including interactive virtual museum tours, gallery walks, and virtual scavenger hunts of the Alamo.
When sharing what this award means to him, Ventura said, "As a first-generation college graduate, I am grateful that my passion for history and the humanities has borne fruit, and this award encourages me to know that I am where I need to be. I want to keep striving to bring history to life in my class and challenge my students to understand the importance of their part in the grand historical narrative."
"Lorenzo's passion and dedication to the education profession is seen in how he encourages his students to go deeper in their learning and examine their own part in history," said Beatriz Ramirez, academic dean at Anson Jones Middle School. "His classroom strategies have played a pivotal role in Anson Jones Middle School's exceptional performance on the district benchmark test, and he has shown exceptional growth, leadership, and influence in his time at Anson Jones Middle School."
Rebecca Smart, Dripping Springs High School, Dripping Springs
On December 16, 2024, Humanities Texas Senior Education Program Officer Laura Willis presented Rebecca Smart with an Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award during a presentation at Dripping Springs High School.
Smart, who is in her twentieth year of teaching, makes a conscious effort to integrate real-world examples and current events into her lessons. Whenever possible, she brings in guest speakers from the National Constitution Center to help her students connect theoretical concepts and practical applications of the humanities.
"Once [students] see patterns of events in our past," said Smart, "they begin to understand that history is a story still being written and become empowered to take an active role in its writing. The creation of this active citizenry will ensure a robust American future."
Dripping Spring High School Principal Angela Gamez shared, "Rebecca is one of the few educators who will never settle on status quo and pushes herself to do better every day."