Three Houston area educators were tapped as finalists for the 2017 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, highlighting the trio as some of the best educators in the state. 

Jennifer Howard of Pine Forest Elementary in Humble ISD was recognized in the Rising Star Elementary category. Angela Duncan of Huntington Elementary in Huntington ISD was recognized in the Lifetime Achievement Elementary category and Diana Schneider of Henderson Middle School in Harden-Jefferson ISD was recognized in the Lifetime Achievement Secondary category. All three finalists are invited to Austin on May 6-7 to compete on a statewide level for larger cash prizes totaling $430,000.

Each teacher was presented with a $1,000 check for themselves and a $1,000 check for their respective schools.

H-E-B’s Excellence in Education is the largest monetary awards program for educators in the state. It is among the largest in the country. The honor was kept as a surprise from the trio of finalists who learned of their selection when H-E-B representatives visited their classrooms and schools with balloons, cookies, and flowers. 

Eight winners — two principals and six teachers — will be announced along with two school districts, one large and one small, a public school board and an Early Childhood Facility, at a celebratory dinner in Austin on May 7, 2017.

Each winning principal—one elementary school and one high school—will each receive $10,000 in cash for themselves and a $25,000 grant for their schools. The winning large school district will receive a $100,000 cash prize and the winning small school district will receive $50,000. The winning Early Childhood Facility will receive $25,000 and a school board could be awarded up to $25,000.