“It is a humbling experience to be recognized as a finalist for this prestigious award sponsored by our community partner, H-E-B,” shared Dr. Isbell Clayton. “I was overwhelmed by the response of students, faculty, and staff and consider it an honor to serve our military community.”
Joining the celebration were COL Mark Lee, Deputy Commander for Joint Base San Antonio and the Vice Commander of the 502 Air Base Wing, COL David Raugh, Commander, 502d Force Support Group, and the Fort Sam Houston ISD Board of Trustees, Dr. Eustace Lewis, Mr. Willie White, Ms. Jeanne Warren and Ms. Deborah Seabron.
“Since her arrival in our district nine years ago, Dr. Isabell Clayton has proven herself to be an advocate for our military- connected students and their families,” shared Dr. Gail Siller, Fort Sam Houston ISD superintendent. “She is an instructional leader who cares about her staff and supports their efforts to design engaging, challenging and meaningful experiences for students.”
Fort Sam Houston Elementary School principal, Dr. Joseph Cerna, nominated Clayton for the award, which H-E-B launched in 2002 as a way to support public education in Texas. H-E-B seeks to pay tribute to those educators who go the extra mile each and every day to serve their students and their communities and who inspire others to do the same.
Nominees complete an application, responding to questions about their professional experiences, educational philosophies, and achievements both in and out of the classroom. A team of judges reviews the applications, narrowing the field to semi-finalists. From that pool, regional judging panels not affiliated with H-E-B, select finalists.
Clayton will enter the final competition in Austin with the state winner announced at a dinner and reception to be held on May 7. A statewide panel of judges, not affiliated with H-E-B, will conduct a personal interview with each finalist. The state winner will be awarded a $10,000 check for themselves and a $25,000 check for their school.
H-E-B’s Excellence in Education is the largest monetary awards program for educators in Texas, and among the largest in the nation.