TEMPLE, Texas – H-E-B Chairman and CEO Charles Butt awarded $430,000 in cash awards and grants to the state’s top teachers, principals and school districts. Butt also congratulated eight educators, two school districts, one early childhood agency and a public school board for being among the best in Texas.

Former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw delivered the keynote address to the hundreds of educators, elected officials, community leaders and H-E-B employees who attended the event.

Earlier this year, H-E-B representatives made surprise visits to the classrooms and schools of 40 teachers and principals across the state, presenting each with a check for them and their school.

President of H-E-B Houston, Scott McClelland, told Local 2 that Saturday’s ceremony was about celebrating the importance of teachers and their role in the lives of Texas students. The winners were selected from a pool of 58 finalists by judges who include former winners, school administrators, and university and community leaders.

The School Board award went to Temple ISD in Temple. Board President Steve Wright accepted the award, “we would like to express our sincere appreciation to H-E-B for this extraordinary honor and award. This recognition represents a long road back for our District and a lot of hard work from many, but the reward is in the quality of education we are now able to provide every student in Temple ISD.”

ABOUT TEMPLE ISD TISD Motto:

Offering families a Global education, right here in Central Texas Temple ISD is a 5A school district with two early childhood centers (Pre-K), nine elementary schools (K-5), three middle schools (6-8) two high schools (9-12) and an alternative education campus. Temple ISD serves a very diverse student body of approximately 8,900 students and is the fourth largest employer in Temple with approximately 1,300 employees. Through the years, Temple ISD has produced 200 National Merit Scholar Award winners, including Black Achievement and Hispanic Recognition Scholars.