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Two Houston Independent School District (HISD) teachers have been recognized with the Kinder Excellence in Teaching Awards for their innovative and effective teaching methods in underserved communities. Alexis Gage, a science teacher at Chavez High School, and Eric Pacheco, a third-grade teacher at Rodriguez Elementary, were honored for their dedication to their students.
The Kinder Excellence in Teaching Awards (KETA) was established in 2001 by Nancy and Rich Kinder. The grant program aims to highlight outstanding educators and raise awareness of the impact that committed, enthusiastic, and innovative teachers have on the Houston community.
Gage and Pacheco were nominated by Teach for America Houston along with ten other educators from the Houston area. They were celebrated at surprise assemblies where they were announced as KETA winners and awarded $30,000 in grant funds.
Chavez’s dance and cheerleading teams celebrated Gage’s win in the high school’s commons area alongside her fellow teachers and administrators.
“For me, this just confirms that everything that I’ve done in my five years [of teaching] that I felt like nobody saw, people saw,” said Gage. “For me, this is a life-changing amount of money.”
Pacheco’s award ceremony featured heartfelt testimonials from his students and colleagues. Many expressed how much he meant to them as an educator and friend.
“It felt super special to hear what my students had to say about me,” said Pacheco. “Memories, the reasons why they feel special in my classroom. I’m glad that they’ll remember me.”
For more information about the Kinder Foundation and KETA, visit the Kinder Foundation website.