Awards > Teaching & Administration > Texas Exes Awards for Outstanding Teachers

The University of Texas at Austin is dedicated to education at all levels and recognizes the work of teachers in communities across the state.   Each year, in cooperation with the Texas Exes alumni association and the College of Education, the University recognizes ten Texas high school teachers and two elementary school teachers who inspire and support their students, bring credit to the teaching profession, and are held in the highest regard by their current and former students, fellow teachers, administrators, parents, and community.

Since 1987, teachers representative of every size Texas school and geographic area, in every subject area, and with degrees from universities all over the country (not limited to University of Texas graduates) have been recognized annually through the Texas Exes Awards for Outstanding Teachers.  Over 3,000 have been recognized through nomination, and 251 recognized as honorees of this prestigious award.

Any full-time high school (9-12th grade) or elementary school (K-5th grade) teacher from a Texas public school who meets all of the following requirements is eligible for this award:

Nominee eligibility:

• High school teacher nomination must come from the high school principal
• Elementary school teacher nomination must come from the regional service center executive director
• Nominee should have a minimum of eight years of classroom teaching experience and should be returning the following year
• If nominee is chosen, he or she must be present at the Conference on Texas Excellence in Education and Awards Banquet on February 11-12, 2010 to win

Nominations are encouraged from all subject matters, school sizes, geographic locations, and alma-maters. We regularly award Aggies, Baylor Bears, Red Raiders, and more.

Ten high school teachers and two elementary school teachers from Texas public schools state-wide will be selected for this award.

High School

Nomination must come from the high school principal. Each principal may nominate up to three teachers from his/her school.

Principal nominations must be submitted online or by the postmark deadline of September 15, 2009.

Once a teacher has been nominated, the Texas Exes will contact him/her directly to complete the nomination process by the deadline of October 9, 2009.

Elementary School

Nominations for the elementary school teacher must come from the TEA Regional Service Center Executive Director.  For a list of the Texas Education Agency (TEA ) Service Center Directors click here:  Regional Service Centers 

The twelve teacher honorees receive:

• Statewide and local recognition
• $2,250 cash prize
• A specially commissioned bronze sculpture
• An awards banquet hosted by The University of Texas president, and
• an annual invitation to attend an all-expenses paid two-day (February 11-12, 2010) Conference on Texas Excellence in Education. Held on The University of Texas campus, this conference provides opportunities for professional growth and interaction with former award recipients, faculty, future teachers, and leaders in education policy.

The prizes will be presented at an awards banquet on Friday, February 12, 2010 hosted by The University of Texas president on the UT at Austin campus.  The teacher honoree must be present to win.

All nominations are reviewed by a blue-ribbon panel including former recipients, education faculty, a future teacher, and alumni leaders.  Honorees are selected and announced in early December.

The 2010 Awards Presentation will be held Friday, February 12, on The University of Texas campus, culminating the Conference on Texas Excellence in Education (February 11-12).  All current and past teacher honorees who are still active in the teaching field are invited to participate in the Conference each year, all expenses paid – at no cost to the school or school district.

• 2010 Honoree List
• 2010 Rising Star Honoree List
• 2009 Honoree List

Click here to view photos from the 2009 Texas Exes Awards for Outstanding Teacher Presentation.

All current and past teacher honorees who are still active in the teaching field are invited to partcipate in the Conference each year, all expenses paid – at no cost to the school or school district.

• August 2009 - Nomination packets sent to high school principals and Regional Service Center Executive Directors.

• September 15, 2009 - Deadline for high school principals to submit nominations.

• October 9, 2009 - Deadline for high school teacher nominees to submit nomination packet. And deadline for Regional Service Center Executive Directors to submit elementary teacher nomination form.

• December 3, 2009 - Final Selection Committee meeting for the Texas Exes Awards for Outstanding High School Teachers.

• December 8, 2009 – Final Selection Committee meeting for the Texas Exes Awards for Outstanding Elementary School Teachers.

• Winners will be announced at www.TexasExes.org/teacher by January 1, 2010.

• January 2010 – Registration packets sent to new and former teacher honorees to attend the Conference on Texas Excellence in Education.

• February 1, 2009 – Registration deadline for Conference on Texas Excellence in Education.

• February 11-12, 2010 – Conference on Texas Excellence in Education - by invitation only.

• February 12, 2010 –  Texas Exes Awards for Outstanding Teachers Dinner and Presentation - by invitation only.