June 2025

Kregg Cuellar, who earned an Ed.D. in professional leadership in 2011, has been named Spring ISD interim superintendent as of June 2. Cuellar, who has 20 years of experience in public education, most recently served as chief of academics and school leadership for the district.

Alyssa Gutierrez, who earned a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2024, was named the 2024-25 Rising Star Teacher of the Year at Channelview ISD’s Anthony Aguirre Junior High. Gutierrez teaches seventh-grade social studies at the school.

May 2025

Savannah Moffitt, a participant in the UH Alternative Certification Program for Teachers, won Rookie Teacher of the Year from Alvin Junior High School in Alvin ISD. Moffitt teaches sixth grade science at the school.

March 2025

Anthony Encarnacion, who earned a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2024, won the 2025 District Rookie Teacher of the Year Award from Fort Bend ISD and the Rookie Teacher of the Year from his school, Sullivan Elementary, where he teaches special education.

February 2025

Carolina Quinones, who earned a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2020, won Teacher of the Year at the School of Science and Technology - The Woodlands, where she teaches fifth-grade English, language arts and reading.

Alumna and current M.Ed. student Jacqueline Martinez was awarded Teacher of the Year from Wilson Elementary in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. Martinez, who’s pursuing a master’s degree in administration and supervision, teaches first grade at the school. She earned a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2021.

January 2025

Alex Botelho, who earned an M.Ed. in special populations in 2024 and a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2022, has been named 2024-25 Campus Teacher of the Year at Carter Academy in Aldine ISD. Botelho, who teaches elementary music won Rookie Teacher of the Year in 2022-23.

Salma Yousef, who earned an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction in 2023 and a B.S. in teaching and learning in 2020, won ESL Teacher of the Year from Holley Elementary School in Fort Bend ISD. Yousef teaches third-grade reading, writing and social studies at the school.