Alice ISD wins H-E-B statewide education award, receives $50,000

A $50,000 state award is more than a plaque for Alice ISD. In a district serving Alice families in Jim Wells County, that money can help stretch classroom budgets, back teachers and add support to programs that touch attendance, academic performance and college, career or military readiness.

Alice Independent School District won H-E-B’s small school district award as part of the 2026 Excellence in Education Awards announced May 4 at the Marriott Marquis Houston. The statewide program handed out $480,000 in cash and grants to six teachers, two counselors, two principals, one early childhood facility, one public school board and two school districts. Actress and educator Sheryl Lee Ralph delivered the keynote address.

The award matters locally because small districts rarely have the financial cushion of larger systems. For Alice ISD, the recognition puts a statewide spotlight on work already underway under Superintendent Dr. Anysia Trevino, who has said the district is focused on improving academic performance, boosting student and staff attendance, expanding unified sports, keeping schools safe, strengthening fiscal responsibility and moving toward an A-rated district. The H-E-B award gives that effort outside validation and a real infusion of resources.

H-E-B said the Excellence in Education program has been running since 2002 and has now provided almost $15 million to Texas educators and schools. The company also said it gives away $700,000 in cash prizes each year through the program, underscoring how competitive and established the honor has become. For Alice, winning in the small district category marks it as one of the state’s standout systems despite its smaller size.

Corpus Christi Independent School District also earned recognition in the same program, taking home a $25,000 school board award. CCISD Superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez called the honor “an incredible honor” and credited the board’s leadership, dedication and support from students, staff and families. For Jim Wells County schools, the message is clear: strong leadership, consistent student support and a focused district mission can stand out well beyond county lines.

For Alice ISD, the award is both a celebration and a benchmark. It shows that a district in South Texas can compete with larger systems statewide and turn recognition into practical gains for the students and educators who depend on every extra dollar.