Howard Early Childhood Center kindergarten teacher Jessica Gonzales is the 2023-24 EXCEL Award winner for Alamo Heights ISD.
Gonzales was surprised in her classroom and presented with the apple trophy and a $1,000 check. She has been an educator for 13 years, and this is her 8th year as a kindergarten teacher.
“I chose to become a teacher to serve and give back to my community in the biggest, most impactful way,” Gonzales said. “It brings me an immense amount of joy to be one of the foundational adults in such young and important lives. Teachers have the opportunity to introduce knowledge and intrigue to potential lifelong learners. I do not make light of this reality but rather make it a challenge each year to foster such an environment that allows for lasting experiences and memories. What’s greater than being a memory maker for a living?”
The EXCEL Award is sponsored by KENS 5 and Credit Human, and representatives from both organizations came to celebrate Gonzales along with her family, Howard Principal Yvonne Munoz, and AHISD Superintendent Dr. Dana Bashara.
