Garland ISD is pleased to announce that two principals in the district have been named finalists for the 2024 H-E-B Excellence in Education Principal Awards.

Teresa McCutcheon, principal of Spring Creek Elementary, and Amanda Ramos, principal of Sellers Middle School, will compete against four other finalists in their respective elementary and secondary principal categories.

The H-E-B team announced each principal as a finalist during a surprise visit to their campuses on March 7. The principals believed their campuses were planning pep rallies for the upcoming STAAR exams and were shocked to find out that the celebrations were, in fact, for them! H-E-B crashed the pep rallies with balloons and a sweet treat as they made the big announcement.

“I’m so excited to be named a finalist. I told my students and staff this award belongs to them, too, because they work so hard every day to make Spring Creek the great place it is to be,” said McCutcheon.

“I’m incredibly proud of our students and staff and the direction we’re headed as a campus,” said Ramos. I’m thankful for this opportunity and the recognition from H-E-B.”

The Principal Award is designed to recognize elementary and secondary principals based on the following criteria: leadership and campus culture, instructional leadership and management, and communication and community relations.

As a reward for being named a finalist, each principal will receive $1,000 and a $2,500 grant for their school. If they win the award, they will receive $10,000 and a $25,000 grant for their school. H-E-B will announce all award winners at the Excellence in Education Awards ceremony on Sunday, May 5.

The Garland ISD School Board is a finalist for the 2024 Outstanding School Board H-E-B Excellence in Education Awad. In 2023, Garland ISD was named a H-E-B Excellence in Education finalist in the large school district category.

Each year, the H-E-B Excellence in Education awards highlight Texas educators, administrators, school boards, and early childhood facilities going above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of their students and communities.