Four Team Northside Educators are among the Best in Texas

Four Northside teachers are state finalists in the 2024 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. The surprise announcements were made this week by Superintendent Dr. John Craft and H-E-B representatives during heartfelt moments filled with confetti, flowers, and hugs. 

This year’s finalists are: 

• Isaac Esquivel, Environmental Science Teacher 
• Colin Varville, Warren High School 
• Michelle Fine, Glenn Elementary School 
• Julie Minnis, Garcia Middle School 

Isaac Esquivel was informed that he needed to teach a lesson to students at Westwood Terrace Elementary. He was also notified that Northside TV would stop by to gather footage for a district promotional video. Following the camera team’s arrival, Superintendent Dr. John Craft entered the outdoor garden space where Esquivel was teaching, accompanied by H-E-B Buddy, members of his department, and his beloved family. That's when he realized there was more to the story. With loud cheers from all in attendance, Esquivel learned he had been selected as a finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award in the Elementary Leadership category.

Colin Varville, a choir teacher at Warren High School, was expecting a typical day in his choir class. From rehearsing concert songs and sight-reading to listening to the acappella group perform, he had no clue what was about to happen. Northside TV was in the class getting footage for a promotional video—or so he thought. It was at that moment Dr. Craft, H-E-B officials, family, and colleagues burst through the door. His beloved college choir instructor, to whom he credits his success, was also there to congratulate him on what he learned was much more than an average school day. Varville was named a finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award in Rising Star Secondary.

Michelle Fine, Principal of Glenn Elementary, was informed that Dr. Craft wanted to hold a school assembly to discuss the importance of attendance. She was also told to expect cameras, as Northside TV was working on a promotional video and needed to follow Dr. Craft for the day. Once the assembly began, Dr. Craft grabbed the microphone and informed everyone that he was not really there for an attendance assembly. That's when H-E-B officials, Buddy, and many beloved friends, family, and administrators burst through the door. With hundreds of cheering students and confetti flying, Fine learned she had been named a finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award in the Elementary Principal category.

It was a typical day for Julie Minnis, Head Counselor at Garcia Middle School, who was hosting a Taylor Swift-themed lunch activity. She coordinated for students to sign-up for an alternate lunch where they could bond over Taylor Swift songs, trade friendship bracelets, and even take photos with a life-sized cutout of Taylor Swift. As she was getting things situated, the entourage of H-E-B, school staff, district administrators, friends, and family entered the room. She couldn't hold back tears as she learned she had been named a finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award in the Secondary Counselor category.

The H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards are designed to honor outstanding public school professionals and to thank them for their dedication and commitment.  

The state finalists were each awarded money for themselves and their schools. Nominations were submitted earlier this year by H-E-B customers, employees, and community members and a team of judges narrowed the field to the finalists. Later this spring they will be interviewed by a panel of judges before the grand prize winners are announced.

The H-E-B awards program was launched in 2002 in cooperation with the Texas Association of School Administrators to honor outstanding educators. Northside ISD was named best district in the state in 2005, the first year awards were bestowed on districts.