Published: May 04, 2008 08:43 pm            

Billy Snow best in state

Bowie principal awarded a total of $35,000

HOUSTON — In a grand kick-off to National Teacher Appreciation Week, Billy Snow, principal of Bowie Elementary in Corsicana was chosen as the outstanding elementary school principal in Texas and was awarded a total of $35,000 at the 2008 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards.

The awards celebration was held Sunday evening at the Woodlands Resort & Conference Center. Snow was one of five state-wide principals competing for the honor.

The H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards is the largest monetary recognition program for educators in Texas and one of the largest in the nation. As the winner of the outstanding elementary school principal category, Snow was awarded $10,000 for himself and $25,000 for his school.

At the awards celebration, H-E-B recognized 40 educators, including Snow, and eight school districts for their dedication to Texas children. A total of $380,000 in financial gifts was awarded at the event.

“We are extremely proud to recognize the educators and school districts that are changing the landscape of public education in Texas through their dedication,” said Kate Rogers, director of the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program.

Growing up in a single-parent family, Snow did not have a positive male role model. So early in life he developed an empathy for children in similar circumstances, and knew he wanted to help others like him. Today, Snow, 33, is having a positive impact on more than 700 children as principal of Bowie Elementary.

“I feel called to be an educator. I believe God put me here for a reason, and that I am here to serve,” the father of three says. “My first year of teaching I had a student, who lived out of a car with his family. He wrote me a letter saying thanks for being my friend.

“I realized then that there are so many children like him. As educators we have to be their mom, dad, nurse and psychiatrist.”

As a school administrator for the past seven years, Snow has learned that if you expect greatness from others, you have to lead by example. He tutors children before and after school to help them do their best. Or, he takes them bowling and fishing to celebrate their achievements. He also created Mr. Snow's Breakfast Club for third and fourth-graders. “I do it, so I can get to know our kids and to find out their strengths and weaknesses, and sometimes our teachers need help, too.”

Snow also likes to show his playful side. Last year, he wrote and directed “Bowie School Musical,” based on Disney's “High School Musical,” which has raised parental involvement with the school.

He likes to remind his students always to remember one thing: “No matter where you go to bed, no matter what you look like, you are all great.”

About the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards

The H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program was launched in 2002 in cooperation with the Texas Association of School Administrators as a strong way to support public education in Texas. It is a personal initiative of H-E-B CEO and Chairman, Charles Butt, who implemented the program to highlight the outstanding practices of Texas public schools and spotlight and celebrate the work of Texas educators. Since its inception, the program has handed out over $3 million to 773 educators and 155 schools and districts across the state.

The program kicks-off annually when the community is asked to nominate their best teachers, principals and districts. This year H-E-B received more than 4,000 nominations. Each nominee was sent an application packet asking them to share their professional experiences, educational philosophies and achievements both in and out of the classroom. Over 1,000 completed applications were received, which were then reviewed by a team of judges and narrowed to 223 semi-finalists who then went on to compete in a regional judging process.

Five regional judging panels comprised of former winners, administrators, and university and community leaders selected the 40 statewide finalists. These finalists were notified of their special status during surprise visits to their schools, March 24 - April 1. Each educator finalist was awarded $1,000. Teachers received an additional $1,000 for their schools while principal finalists received an additional $2,500 for their schools. The eight finalists in the large and small school district categories were selected by a separate judging panel that reviewed written applications and conducted individual site visits. During these visits, each large and small school district finalist received $5,000 and $2,500, respectively.

All of the finalists were invited to Houston for the state-wide competition and awards celebration. While in Houston, the finalists participated in personal interviews before a panel of state-wide judges. During the celebration recognizing all the finalists, the 10 grand-prize winners selected by the judging panel were announced. These winners were comprised of two principals, six teachers and two school districts, one large (3A, 4A, 5A) and one small (2A, 1A).

Each winning principal-one elementary school and one secondary school-received $10,000 in cash for themselves and a $25,000 grant for their schools. The winning large school district received a $100,000 cash prize and the winning small school district received $50,000. The six teachers received a cash prize and matching grant for their schools of $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000, based on their years of service in the classroom.

For more than 100 years, H-E-B has been an innovative retailer. Known for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience at every day low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs 67,000 Partners and serves millions of customers in more than 150 communities throughout Texas and Mexico.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.