TEMPLE, Texas — Temple Independent School District trustee Shannon Myers is serving on the selection committee for the 2025 HEB Excellence in Education School Board honors.
Myers, who has served as the District 7 representative on the TISD Board of Trustees since 2017, was invited to serve on the selection committee that will determine the finalists and winner for the 2025 HEB Excellence in Education School Board recognition. Myers, and her six fellow judges, whittled a field of 20 applications down to five finalists for the award. The committee then visited each of those finalists to interview the Superintendent, the Board of Trustees, and a group of community representation to include, staff, students, parents, and community members. Following those visits, the committee collaborated on selecting the winner. Myers said she was looking for a cohesive board that understood its role in governance, prioritized community interaction and feedback, dealt with adversity in a positive manner, and worked as a team along with the superintendent to shape and support the vision of the district.
“Reading through the applications was eye opening because it not only underscored the current issues that districts are facing, but also highlighted many opportunities that boards have to work together and solve unique challenges for their district,” Myers said. “There are so many school boards across the state who are effectively using their position to improve district success. It was inspiring to see the multitude of ways that public education is working to benefit students. I very much enjoyed the experience and was honored to serve on the committee.”
In addition to honoring school boards, the HEB Excellence in Education program awards Rising Star, Leadership, and Lifetime Achievement recognitions to teachers on both the elementary and secondary levels. HEB also honors school counselors and principals on both the elementary and secondary levels, a Pre-K Academy, and Large School Districts and Small School Districts each year. Winners in each category receive grants that range for $5,000 for individual honorees to up to $100,000 for the Large School District winner. The five finalists for this year’s Excellence in Education School Board of the Year are: Clear Creek ISD, Gregory-Portland ISD, Lamar ISD, New Braunfels ISD, and Plano ISD.
“This is a proud honor for Temple ISD and Trustee Shannon Myers. When the state seeks out one of our own board members to eventually decide among the best school boards in Texas, it conveys the inherent message that Temple ISD board members set the standard for high-functioning governance,” said Dr. Bobby Ott, superintendent of schools for Temple ISD. “Shannon represents integrity, excellence, and general thoughtfulness, but above all she cares deeply about children, educators, and families. As always, she will represent TISD well.”
Temple ISD was the first school board recognized by HEB when that category of recognition was added to the Excellence in Education program. TISD’s board of trustees won the inaugural award in 2014. Temple ISD’s Meridith-Dunbar Early Childhood Academy was also recognized by the program’s Texas Loves Teachers Tour in the spring of 2021.