While it’s no secret in Taylor that high school teacher Vicki Rowe is amazing, it’s now known statewide.
On Sunday, May 4, Rowe won the Lifetime Achievement Award during the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony held in Austin.
Rowe received a $25,000 cash prize and a $25,000 grant for Taylor High School. The H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program is an annual event honoring Texas teachers and publicschool professionals. Since 2002, the program has awarded more than $14 million to educators and schools that go above and beyond.
“This is such an honor. The fact that H-E-B sees our passion and our love for what we do for our kids, it’s marvelous,” Rowe said.
Rowe, who teaches Advanced Placement English at Taylor High, was one of six teachers to receive an award at the annual event, but she was only one of two teachers to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is granted to outstanding teachers with more than 20 years’ teaching experience.
This year, six teachers, including Rowe, two counselors, two principals, one early childhood facility, one public school board and two school districts were honored Sunday, sharing the $480,000 in cash and grants awarded by the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards.
Rowe has been with the Taylor Independent School District 25 years.
“At a time when public school educators face many challenges, it’s critically important that we honor the extraordinary individuals who are inspiring the next generation of Texans. Their work not only changes lives — it defines the future of our state,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B senior vice president of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs.
She added, “We heard remarkable stories of dedication, resilience and impact during the awards selection process. While it’s difficult to pick one winner in each category, all our finalists represent the very best of what it means to be an educator in Texas.”
This is not Rowe’s first achievement as an educator. She was a finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards in both 2018 and 2022.
Rowe can also be seen as a contestant on “Wheel of Fortune” Wednesday, May 7.
