State Board of Education Names 2026 Heroes for Children Awardees
AUSTIN, Texas – September 18, 2026 – The State Board of Education (SBOE) recently recognized the recipients of the 2026 Heroes for Children Award, honoring 15 exceptional Texans whose dedication and service have made a lasting impact on public education and the lives of students across the state.
The Heroes for Children Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to supporting students, educators and school communities. This year's honorees have distinguished themselves through a wide range of contributions, including advancing educational opportunities, mentoring students, fostering welcoming learning environments and providing outstanding leadership in parent and community organizations.
“Congratulations to the 15 recipients of the Heroes for Children Award,” said SBOE Chairman Aaron Kinsey. “These honorees show what it truly means to serve others by giving their time and talents to help Texas children and families. Their selfless service makes our communities stronger and encourages us all to do more for others.”
Each year, the SBOE selects one recipient from each of its 15 member districts to receive this prestigious recognition. Brief profiles of the 2026 Heroes for Children recipients are provided below.
District 1: Kathy Bandujo
Kathy Bandujo, founder of the Blessings in a Backpack Boerne ISD Chapter, has been recognized for more than a decade of dedicated service addressing childhood hunger across the district. Since launching the program in 2013, she has built and sustained an entirely volunteer-led operation that now serves students at all 14 Boerne ISD campuses, providing weekend food assistance to an average of 600 children each week during the 2025-26 school year. Through her leadership, compassion and commitment to preserving student dignity, Kathy has created a lasting community resource that supports student well-being, academic success and family stability.
District 2: Consuelo Castillo
Consuelo “Mama Chelo” Castillo has been recognized as a Hero for Children for her extraordinary dedication to students, families and public education. For more than a decade, she has devoted countless volunteer hours to supporting the Harmony Science Academy-Brownsville school community while also serving as a steadfast advocate for her grandchildren, including guiding her grandson with severe special needs to a successful high school graduation through her unwavering support, advocacy and encouragement. Known throughout the campus for her compassion, humility, and service, Mama Chelo continues to make a lasting impact by championing student success and embodying the very best of community involvement.
District 3: Dave Gannon
Dave Gannon, a longtime Northside ISD leader and advocate for public education, has dedicated more than 30 years to advancing opportunities for students, families and educators across San Antonio. Through leadership roles with Northside ISD, the San Antonio Education Partnership, the YMCA and as Chairman of the Bexar County Central Appraisal District, he has helped strengthen educational resources, community partnerships and student success initiatives throughout the region. His enduring commitment to mentoring young people and improving outcomes for students exemplifies the spirit of the Texas State Board of Education's Heroes for Children Award.
District 4: Cintya Peña Briones
Cintya Peña Briones has been recognized as a Hero for Children for her exceptional dedication to supporting students, teachers and families at North Shore Elementary. Since joining the campus volunteer program in 2022, she has become a trusted leader, providing classroom support, assisting with campus events, mentoring new volunteers and strengthening the school's ability to serve students through her leadership and commitment. Inspired by her volunteer experience, Cintya has also pursued her own educational growth, serving as a powerful role model whose resilience, determination and service continue to make a lasting impact on the school community.
District 5: Mayra Quevedo
Mayra Quevedo has distinguished herself through her exceptional dedication to students and families at Harmony School of Excellence–Austin, volunteering tirelessly at nearly every school event and providing critical behind-the-scenes support that helps ensure their success. She has demonstrated remarkable generosity by sharing her culture and traditions with the school community, including preparing homemade tamales for the winter festival, helping create a welcoming environment for all families. Through her consistent service, reliability and unwavering commitment to children, Mayra exemplifies the spirit of community engagement and volunteer leadership.
District 6: Stacey Evans
Stacey Evans, founder of A Brighter Education for Dyslexia, has spent more than two decades advancing educational opportunities for students and families across Conroe ISD and throughout Texas. Since launching the nonprofit in 2014, she has expanded access to dyslexia education, advocacy and family support, leading initiatives that earned both Conroe ISD's Patron Influencing Education Award and a Special Commendation from the Texas State Board of Education. Through her leadership, policy advocacy and service as a surrogate parent, Evans has helped strengthen support systems for students with dyslexia while empowering families to play an active role in public education.
District 7: Dr. Amirah Rimal
As president of the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) of Harmony School of Excellence–Sugar Land Elementary, Dr. Amirah Rimal has strengthened her school community through exceptional leadership, parent engagement and service. Her initiatives improved communication with families while celebrating student and staff achievements and fostering a welcoming environment for all. Her hands-on support of teachers, commitment to staff appreciation and unwavering presence on campus exemplify the spirit of service and advocacy that enriches the educational experience of every child.
District 8: Kelly Sullivan
Kelly Sullivan, a longtime Groveton ISD and Trinity County youth advocate and volunteer leader, has dedicated more than 15 years to mentoring and developing young people through Texas 4-H, livestock programs and community service initiatives. Through her leadership, hundreds of youth have gained the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to become leaders in agriculture, education, business, public service and skilled trades. Her lifelong commitment to youth development, community engagement and servant leadership has left a lasting impact on generations of Texas students and their communities.
District 9: Hannah Ramsey
Hannah Ramsey, a dedicated parent volunteer and healthcare professional, has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to student achievement, STEM education and community engagement at Harmony School of Innovation–Garland. Through her leadership in student programs, career-connected learning initiatives and campus support efforts, she has expanded educational opportunities and enriched the student experience through extensive volunteer service. Her exceptional commitment to students, educators and families earned her recognition as both Campus Parent of the Year and District Parent of the Year.
District 10: Jacques DuBose
Jacques DuBose has dedicated more than 20 years of exceptional volunteer service to Boerne ISD, providing steadfast leadership, advocacy and support for students, educators and families across multiple campuses and programs. As a PTO leader, community advocate and mentor, he helped grow fundraising efforts, organized major school initiatives, secured a $20,000 corporate donation to enhance campus safety and played a critical role in supporting academic, arts and extracurricular programs. Through his decades of service, commitment to public education and ability to unite community partners in support of students, Jacques has made a lasting and meaningful impact on countless children and families throughout Boerne ISD.
District 11: Saadia Hassan
Saadia Hassan has made an extraordinary impact on the Harmony Science Academy-Euless community through her leadership, compassion and unwavering commitment to students, families and staff. Most notably, she mobilized parents and community members to raise more than $1,000 and coordinate essential donations within days after a senior family lost their home in a fire. Beyond crisis response, Saadia has been a driving force behind school fundraisers, family engagement initiatives and teacher appreciation efforts, consistently dedicating her time and resources to strengthen the school community. Her selfless service and ability to inspire others exemplify the spirit of volunteerism.
District 12: Randall Barber
Randall Barber has made a lasting impact at Kathy Kirkpatrick Elementary in Caddo Mills ISD through his volunteer leadership, dedication to student success and commitment to family engagement. A captain with a DFW fire department and father of two students, he established and led the school's WATCH D.O.G.S. program, recruiting more than 65 fathers and father figures to serve as positive role models during its inaugural year. Through initiatives such as the WATCH D.O.G.S. kickoff event and Rally Cap Day, Barber strengthened school safety, increased parental involvement and fostered meaningful connections that support students, making him a deserving recipient of the Heroes for Children Award.
District 13: Villa Copeland
Villa Copeland has distinguished herself as a compassionate leader and advocate at Harmony Science Academy-Dallas through her dedicated PTO service and commitment to student well-being. As PTO Vice President, she has strengthened family engagement, led impactful school initiatives and fostered strong partnerships between parents and educators to support student success. Beyond her leadership role, Copeland has connected vulnerable students and families with essential resources, often providing necessities herself, helping create a more supportive school community.
District 14: Karen Ward
Karen Ward has transformed literacy opportunities for students in Gordon ISD through her exceptional leadership, resilience and unwavering commitment to fostering a love of reading. She spearheaded a volunteer-led Texas Bluebonnet Award book club program that enabled every student in grades 3-6 to qualify to vote for their favorite title and helped establish reading as a cornerstone of school culture. Following a devastating tornado that disrupted the district’s newly created library, Karen and her volunteer team continued cataloging and organizing materials off-site, ensuring students would have access to a fully functioning library program. Through her ongoing efforts, including securing more than $20,000 in donations for library resources, Karen Ward has created lasting opportunities for student learning and literacy.
District 15: Ginger Moore
Ginger Moore has dedicated more than three decades to improving the lives of children and families through her leadership in military childcare, education advocacy and community service. Her efforts helped establish and expand high-quality educational and youth programs for military families, including the development of an award-winning school-age facility and advocacy that led to the creation of the military's "Give Parents a Break" respite program for families of children with special needs. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ginger has been a steadfast champion for literacy, curriculum excellence and strong educational standards, contributing to curriculum development, statewide education initiatives and community programs that support children and families. Her lifelong commitment to student success, family support and educational opportunity has made a lasting impact on countless children across Texas.
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