The Fort Bend ISD school board snagged a $25,000 prize Sunday night (May 7th) as Texas' best school board at the H-E-B's Excellence in Education ceremony in Austin.      

H-E-B selected 58 finalists across Texas, with categories ranging from best teacher to best school board, in March. On Sunday, they handed out $430,000 to 11 finalists.

In addition to winning for best school board, Fort Bend ISD's Julie Diaz won best school principal for secondary education for her work at Travis High School. 

She was highlighted by H-E-B for the school spirit she inspires, showing how she organized for students to paint the first floor of the high school in one day when the old paint was chipping.

"When one wins, we all win, so really Travis High School is the one winning tonight," she said. "Once the kids painted the downstairs, they were like 'Ms. Diaz when are we painting the upstairs?"

Under the "Rising Star" category, Richard Embrick of Fort Bend ISD's David Crockett Middle school won his school $5,000 and himself $5,000.

"I'm extremely passionate about opening up doors and support for women and minorities in STEM," said Embrick, a robotics and engineering teacher who started a STEM-related program at his school.

Flint, a chemistry teacher, thanked the Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas before she thanked her husband, drawing laughter from the crowd.

"This has been one of the greatest weekends I've ever had," Flint said. "We have been treated like rock stars. People say it's the Oscar's of teaching, and it really is."

Robert Gates, the former U.S. Secretary of Defense, spoke during his keynote address about the need to reform and change so that leadership was "more about the heart than the head."

"Texas educates over 5 million students" he told h crowd of educators. "You will determine how many of those 5 million will be prepared and motivated to meet the challenges facing this state and our country in the future."

Since its inception in 2002, H-E-B's Excellence in Education program has doled out more than $8.5 million to Texas public education.

Congratulations - WAY TO GO!   H.E.B   and  Ft Bend ISD  ! ! !