Humanities Texas: DEL VALLE TEACHER RECEIVES STATEWIDE AWARD
Humanities Texas is pleased to announce that Victoria Longoria of Del Valle High School is one of 13 recipients of the 2017 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award.
U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett presented Longoria with her $5,000 award during a ceremony at Del Valle High School on Monday, November 27.
Humanities Texas presents annual statewide awards to encourage excellence in teaching and recognize Texas classroom teachers who have made exemplary contributions in teaching, curriculum development and extracurricular programming. The organization received nearly 700 nominations for the 2017 awards.
Longoria, who has taught English for over 20 years, currently teaches 11th grade AP English Language and Composition at Del Valle High School. In 2016, she was a state semi-finalist for the HEB Excellence in Education Lifetime Achievement Award.
"Victoria Longoria engages her students to view our world through literature and history. Her students gain an introduction to global citizenship," said Congressman Doggett. "From my mini-town hall conducted today before presenting her award, I could see how well informed her students are about the challenges our country faces.Through her efforts these DVHS Cardinals are able to see the ‘human' in ‘humanities."
"She is a steward of the humanities," said Principal David Williams of Longoria. "She strives to authentically engage her students, reward successes and meet their individual needs. She dedicates her summers to professional development, treks the globe and actively seeks out opportunities to hone her craft throughout the year."
Longoria is an avid proponent of fostering a global perspective within her students. In addition to choosing international texts, she also aligns her English curriculum with the history department, collaborating on an interdisciplinary approach to deepen her students' understanding of both subjects. She frequently attends both local and international seminars to bolster her own understanding of the material she teaches.
"While STEM seems to garner all the glory these days, humanities holds the human context of education," said Longoria. "It is imperative that education embrace the humanities in order for future generations to promote the betterment of people, social equity and a responsible citizenry."
"Humanities Texas is pleased to recognize the achievements of Victoria Longoria and Del Valle High School," said Humanities Texas Executive Director Michael L. Gillette. "Longoria inspires and motivates her students to succeed in the classroom and beyond."
Longoria will receive a $5,000 cash award, with an additional $500 for Del Valle High School to purchase instructional materials.
Humanities Texas is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Its mission is to advance education through programs that improve the quality of classroom teaching, support libraries and museums and create opportunities for lifelong learning for all Texans.
Humanities Texas is currently accepting nominations for the 2018 Outstanding Teaching Awards. Additional information about Humanities Texas and its teacher award program is available at www.humanitiestexas.org.
You can find this press release on the Humanities Texas website here.
