The teachers, Miguel Fernandez from KIPP Connect Primary and Edith Gonzalez from KIPP Dream Prep, were awarded with the Harriet Ball Excellence in Teaching Award, which included a $10,000 check.Miguel Fernandez is a second-grade teacher and soccer coach at KIPP Connect Primary. He is the first in his family to graduate from college and believes all students can learn and deserve the right to access high-quality instruction.
Teachers are selected for the award based on their track record of improving student achievement, classroom and school leadership, and commitment to equipping students with the skills needed to pursue any path and lead fulfilling lives. The Harriett Ball Excellence in Teaching Award honors the legacy of Harriett Ball, a visionary educator and mentor teacher. A 35-year teaching veteran of Houston and Austin public schools, Ball incorporated chants, songs, and movement to get her students engaged and learning in the classroom. In late 1992, Ball began mentoring Teach for America corps member Dave Levin in Houston. Inspired by her methods, Levin co-founded the KIPP in 1994.