J.P. LeNoir Elementary teacher Cindy Gonzalez has been named the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Rising Star Award winner, a prestigious honor that recognizes outstanding educators across Texas. Gonzalez was selected from a competitive pool of outstanding educators from across the state and received the award during a ceremony in downtown Austin on May 4th.

“This was one of the most meaningful moments in my life as an educator,” Gonzalez said. “Being interviewed in front of a panel of superintendents from across the state was definitely a nerve-wracking experience — I usually like to be well-prepared, so not knowing what they would ask made me nervous. But it turned out to be one of the most beautiful and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.”

The Rising Star Award honors exceptional teachers with fewer than 10 years of classroom experience. Gonzalez, a third-grade reading and writing teacher, received a $5,000 personal check and a $5,000 grant for her school.

“My classroom is a place where students feel safe, welcomed, and loved — and of course, we have a lot of fun,” Gonzalez said. “Most of my students are bilingual, just like I was. I know their challenges because I lived them. I want to make sure they feel empowered and seen.”

Gonzalez, a La Joya ISD graduate, says her personal journey shaped her approach to education. “I know what it’s like to share a meal with a large family, to wear secondhand clothes, to be made fun of for not speaking English,” she said. “Those memories fuel my purpose. I never want my students to feel the way I did as a little girl. I want them to feel they are capable of greatness — because they are.”

J.P. LeNoir Principal Karen Nieto praised Gonzalez’s impact on campus. “Ms. Gonzalez is one of our amazing third-grade teachers. She’s a true leader who builds strong relationships with her students,” Nieto said. “Her students know they’re loved, and that connection makes all the difference.”

One of her students, third grader Diego Carrizales, agreed. “Ms. Gonzalez is special to me because she believes in me in everything — and she’s a cool teacher,” he said.

Gonzalez said being nominated by her district was already an honor. “Donna ISD saw the heart and skills that define an excellent educator, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful,” she said. “To now be recognized at the state level is a dream come true. I’m proud to say, ‘I am Cindy Gonzalez, your H-E-B Excellence in Education award winner, representing the state of Texas.’"

This marks the second consecutive year that Donna ISD has received recognition from the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. In 2024, M. Rivas Primary Discovery Academy received the Early Childhood Award, earning $25,000 for the campus.

“We’re a family here at Donna ISD,” Gonzalez said. “And this award isn’t just for me — it’s for my students, my school, and this entire community.”