(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — Jan. 27, 2026) — Young Women’s STEAM Research & Preparatory Academy hosted a special celebration event on Tuesday, January 27, to honor Rebecca Guerrero, an educator whose excellence in teaching earned her the James F. Veninga Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award, the highest honor presented by Humanities Texas.
Guerrero was recognized as part of the 2025 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching Awards, a competitive statewide program that received more than 900 nominations from educators across Texas. The award celebrates exceptional humanities instruction that inspires students through critical thinking, creativity, and cultural understanding.
“It’s an incredible honor to bring this award to El Paso,” Guerrero said. “I think humanities are so vital in our world today. It’s where we grow our empathy muscles and I’m really grateful to be recognized for the work I do in this field.”
District leaders, including El Paso ISD Superintendent Dr. Brian Lusk and other district officials, joined campus staff, students, and families for the celebration on Tuesday.
“This award reflects the powerful impact an exceptional educator can have on students,” said El Paso ISD Superintendent Dr. Brian Lusk. “Rebecca Guerrero challenges young women to think deeply, ask important questions, and see themselves as leaders. That is exactly the kind of teaching we strive to cultivate throughout our district.”
Texas Congresswoman Veronica Escobar was also in attendance to recognize Guerrero’s achievement and its significance for the El Paso community.
“This award is very competitive. The fact that this extraordinary teacher at this extraordinary school, in our beautiful community won this recognition, there’s no way I’d miss it,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “El Paso can compete against any city here in the U.S. We have great talent and visionary leaders who also care about other people, and that’s what this award is about — about our shared humanity and teaching it.”
As a recipient, Guerrero will receive $5,000 in personal recognition during the 2025–2026 school year, along with an additional $1,000 awarded to Young Women’s STEAM Academy to support the purchase of humanities-based instructional materials.
Guerrero teaches high school English at Young Women’s STEAM Academy, where her innovative approach to humanities education has had a lasting impact on students and colleagues alike. Her work emphasizes project-based learning, collaborative research, and meaningful connections between academic study and real-world issues. She has also played a key role in developing the campus’s capstone program with a women and gender studies focus, expanding opportunities for students to engage deeply with history, literature, and social inquiry.