FIVE UH ALUMNI HONORED AS TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
Awards Highlight Early Career Success of Recent Education Graduates
By Raúl Rosa Negrón
July 13, 2026 —
Aliyah Vidales recall the motivational mantra her first-grade teacher used to say in class: “My teacher believes I can, so I did.”
Today, Vidales is an award-winning teacher who gives her own second-grade students the same pep talk.
“I have wanted to be in education so I could make a difference in my students’ lives in the way my first-grade teacher, who is now my mentor, did for me,” Vidales said.
Vidales is one of at least five recent graduates of the University of Houston College of Education who won Teacher of the Year awards for 2025-26 — an early sign of the impact these new educators are having in classrooms across the region.
Teacher of the Award Winners 2025-26:
• Elise Garcia (Galena Park ISD) — District & School Level
• Agustina Mansilla (Humble ISD) — School Level
• Maria Pizano (Channelview ISD) — School Level
• Melissa Trevino (Pasadena ISD) — School Level
• Aliyah Vidales (Galveston ISD) — District & School Level
Though they teach different grade levels and subjects, the five alumni share a common commitment: creating supportive classroom environments and helping students believe in themselves. They credited supportive professors and the College’s yearlong teaching residency for providing a strong foundation for leading their own classrooms.
“The College of Education played a significant role in my development by providing meaningful hands-on experiences and a strong support system throughout the program,” Mansilla said. “The combination of coursework, field experiences and mentorship helped me enter the classroom feeling confident and prepared to make a positive impact on my students.”
Read more about what these award-winning teachers learned in their first year and what they hope their students carry with them long after leaving their classrooms.
Aliyah Vidales
Rookie Teacher of the Year 2025-26 (District Level & School)
Oppe Elementary School | Galveston ISD
B.S. in Teaching and Learning (’25)
What has been the most rewarding part of your first year of teaching?
The most rewarding part of my first teaching experience has been the bond that I have created with each student, allowing them to flourish educationally and emotionally as young learners.
What advice would you give to student- or first-year teachers starting their careers?
Do not be so hard on yourself about the little things. You make so many split-second decisions a day, and it is normal to not always be perfect — especially in your first year.
Was there a professor, course or experience at UH that had a big impact on you as a teacher?
Dr. Carrie Cutler, Dr. Justin Burris and Dr. Celeste Alba’s classes had the biggest impact on me because of their commitment to the art of teaching, but also because of how well they bonded with students and made us feel like people, not just another student in a large class.
What do you hope your students remember most about your class?
My first-grade teacher and mentor taught me a saying that I now tell my students: “My teacher believes I can, so I did.” That is something I carry with me every day, and I hope my students carry that with them for the rest of their lives, just as I did.