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.
Maria Pizano
Rising Star of the Year 2025-26
Anthony Aguirre Junior High School | Channelview ISD
B.S. in Teaching and Learning (’24)
What has been the most rewarding part of your first year of teaching?
I have loved seeing my students grow. Sixth grade is an age where students are starting to figure out who they are, and seeing them grow in their knowledge of mathematics as well as in maturity has been so rewarding. Being able to serve as a role model for them has been such a great feeling, especially since I returned to the middle school I once attended as a student.
What advice would you give to student- or first-year teachers starting their careers?
I would encourage COE students to make the most of their student teaching year. It can be scary to approach teaching for the first time, but maximizing my student teaching experience was one of the things that best prepared me to teach on my own. For first-year teachers, I would say to give yourself grace and take care of yourself.
Was there a professor, course or experience at UH that had a big impact on you as a teacher?
I was fortunate to have an amazing student teaching experience through the UH COE program. I student taught in Aldine ISD in Mr. Berrones’ eighth-grade math classroom, and I truly feel that my experience there prepared me to lead my own classroom. I am very grateful to him and to the College of Education for that opportunity.
What do you hope your students remember most about your class?
I hope my students remember that I always believed in every single one of them and that anyone can be good at math. I also hope they remember that my classroom was a place where they felt safe to make mistakes, ask questions and grow. More than anything, I want them to carry the confidence they built in my class with them.