An H-E-B prize posse, including H-E-Buddy himself, took over the halls of Kingwood Middle School to surprise counselor Christie Wootton.
Wootton was announced as one of five finalists for the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Secondary Counselor of the Year Award. In being named a finalist, Wootton received a $1,000 prize and Kingwood Middle School received $1,500 from H-E-B.
“I was so overwhelmed,” Wootton said about being named a finalist. “I’m just really excited and very excited for our school.”
Kingwood Middle School Principal Michael Curl added: “At Kingwood Middle School we are all about celebrations and our people rising to the next level. We’re really excited for Ms. Wootton to get this recognition. She is a beacon of hope for our kids, they love her to death. She’s a very special person here and we’re lucky to have her.”
The winner will be named on May 4, and will receive a $10,000 prize along with a $15,000 prize for the school.
Each year, H-E-B holds its Excellence in Education Awards, which are designed to honor outstanding public school professionals and to thank them for their dedication and commitment. Through this program, H-E-B seeks to pay tribute to those educators who go the extra mile each and every day to serve their students and their communities and who inspire others to do the same.
Since the program’s inception in 2002, H-E-B has awarded more than $14 million in funding to outstanding Texas teachers, principals, public schools and districts, school counselors, school boards and early childhood centers.