New Braunfels ISD's Lone Star Early Childhood Center receives H-E-B Excellence in Education award

On April 30, Lone Star Early Childhood Center was named the top early childhood center through the 20th annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program, according to a press release.

Lone Star is New Braunfels ISD’s preschool campus that offers a full-day prekindergarten program to all four-year-old students in the district. The campus has approximately 300 students enrolled and was established in 2017, according to the district.

In January, the school was named a finalist for the award and received $5,000 before a panel of judges named the winner.

The school will be awarded an additional $25,000 for winning the award, according to the district release, and school staff are evaluating how best to allocate the funds.

“With this money, we will be able to enhance our early childhood learning experience for our little unicorns,” Lone Star Principal Heather Salas said in the release. “I am so proud to lead this team of dedicated educators—from our custodians and cafeteria workers to our teachers and aides.”

Since 2002, the H-E-B awards program has donated more than $12 million in funding to Texas public schools, and each year the panel of judges for the awards visit finalist campuses to talk with administration, staff, parents and community members.