Elizabeth Brand Teacher Excellence Award

Two Spring Branch ISD secondary educators have been honored with this year’s Elizabeth Brand Teacher Excellence Award, which was presented recently by the Houston Association of Professional Landmen, or HAPL. Winners of the Elizabeth Brand Award are Memorial High Orchestra co-director Danielle Prontka and Stratford High physics teacher Tracey Jensen.

The two teachers were honored May 16 at a luncheon held at the Petroleum Club and hosted by the professional association. As honorees, HAPL presented both SBISD teachers with a check for $3,250. Both Prontka and Jensen also received a gift basket valued at about $2,000. It included gift cards, spa packages and a Moody Gardens family membership. In May, Prontka was named this year’s SBISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Jensen was one of the district’s Secondary Teacher of the Year finalists. To win the Elizabeth Brand Award, educators must display outstanding teaching performance and demonstrate all-around personal development at the secondary teaching level.

Elizabeth Brand taught in SBISD for a number of years before her death. A special award in her memory was started by her husband, who was active with HAPL and also was a member of its board of directors. This annual award is widely viewed as one of the region’s first such recognition programs.