Good Reason Houston distributes more than $12,000 during Teacher Appreciation Week as part of Houston Schools That Inspire and Houston Loves Teachers initiatives.
Good Reason Houston is proud to announce the 2025 Houston Schools That Inspire, honoring four exceptional public schools that are achieving remarkable outcomes for students across backgrounds, needs, and neighborhoods.
Winners were selected in two categories: Early Childhood Education, which highlights schools creating learning environments that blend play, joy, care, and academic rigor; and Achievement for Every Student, which celebrates schools where Black and Latino students, emergent bilingual learners, and students with special needs are all outperforming regional and state averages.
“These schools remind us that while there’s still a lot of work to do, there’s also a lot to celebrate,” said Meron Tekle, Managing Director of Insights at Good Reason Houston and leader of the Houston Schools That Inspire initiative. “This is a campaign rooted in the belief that change can grow from success. When we find what’s working, what’s beautiful, bold and quietly revolutionary, we can do more of it, replicate it, expand it, and, most importantly, believe in what’s possible.”
This year’s honorees are:
- Melillo Middle School
- Nitsch Elementary School
- Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology
- Laurenzo Early Childhood Education Center
Schools were notified of the Houston Schools That Inspire awards after “mystery boxes” were delivered to each campus. Upon the reveal at each campus, Good Reason Houston awarded several teachers and principals checks as part of the organization’s Houston Loves Teachers initiative, as a token of appreciation for their hard work throughout the year. You can see the exciting and heartwarming visuals here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/goodreasonhouston/albums/ .
“Good Reason Houston runs this annual campaign to shine a light on schools that are delivering exceptional learning environments, strong student outcomes, and a deep belief in what’s possible for every child,” Good Reason Houston CEO Cary Wright said. “These are schools that challenge the status quo—and we want more of them across our region.”
To learn more, visit goodreasonhouston.org/schoolsthatinspire.
