Fort Bend ISD (May 5, 2025) – Kempner High School teacher Dr. Alicia Adkins received the statewide Leadership Award for secondary school teachers at the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards ceremony this past weekend.

The Leadership Award honors teachers with 10 to 20 years in the classroom and who go the extra mile to serve their students and communities.

Adkins said it does not matter whether someone is in a factory, a Fortune 500 company, or a classroom, there is one trait that sets strong leaders apart: they listen to those they are leading.

“Listen to the people who are under you,” she said. “They’re the ones who can help you the most. If my students tell me they are frustrated or having difficulty, I could push ahead or stop and listen to them and take care of what is frustrating them. Then, we as a unit will do a heck of a lot better.”

Adkins received a $10,000 check for herself and a $10,000 grant for her campus.

She was notified she was one of five finalists for the Leadership Award by H-E-B representatives during a surprise visit to her campus earlier this year at which time she was awarded a $1,000 check.

“At a time when public school educators face many challenges, it’s critically important we honor the extraordinary individuals who are inspiring the next generation of Texans,” H-E-B Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs Winell Herron said. “Their work not only changes lives—it defines the future of our state.”

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