April 14, 2026 - Pieper High School Lead Counselor Kristen Guerra is one of five secondary counselors chosen as a finalist in the 2026 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, which provides cash prizes to educators who go the extra mile to serve their students and communities.
Guerra received a surprise visit from H-E-B recently and was given a $1,000 check along with a $1,500 check for PHS.
“I feel incredibly grateful and humbled to be honored with the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award for Secondary School Counseling,” Guerra says. “This honor means so much to me and reminds me why I love what I do. It truly motivates me to continue making a difference and what a privilege it is to work with the students, families and colleagues that I do each day. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way!”
It turns out, this isn’t the first time Guerra was honored by the annual H-E-B awards. She was a Rising Star Award finalist in 2013 when she taught forensic science at Tejeda Middle School in the Northeast Independent School District.
Guerra will now compete at the statewide level for $10,000 in cash for herself and a $15,000 grant for PHS. The winner will be announced during the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards ceremony on Sunday, May 3, at the Marriott Marquis Houston.
“We are honored to have Mrs. Guerra recognized by H-E-B,” says Pieper High School Principal Lauran Knight. “She is an exceptional counselor whose leadership, compassion and commitment to students make a lasting impact on our campus. Our students know they have a trusted advocate in her every single day.”
Since it began the Excellence in Education Awards in 2002, H-E-B has awarded almost $15 million in funding to outstanding Texas teachers, school counselors, principals, early childhood centers, public school boards and school districts.
Nominations for the 2027 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards are now open to all state-certified public-school professionals currently working in Texas. Teachers, counselors, principals, early childhood centers, school boards, and districts can win cash prizes for their extraordinary work. Nominations will close on September 30, 2026.
Photo descriptions
-Pieper High School Lead Counselor Kristen Guerra
-Pieper High School Lead Counselor Kristen Guerra with H-E-B Buddy
-Pieper High School Lead Counselor Kristen Guerra with Comal ISD executive team members
-Pieper High School Lead Counselor Kristen Guerra with H-E-B team
-Pieper High School Lead Counselor Kristen Guerra with PHS administrators