EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Young Women’s STEAM Research and Preparatory Academy hosted a special celebration event on Tuesday, Jan. 27, to honor Rebecca Guerrero, an educator who earned the James F. Veninga Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award, the highest honor presented by Humanities Texas.

The El Paso Independent School District made the announcement in a news release.

Guerrero was recognized as part of the 2025 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching Awards, a competitive statewide program that received over 900 nominations from educators across Texas.

EPISD said the award celebrates exceptional humanities instruction that inspires students through critical thinking, creativity, and cultural understanding.

As a recipient, Guerrero will receive $5,000 in personal recognition during the 2025–2026 school year, along with an additional $1,000 awarded to Young Women’s STEAM Academy to support the purchase of humanities-based instructional materials.

“It’s an incredible honor to bring this award to El Paso,” Guerrero said. “I think humanities are so vital in our world today. It’s where we grow our empathy muscles and I’m really grateful to be recognized for the work I do in this field.”

Guerrero teaches high school English at Young Women’s STEAM Academy, where her innovative approach to humanities education has had a lasting impact on students and colleagues alike, according to the district.

EPISD said her work emphasizes project-based learning, collaborative research, and meaningful connections between academic study and real-world issues.

Guerrero has also played a key role in developing the campus’s capstone program with a women and gender studies focus, expanding opportunities for students to engage deeply with history, literature, and social inquiry.

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