A Carroll High School special education teacher was surprised with a $2,000 H-E-B award, supporting her classroom and sensory hallway for students with autism.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A special education teacher at Carroll High School received a surprise recognition Monday for her work with students who have severe autism.
Deanna Evans, who teaches in the school’s self-contained unit, was awarded $2,000 as part of the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. The prize includes $1,000 for Evans and $1,000 for her classroom.
Evans said the recognition came as a surprise and will directly benefit her students.
“It is amazing because I recently got a grant. We are working on a sensory hallway,” Evans said. “It is very expensive to get stuff for our children, so that thousand dollars is going to help us afford even more things for the hallway.”
The sensory hallway project is designed to support students with autism by providing a space tailored to their needs, helping with focus and sensory regulation.
As part of the award, Evans now advances to compete at the state level, where she could receive an additional $5,000 for herself and her classroom.