Dallas, Texas—Teach Plus congratulates kindergarten teacher and 2019 Teach Plus Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Policy Fellow Eric Hale on receiving the prestigious 2019 Annual Queen Smith Award for Commitment to Urban Public Education from the Council of Great City Schools and McGraw-Hill Education. Eric is a self-contained kindergarten and first grade teacher in Dallas ISD, where he is a two-time campus Teacher of the Year, Fishman Prize Finalist, and Dallas Maverick Hometown Hero.
“On behalf of Teach Plus, I congratulate Eric on receiving this prestigious honor. Eric is a true champion for students and has dedicated his life to making sure the children in his classroom have the academic and social skills necessary to become lifetime learners,” said Kevin Malonson, Teach Plus Texas Policy Manager. “His focus on the whole child and on building relationships with his students and their families is key to his success as a teacher leader and why he is so deserving of this award.”
During the 86th Texas Legislative session, Eric and his colleagues in the Teach Plus DFW Policy Fellowship provided critical teacher input, including testimony before policy makers and a series of meetings with legislators, in support of strategic investments in Texas’ schoolchildren. House Bill 3 and the accompanying $6.5 billion investment in public education passed the Texas legislature.
About Teach Plus
Teach Plus is dedicated to the mission of empowering excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that advance equity, opportunity, and student success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning, to create an education system driven by access and excellence for all. teachplus.org
