Tomball ISD Educator Honored as HAABE Award Winner

TOMBALL - Tomball ISD was proudly represented at the 2026 Houston Area Association for Bilingual Education (HAABE) Teacher of the Year ceremony, where Tomball Junior High School educator Veronica Silvas was recognized for her outstanding commitment to bilingual education. Silvas earned top honors as the HAABE Secondary ESL Teacher of the Year.

Silvas became the fourth overall HAABE Teacher of the Year winner for Tomball ISD in the last five years, joining Jennifer Keogh (2024-2025), Maria Alejandra Martinez (2023-2024) and Araceli Salinas (2021-2022). Dr. Kelly Marchiando also earned top honors in 2024-2025 as the first Leadership Champion award recipient.

As a representative of Tomball ISD's commitment to excellence in all areas, including multilingual education, Silvas will now advance to represent HAABE and Tomball ISD at the Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) Teacher of the Year competition in the fall. 

Tomball ISD Director of Multilingual Programs, Dr. Paloma Moreno: 
“Veronica Silvas represents the very best of Tomball ISD. Mrs. Silvas believes that multilingualism is an asset to be leveraged and fiercely advocates for language to serve as an open door and never a barrier for her students. She is a bridge-builder that ensures her students build confidence and find a place to belong. Her passion, knowledge, and heart will ensure that her students will lead in creating the future. We look forward to seeing her bring that same passion to the state stage.”

HOUSTON AREA SECONDARY ESL TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Veronica Silvas | Tomball Junior High

Veronica Silvas serves as an ESL Teacher at Tomball Junior High. An eight-year veteran of Tomball ISD, she is a dedicated educator specializing in ESL instruction at the middle school level. A graduate of Sam Houston State University with a minor in Special Education, she began her career as a paraprofessional before transitioning into a teaching role. Veronica has previously been honored as campus Teacher of the Month, is an active leadership team member, and is known for her expertise in EC–8 core content area and the Science of Teaching Reading. Her work is deeply rooted in providing intentional support for every learner.

What makes teaching so special to you?
“Teaching is special to me because it is one of the only professions that truly gives you the opportunity to make a lasting impact on someone’s life journey. There is something incredibly meaningful about knowing you played a role in helping a student overcome obstacles and believe in their own potential. As an educator of multilingual learners and EBs, I have the privilege of watching students grow in confidence, find their voice, and realize they are capable of success.”

Why do you continue teaching?
“I continue teaching because it is a deeply rewarding profession that allows for real and lasting impact. It gives us the opportunity to be true servants to our community by growing the minds of our future. Each year, I see that growth firsthand—in students gaining confidence, taking academic risks, and reaching goals they once thought were out of reach. While it is not always easy, it is always purposeful.”

Why Tomball ISD?
“I chose and continue to choose Tomball ISD because it fosters strong professional connections and supports continuous growth for both students and educators. While it maintains a close-knit, community feel, it is also a respected and impactful district in the Houston area. That balance of relational support and high standards is what makes Tomball ISD so meaningful to me.”

From Tomball Junior High Principal, Charlie Gerszewski…
"Ms. Silvas is beyond deserving of the TISD ESL Teacher of the Year award!  Her unmatched dedication is reflected in the strong bonds she builds with her students and the remarkable academic success they achieve. TJH is honored to have such a distinguished educator on our team."

ABOUT TOMBALL ISD
Tomball ISD educates students to become responsible, productive citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous, and personally valuable educational experiences. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates over 23,300 students across 25 campuses.