Texas Border Business
MISSION, Texas – On April 4, 2025, Teach For America will host its prestigious annual Honor Roll Gala, celebrating individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to transforming education in the Rio Grande Valley. This year’s honorees exemplify extraordinary leadership and unwavering dedication to educational equity. Dr. Annabelle Palomo will receive the Educational Champion award; Region One Education Service Center, the Institutional Catalyst award; and Pablo Mejia, the Alumni Leadership award. Now in its seventh year, this event celebrates individuals and organizations that have significantly enhanced educational opportunities for students throughout the Rio Grande Valley. This year’s honorees have dedicated their careers and leadership to launching innovative programs, establishing high standards in schools, and upholding their commitment to education’s potential to help every student achieve their dreams and fullest potential.
The Educational Champion Award is given to an individual who demonstrates individual leadership which advances educational excellence and equity for a large number of students through a sustained commitment to supporting students, schools, and the broader community. Dr. Annabelle Palomo, a proud native of the Rio Grande Valley, has over 30 years of experience in education, having served as a teacher, principal, and executive director. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate in education from the University of Texas Pan American. Fueled by her passion for expanding educational opportunities, she founded Rio Grande Valley College, starting with just five students in a Certified Nurse Aide program. Under her leadership, the college has grown into a seven-program institution, offering Vocational Nursing, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, and two-degree programs leading to an Associate Degree in Nursing and Physical Therapist Assistant. The Vocational Nursing Program has trained nearly 1,500 nurses and maintains one of the highest NCLEX pass rates in Texas. She is actively involved in her community, serving on numerous boards, including the Pharr Economic Development Board Foundation, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Advisory Board, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Dr. Palomo’s commitment to education has made a profound impact on both current and future generations, empowering students and staff to achieve academic and professional success through her vision and leadership.
The Institutional Catalyst award is given to an institution, nonprofit, governmental entity, educational institution, or business which demonstrates collective leadership which advances educational excellence and equity for a large number of students through a sustained commitment to supporting students, schools, and the broader community. Region One Education Service Center (Region One) serves over 439,000 students and educators in eight counties in deep South Texas including: Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Starr, Webb, Willacy and Zapata. Region One assists school systems with enhancing student performance, operating efficiently and implementing legislative initiatives assigned by the legislature or the Commissioner of Education. Recently, Region One Education Service Center received $33.6 million for a span of seven years from the United States Department of Education under the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), an initiative designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. They have also expanded collaboration and direct services in teaching and learning, campus and district leadership, school system operations, and family and community engagement.
The Alumni Leadership Award is given to a Teach For America alum, either who currently lives in the Rio Grande Valley and/or who was a corps member in the Rio Grande Valley, who through a sustained commitment to RGV students, schools, and community has significantly advanced educational excellence and equity for students. Pablo Mejia is an accomplished leader in personalized learning, currently in his 12th year with IDEA Public Schools, where he oversees programs benefiting over 53,000 students. A key achievement in his career was managing IDEA’s $31 million Race to the Top District Grant, which funded innovative education practices. His current work includes initiatives like AR Zone, iLearning Hotspot, and Athletics. Before this, Pablo served as principal of IDEA Academy Donna, leading the school to the highest state accountability rating of “Exemplary.” He also spent a decade with Weslaco ISD as a teacher and school administrator, developing dual language programs and serving as principal of Beatriz Garza Middle School. A Teach For America alumnus from the 1999 Corps, Pablo holds a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas Pan American. He lives in Kyle, Texas, with his wife Sylvia, the principal of IDEA Rundberg Academy, and their three sons. Pablo was born in Medellín, Colombia, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1985. He is also the vice chair of Ensemble Learning’s board.
“An excellent education for our students doesn’t just brighten their individual futures—it uplifts the entire community. This year’s honorees demonstrate the transformative power of believing in student potential and the relentless dedication it takes to drive meaningful, lasting change in the Valley,” said Ana Gonzalez, executive director of Teach For America.
As students work to overcome learning loss and adapt to ongoing changes in our community and beyond, Teach For America remains committed to empowering educators with the resources necessary to deliver exceptional education and opportunities. Proceeds from this event will fuel local initiatives to recruit, train, and develop educational leaders, including our college Ignite tutors, new corps members, and the network of 220 alumni who continue to drive impact across the region.
The Honor Roll Gala will be on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the Mission Event Center. Programming will include a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and programming, live auction, music, and more. Teach For America Regional Board Chair Deborah Cordova states, “We are proud to honor those who have made a meaningful difference for students in the Rio Grande Valley. This event brings us together in partnership and shared commitment to ensuring every child receives an excellent education, while also supporting Teach For America’s important work.”
To view our honoree’s full bios, learn more about our event, and to purchase tickets, visit www.teachforamerica.org/HonorRollGala.
About Teach For America Rio Grande Valley
Teach For America Rio Grande Valley (TFA RGV) works in partnership with local districts and charter schools to expand educational opportunities for children. Founded in the Rio Grande Valley in 1991, Teach For America recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding leaders who make an initial two-year commitment to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the effort to end educational inequity. Today, TFA RGV is a force of about 400 corps members, alumni, and Ignite fellows impacting more than 15,000 students in pursuit of profound systemic change. From classroom to school-systems positions, these leaders are reimagining education to realize the day when every child has an equal opportunity to learn, lead, thrive and co-create a future filled with possibility. Teach For America is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org/rio-grande-valley and follow us on Facebookand Instagram.
