Your Innovation Can Change Texas Education.
Apply by May 1st, 2026.
Why You Should Apply or Nominate
The Anita Villarreal Innovation in Engagement Award honors original, data-driven practices that are both innovative and transferable, allowing other Texas schools to replicate your success and help students win. Whether you are applying for yourself, or nominating a colleague, you ensure that your school’s creativity and dedication get the recognition it deserves.
Apply to:
Scale Your Impact: Turn your local success into a statewide model that helps thousands of students thrive.
Tell Your Story: Receive a professionally produced video that showcases your school’s heart and hard work to your community and board.
Professional Growth: Gain a seat at the table with other innovators at the 2026 GCA Con and share your expertise on the Engaging TX Families podcast.
How to Apply
The Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Initiative reviews and accepts applications from districts and/or schools who are implementing practices that yield high parent and family engagement.
To view the full application guidelines and apply for the Anita Villarreal Innovation in Engagement Award, click here.
A Lifetime of Advocacy for Texas Families
The Anita Villarreal Innovation in Engagement Award is named in honor of a true pioneer in Texas education. With a career spanning over five decades, Anita Villarreal has been a cornerstone of Title I, Part A, working with the program since its original authorization in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Anita’s passion is rooted in her own journey; having worked in the fields as a child, she understood firsthand the challenges and aspirations of migrant families. This lived experience fueled her ascent from the front lines to the highest levels of state leadership.
She has spent her life as a champion for those who need it most, dedicating her career to migrant education, dropout prevention, and—most importantly—the belief that parent engagement is the key to student success.