SAN MARCOS CISD
Teachers too often don’t get the recognition they deserve but H-E-B’s Excellence in Education Awards highlight and reward educators who make a difference in Texas. San Marcos’ own Carol Fernandez was one of the 50 finalists and was nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award. Fernandez has been an educator with San Marcos CISD for 35 years and counting, touching the lives of thousands of kids, parents and faculty. She specializes in Gifted and Talented education where she combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics with outdoor learning to ensure her students develop critical thinking skills and a deep connection to the world around them. A highlight of her career has been the butterfly garden she has helped bloom at Maria Hernandez Elementary School. It is a safe haven for migrating monarchs and is a certified native habitat through Keep San Marcos Beautiful’s Habitat Stewardship Program.
“I’ve had a fabulous experience with H-E-B and I would definitely encourage anybody that is thinking of going into teaching to go into it.” Fernandez said. “It’s a very rewarding experience, and I’m happy knowing that I have had the opportunity to do what I love and to change people’s lives.”
The H-E-B award came as a surprise with the company working with school staff to pop up in Carol’s classroom with a check for $1,000 for herself and another $1,000 for the school. She was then invited to a grand weekend in Austin where H-E-B put her and her family up in a hotel, for the final interview process and the awards ceremony. Although she did not win in her category, she represented San Marcos as the only teacher from the district with 50 finalists statewide out of over 2,000 applications. She was nominated by a retired teacher and friend Brenda Butler.
“Brenda was one of my former elementary school teachers who mentored, guided and supported me and who has helped shape the educator I am today,” Fernandez said. “I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with her and to call her one of my dearest friends.”
Fernandez was born and raised in San Marcos. She started her teaching career at Travis Elementary in 1990 after receiving a degree from Southwest Texas State University. She taught at De Zavala from 1992 to 2018, receiving her Masters of Education during that time in 1996. Since 2018, she has been inspiring young students at Hernandez Elementary, leaving her mark in the courtyard where she transformed empty grass lots into beautiful butterfly gardens full of diverse native plants.
“Native plant gardening is something I truly enjoy, but my heart is in protecting Monarch butterflies and our native pollinators,” Fernandez said. “I’ve tried to create spaces where kids can learn by doing, where they can watch caterpillars grow, observe pollinators up close and understand their role in protecting these fragile species by becoming environmental stewards.”
She has been the driving force behind the success of the garden, writing multiple grant applications and successfully securing funds to grow and maintain the plants. One of the grants she received allowed her to build three lending libraries in the garden that she turned into research stations, so when the kids are outside, they can use the little libraries to study the plants and bugs that call the garden home. The garden is a certified monarch waystation, which provides milkweeds, nectar sources and shelter to the migrating insects. The National Wildlife Federation also recognizes the garden as a certified schoolyard habitat. Although Fernandez was recognized by the H-E-B Education program just this year, the company has been supporting her and the garden for years now.
“I love shopping in the H-E-B Texas Backyard, and Keith from the Kyle store was one of the first ones that gave my school garden $100 worth of native plants,” Fernandez said. “Maddie from the little H-E-B here in San Marcos gave us a $50 gift card, so I could buy native plants.”
During the awards ceremony she said she felt a deep connection to the H-E-B team that was lined up on stage to present the awards and shake the hands of the recipients.
“My husband said, ‘I don’t know if you realize this, but you were the only one that hugged every single person,’” Fernandez said.” Being an elementary school teacher, at some point, people — and especially kids — need a warm hug.”
Carol exuded gratitude, not only for H-E-B but for her opportunity to have such a rich and deep career as an elementary school teacher.
“I feel like I made the right decision in choosing to become a teacher because becoming a teacher has been so rewarding to me; I honestly feel that I have made the right decision,” Fernandez said. “One of the greatest things is when you hear kids want to research about becoming a teacher.”
The H-E-B Excellence in Education program has awarded $14 million to public schools and teachers since its inception in 2002. Visit heblovesteachers. com to learn more about the program and to nominate a Texas teacher that has made a difference in your life.
Above left, Carol Fernandez poses with a plaque given to her at the H-E-B Excellence in Education awards. Above right, Carol Fernandez sits outside Hernandez Elementary where they celebrated her nomination for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award. Below, Hernandez Elementary school kids pose outside the school next to the multiple certifications that honor the butterfly garden as a butterfly habitat. Photos courtesy of Carol Fernandez
Carol Fernandez poses with a Little Free Library, which she created with a grant that she applied for. Photo courtesy of Carol Fernandez
