Texas’ Somerset High School Surprised with National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s Founder’s Award and $50,000 Grand Prize

2025 NIET Founder's Award Video: Somerset High School, Texas

2025 NIET Founder's Award Reaction Video

2025 NIET Founder's Award Photo Gallery: Somerset High School, Texas

Washington, D.C. (February 27, 2025) - The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) announced today that Somerset High School in Somerset Independent School District, Texas, is the recipient of the 2025 NIET Founder's Award and its $50,000 grand prize. NIET Founder Lowell Milken surprised the school during the 2025 NIET National Conference in Washington.

Created by Lowell Milken in 2008, the Founder’s Award honors one school in the United States each year for exceptional implementation of NIET’s principles to build educator excellence and advance student success. Somerset High School was just one of five schools nationwide selected as finalists for the $50,000 grand prize. Founder’s Award recipients are chosen by NIET based on several factors, including improving classroom instruction and student academic growth; creating high-quality professional learning and coaching systems focused on the real-time needs of teachers and students; and engaging teacher leaders and school leaders in building a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

“Congratulations to Principal Cynthia Gamez, Superintendent Dr. José Moreno, and the educators and students of Somerset High on receiving the NIET Founder’s Award,” said NIET Founder Lowell Milken. “Somerset High embodies NIET’s mission of building educator excellence to give all students the opportunity for success. This is evidenced by the support of strong teacher leaders and mentors and students who are showing notable academic growth and who are prepared for their next stage of learning and life.”

Somerset High School received the Founder’s Award because it exemplifies NIET’s work with schools to develop teacher leaders, collaborate on successful instructional practices, and provide feedback and support to address teacher and student needs. Implementing these effective strategies, under the district leadership of Superintendent José Moreno, has propelled Somerset High School to success. 

Over the past three years, the percentage of students at Somerset High School passing the STAAR assessments increased by 16 percentage points, compared to an 8-point increase statewide. By 2023, Somerset High surpassed state performance, reflecting the school’s commitment to improving instructional practices and supporting student growth. For the Class of 2023, 95% of Somerset High School graduates were college-, career-, or military-ready, making the campus among the most successful in Texas in meeting this student success measure.

"Somerset High School prioritizes continuous improvement by faculty and students, unlocking the full potential of everyone on the campus,” said NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett. “Their commitment to providing strong instruction in a positive learning environment ensures that every student is prepared to succeed in the next step of their college, career, or military path. Congratulations to the Somerset High School community on this achievement.”

What Makes Somerset High School Unique?

Somerset High School is a ninth to 12th grade campus located southwest of San Antonio in Somerset, Texas. Of the school’s approximately 1,100 students, about 90% are Hispanic and 80% are economically disadvantaged. Through its partnership with NIET, Somerset High increased teacher effectiveness and student achievement. Principal Cynthia Gamez and her leadership team emphasize building the instructional capacity of teachers while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. 

Through the TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement, Somerset High established weekly professional learning meetings facilitated by teacher leaders. Additionally, teacher leaders provide the customized coaching and feedback teachers need to reach all students. The weekly professional learning meetings and customized coaching allow teachers to analyze data and student work to see which instructional strategies are effective and where students need additional support to master content. 

As administrators, teacher leaders, and teachers at Somerset High have modeled continuous improvement and the use of data, students have followed suit. Students are now part of conversations about their own work and data – allowing them to better understand standards and their progress toward mastery. Somerset High has cultivated a positive learning environment that encourages student ownership. Students, as a result, are increasingly able to apply learning to different contexts and subjects and take responsibility for their progress.

“When the conversation changes with teachers, it naturally changes with students,” said Gamez. “Teachers and students alike are now looking at data and leading learning. As a result, our classrooms have become more student-centered and students are taking ownership of their learning.”

As a rural high school, Somerset is committed to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, careers, and life. This commitment is demonstrated in the wide variety of educational experiences offered to students. Not only is the school home to an award-winning mariachi band, but it also offers numerous career and technical education (CTE) programs. Students can earn college credits in Somerset High’s CTE classes which include an EMT Academy, an Agriculture Mechanics class, and a Culinary Arts program among others. Regardless of their next steps after high school, Somerset High graduates are prepared for success.

“It's all about the framework we utilize, that we have learned through NIET,” said Superintendent José Moreno. “When you bring it all together, there is one factor that benefits the most: students.”

Somerset High School was selected among five finalists throughout the U.S., with each receiving $10,000: Eastside Elementary School (Warren County Schools, Tennessee); Provencal Elementary/Junior High School (Natchitoches Parish School Board, Louisiana); Shenandoah Elementary School (Shenandoah School Corporation, Indiana); and Waterloo Elementary School (Laurens County School District 55, South Carolina).

For images of Somerset High School and more information about the NIET Founder’s Award, visit the NIET newsroom. For interviews and more on the Founder's Award announcement, please contact Laura Blank (laura@keylightcommunications.com) or Katie Elliott (katie@keylightcommunications.com). Follow conference news – including the Founder's Award – on social media using @NIETteach or #NIET2025.

About NIET

The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) is a national nonprofit based in Phoenix, Arizona that serves states and districts nationwide. For 25 years, NIET has partnered with schools, districts, states, and universities to build educator excellence and give all students the opportunity for success. NIET’s initiatives, including the TAP System, teacher and leader development, school improvement, rubric and observation systems, and educator preparation, have impacted more than 350,000 educators and 3.5 million students across the U.S.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are proud to honor our partners’ success and share the results of intentional, sustained investments in educator effectiveness. Learn more in our anniversary report, Building Educator Excellence: 25 Years of Impact.