Employers for Education Excellence

The Employers for Education Excellence (EEE) award was established in 2007 by the Texas Legislature. Its purpose is to recognize Texas employers that encourage and support employees who actively participate in school activities and promote volunteerism in the public schools.

The State Board of Education (SBOE) will select employers that meet the criteria for bronze, silver, or gold levels of recognition. The employer selected for an award will receive a certificate that includes their level of recognition. Certificates will be mailed to each awardee and the recognition is valid for three years.

Any Texas employer is eligible to win the award, including private companies, nonprofit organizations, and state, local, federal, and educational entities.

Three Levels of Recognition

Employers are eligible to receive one of three levels: Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award. Eligibility for recognition is based upon the business meeting the following criteria for any of the three levels:

Bronze

Bronze-level award recognizes an employer that implements a policy to encourage and support employees who attend parent-teacher conferences during regular work hours.

• Has a policy or procedure that allows employees to attend parent-teacher conferences during regular work hours.

• Maintains records that show evidence that employees attended parent-teacher conferences, or provides a signed letter from the human resources director or president/chief executive officer confirming that employees may attend parent-teacher conferences during business hours.

Silver

Silver-level award recognizes an employer that meets the requirements of bronze, and implements a policy to encourage and support employees who volunteer in school activities.

• Has a policy or procedure which tracks employees' volunteer hours. Maintains records that show evidence that employees attended parent-teacher conferences or took part in school volunteer activities, or provides a signed letter from a supervisor confirming this participation.
• At least 1% of the employer's workforce with school-age children attends parent-teacher conferences or takes part in volunteer activities on an annual basis.

Gold

Gold-level award recognizes an employer that meets the requirements of silver, and implements a policy to encourage and support employees who participate in student mentoring programs in schools.

• Has a policy or procedure that allows employees with school-age children to attend parent-teacher conferences, take part in school activities, or participate in student mentoring activities during regular work hours.

• Establishes a mentoring program in partnership with a local school or district for employees to meet and mentor students with the goal of promoting academic success and social interaction. Structured mentoring activities may include traditional one-to-one, group, team, or online mentoring and should be built around regular, frequent contact.
• Has a designated employee who oversees internal coordination of the mentoring program. Has a policy or some procedure which tracks employees' volunteer hours and mentoring activities.
• Maintains records that show evidence that employees attended parent-teacher conferences, took part in school volunteer activities , or participated in student mentoring activities, or provide a signed letter from a supervisor confirming the participation.
• At least 1% of the employer's workforce participates in mentoring activities for a minimum of one year (or school year) commitment.

Nominations

Nominations are accepted each year. The commissioner of education or his designee reviews the nominations and makes recommendations for the award recipients. The recommendations are reviewed by the chair of the State Board of Education.

To nominate an employer, completely fill out the Employers for Education Excellence application form. Include the level of recognition (bronze, silver, or gold) that best fits the employer's qualifications based on the criteria mentioned above.

Application for next year's award is on-going. To submit, please use the link for the application form above. Recipients of this award are notified as the information becomes available. They are being recognized with a plaque and a resolution during a State Board of Education meeting in Austin, TX in January or in April. Winners need not be present to receive the award but are encouraged to come. If unable to attend, the plaque and resolution are mailed directly to the employers or to their partner school or district.

Sewell Family of Companies earns 2020 Employers for Education Excellence Gold Award

General Manager, Paul Crump, holds the plaque sent to Sewell Family of Companies of Odessa, Texas

The State Board of Education (SBOE) recognizes Sewell Family of Companies of Odessa, Texas, as the lone recipient of the 2020 Employers for Education Excellence Award for its generous and continuing support of West Texas schools. Aside from the plaque, the company received a copy of the resolution that was read in its honor.

The award, created by the Texas Legislature in 2007, recognizes Texas employers that encourage and support employees who actively participate in school activities and promote volunteerism in Texas public schools.

Sewell Family of Companies has been an active partner of Ector County Independent School District for several decades. During the school year 2018-2019, Sewell Ford donated a truck to the Agriculture Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, providing much-needed transportation for students and livestock to stock shows and FFA competitions. In 2019-2020, Sewell Ford donated a car and two engines creating opportunities for real world learning and hands-on instruction for over 160 students enrolled in the Automotive Technology CTE program.

Almost 90 percent of its employees participate in various forms of volunteer activities such as mentoring and coaching. Through their efforts and financial support to the Education Foundation of Odessa and the Education Partnership, new water fountains were installed at Permian High School, and new scoreboards were installed at the Permian baseball field.

The SBOE urges Texas businesses to look upon Sewell Family of Companies as a role model for civic engagement.

Past Recipients of the Employers for Education Excellence Award

•  2019 EEE Winners
   
•  2018 EEE Winner
   
•  2017 EEE Winners 
   
•  2016 EEE Winners