As honored guests and their family members poured into the Irvington Conference Center on May 21, the smiles grew bigger and the laughter grew louder. They came together for Harris County Department of Education’s third annual Celebration of Excellence banquet. The end-of-year staff recognition event honors employees for their achievements and commitments to serve the greater Houston area and empower Harris County students and their families throughout the school year.

Superintendent James Colbert Jr. welcomed celebration attendees with opening remarks recognizing the work the honorees do alongside their teammates, and HCDE’s ability to provide exceptional work throughout Harris County.

“With awards, you don’t go find it – it finds you,” Colbert said. “You do the work first and then that little award or recognition will seek you out, catch you and bring you to the light. So just know that every single person who will be coming up is one of many very special people in Harris County Department of Education, but for whatever reason they were chosen and selected for something special.”

Forty employees from HCDE’s five instructional divisions – Adult Education, Head Start, Special Schools, School-Based Therapy Services and the Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment (CASE) for Kids – and the 2024-2025 Employees of the Month were recognized at the event and received a certificate of appreciation and gift in front of colleagues, teammates and loved ones.

Merevonna Ross-Daniel, the campus manager at Compton Head Start, said employee recognition and appreciation events like Celebration of Excellence are impactful and a powerful reminder of the quality work being done to best serve Harris County students. She was named the Head Start Division Campus Manager of the Year, starting with HCDE as teaching assistant before climbing the ranks through her career.

“I love this and that’s why I’ve been a part of it for so long,” said Ross-Daniel, who is in her 23rd year with HCDE. “From the very beginning I’ve felt that family atmosphere. I feel that family is important and it’s in everything you do.

“And if you keep it in everything you do, you will excel.”

For some honorees, it was a small token of acknowledgement for the work being done every day. For others, it was a chance to hear just how valued they are to the Department’s mission – Colbert personally thanked employees before posing for a photo.

Jasmine Castleberry, a federal programs and compliance manager for CASE for Kids, had the unique opportunity to play both roles at the ceremony. She was honored as HCDE’s April Employee of the Month but also represented her division and took the microphone to honor four deserving CASE for Kids employees.

“It’s important to know that when we’re coming to work, we’re working with people we love, we respect and we have good relationships with,” Castleberry said. “And relationships matter when you’re trying to do work of the heart. We’re trying to impact students, their families and their communities, and in return, we are also feeling that same impact too.

“So, when we come to work, it’s important that we pour into each other and support and uplift each other. That is what families do.”

As the evening ended, Colbert thanked employees for continuously choosing to be a part of #TeamHCDE. Their commitment to serving Harris County students, their families and stakeholders not only makes those experiences better but also lifts everyday life in Houston.

“We have talented people. I mean super talented and we’re proud of it,” Colbert said to the families and loved ones. “You indeed are truly their family but just know that when they come to work, they come to their other family.

“We are tight, we are tough, we are fearless, we are sincere, we are advocates, we are champions for children, we are educators, we are professionals, and I love every single one of you.”