Gulf Coast Educators FCU Awards 2026 Appreciated Teacher of the Year
Pasadena, TX, May 5, 2026: Every year, Gulf Coast Educators FCU recognizes five educators in the state of Texas for going above and beyond their job duties with the Appreciated Teacher of the Year award. Individuals may nominate an influential educator, and four finalists are selected from all nominations received.
Gulf Coast Educators FCU started the Appreciated Teacher Award program in 2012 to help honor the work of dedicated educators who make a difference in our community. The finalists are announced each year during Teacher Appreciation Week, when the public votes on their choice for Appreciated Teacher of the Year.
For the 2026 Appreciated Teacher Awards, GCEFCU received hundreds of nominations from 39 different school districts across the state of Texas. A committee composed of credit union team members selected five finalists from all the nominations received, who are listed below:
Racquel Edwards – Sheldon ISD
Jillian Elolf – Humble ISD
Natalia Gonzales – Goose Creek ISD
Shelby Zeka – La Porte ISD
Once the finalists were announced, the public was able to vote for their top choice for 2026 Appreciated Teacher of the Year. With 749 total votes, Ms. Racquel Edwards from Dickinson ISD was named Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union’s 2026 Appreciated Teacher of the Year and recipient of $2,500. The remaining finalists received a $500 honorarium.
Gulf Coast Educators would like to congratulate all educators who were nominated. Thank you for going above and beyond and making a difference in your students’ lives.
About Gulf Coast Educators FCU: In 1948, eleven Pasadena ISD educators got together and formed what today remains a credit union dedicated to serving the financial needs of school employees in the state of Texas. The credit union offers its member-owners a full line of banking services, but through a cooperative ownership structure. To learn more about the credit union, visit www.gcefcu.org.