The $2.9 billion SACU and local TV station KENS5 got together to recognize 19 San Antonio-area public school teachers in the 14thannual ExCEL Awards program.

“Winners selected by their districts represent the best teachers in our schools and, through this program, share their best practices with other educators,” SACU said in its announcement.

SACU and KENS leaders hosted the winners, their principals and superintendents and their guests at an end-of-year banquet to celebrate the teachers' successes. Paul Garro, CEO of City Year San Antonio, was the keynote speaker.

Each teacher receives a trophy, featured air time on KENS5's 6 p.m. news and a $1,000 check. The ExCEL program has honored 266 teachers since the program began in 1999.

“SACU and KENS5 know that a great teacher can impact and inspire students to achieve much more than they dreamed possible,” said Laura Johnston, SACU chief marketing officer. “We can't imagine a better way to impact education than to recognize great teachers and help them share the ways they are being highly effective in their classrooms.”