The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced Sept. 3 that 18 educators have been selected for the third year of the Take Care of Texas Ambassador Program, a teacher-focused effort to widen the reach of the agency’s environmental education materials.
The program equips participating educators with knowledge and resources to spread awareness of Take Care of Texas among their colleagues and school administrators, the agency said in its news release. Ambassadors are K-12 science educators who, according to TCEQ, are passionate about protecting the Texas environment and willing to give feedback on the curriculum so the agency can improve its educational resources.
Over the 2026-2027 school year, the ambassadors will use lesson plans provided by the agency and share information about the program and its contests with colleagues and students across the state.
The 2026-2027 class draws from public school districts, charter and private schools, museums and youth organizations. Members include Amy Kamata of Northeast ISD, Aubrey Conklin of the Fort Worth Museum School, Chloe Ates of Odyssey Academy, Claire Collop of Adamson High School, Dustin Perez of Robert L. Crippen Elementary, Greg Fore of Young Women’s STEAM Academy, Holly Larkin of Edna Intermediate School and Jamie Arlt of Girl Scouts, GSSJC.
Also named were Joy Tuxhorn of Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Keira Quam of Texas Parks and Wildlife, Keke Powell of Sunfield Elementary School, Kelly Fefel of Corpus Christi Catholic School, Kristian Torres of Vista del Sol Environmental Science Academy, Maria Luisa Cardenas of Miguel Carrillo Jr. Elementary School, Nina Corley of O’Connell College Preparatory School, Ronna Clawson of Walt Disney Elementary School, Seleta Andrus of Coyle Middle School and Susan Cooper of Georgetown High School.
The agency directed educators interested in the program or its classroom materials to the Take Care of Texas website, where the ambassador roster and free lesson plans are posted. TCEQ listed Victoria Cann as the media contact for the announcement.