Teachers in the Limelight Celebration

The Teachers in the Limelight Celebration (TLC) honors the dedicated work of teachers in AISD with campus recognition, a formal dinner, and a monetary award. A TLC teacher possesses integrity and a love for teaching that spills into the classroom. The dinner is underwritten by Abilene Teachers Federal Credit Union. Monetary awards are funded by an endowment established by Mr. Edwin Jennings, Jr., in honor of his parents Edwin and Agnes Jennings, Sr. Mr. Jennings’ desire for this event is to recognize, honor, and award monetary gifts to outstanding teachers in the Abilene Independent School District.

With the donation of 3,000 shares of ExxonMobil stock from Mr. Jennings, a permanent endowment has been established to honor teachers making a difference in the lives of students in Abilene ISD. This endowment will allow AEF to continue these awards annually for generations to come!

Each AISD campus nominates a teacher who has met the criteria established by Mr. Jennings. Each of these nominees is honored on their respective campus, featured in the news media, and receives a monetary gift of $200. The TLC dinner is held in April of each year, at which time one elementary and one secondary teacher is awarded an “Edwin and Agnes Jennings Teaching Excellence Award” and a monetary gift of an additional $1,300.

Mr. Jennings, due to his passion for teaching math and science, also wishes to honor secondary math and a secondary science teacher with an “Edwin and Agnes Jennings Teaching Excellence Award.” Nominations for these awards are made by students, parents, colleagues, and community members, as well as school administrators. Seven of the math nominees and six of the science nominees receive $500 each. Two of these nominees are presented an additional $1,000 and receive the “Edwin and Agnes Jennings Teaching Excellence Award,” as outstanding math and science teacher of the year.

In addition to the Jennings Awards, AEF also awards from a pool of nominees:

Future Shapers travel stipend of $2,000, in partnership with Future Shapers of Abilene
Fine Arts Teacher of the Year – $1,500 + season tickets to Abilene Philharmonic, in partnership with the Abilene Philharmonic Association
Coach of the Year Award – $500 – through the J. B. and Winnie Gibbs Endowment
Counselor of the Year Award – $500 – through the J. B. and Winnie Gibbs Endowment