We’re thrilled to celebrate TLRN’s Literacy Fellow Jennifer Grimes, a remarkable educator at Valley Hi Elementary School, who was recently honored as the Teacher of the Game at the San Antonio Spurs' season opener and Teacher Appreciation Night on October 26th.

This prestigious recognition is a testament to Jennifer's unwavering dedication to her students and her passion for creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Her after-school Culture Club has been instrumental in promoting literacy and fostering multicultural awareness among her students.

“I am so incredibly grateful to Firstmark and the Spurs for recognizing the hard work of teachers in our community. Advocacy and creating awareness with the public about the incredible things we do as educators to promote literacy, self-efficacy and problem solving in our students helps to showcase why our schools are so amazing and such an integral part of community progress. I was honored to represent my campus, my district, my fellow educators, including the outstanding librarians that I serve with, and the incredible organizations that I partner with like the Leaders Readers Network, who help to create opportunities to encourage reading, multi-cultural awareness and benevolence through their programming. ”

— Jennifer Grimes

During halftime of the Houston Rockets-San Antonio Spurs game, Jennifer was welcomed onto the court with a customized Spurs jersey and a warm ovation from the crowd. Her compassionate teaching style and commitment to preparing her students for future success have made her a beloved figure at Valley Hi Elementary.

Firstmark Credit Union's Teacher of the Game initiative recognizes outstanding educators at halftime during Spurs games at the Frost Bank Center. Teachers can be nominated for this award, and the selected teacher is honored on the court for their exceptional contributions to the community.

All of us at TLRN extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jennifer Grimes for this well-deserved honor and thank her for her invaluable contributions to the education community. Her dedication and passion are an inspiration to us all.