Humble ISD Principal Damico Bartley is Semi Finalist for AwardRoss Sterling Middle School Principal Damico Bartley has been honored as a statewide semifinalist in H-E-B’s Excellence in Education Awards.The awards honor outstanding public school professionals from across Texas while also thanking them for their dedication and commitment to education.Mr. Bartley says being honored by H-E-B has been a humbling experience.“To see the letter from H-E-B stating that I was nominated was truly an honor,” Bartley said. “Being named a semifinalist has shown me what we, as a staff at Ross Sterling, are doing for our students and our community.”Created in 2002, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards pays tribute to Texas educators who go above and beyond to serve their students and surrounding communities.Mr. Bartley was nominated anonymously. He was one of 50 principals selected by H-E-B as a semifinalist for the Excellence in Education Award. Other categories included teachers, school districts, early childhood providers, and school boards.Staff at Ross Sterling Middle School said it’s a fitting honor for a campus leader who does so much for his students and teachers.“Mr. Bartley truly believes in kids first and he exemplifies that everyday,” Jamerica Howard, counselor at SMS, said. “He is a true leader and it is a blessing to work with him.”Members of the SMS Leadership Team credit Mr. Bartley for going above and beyond to make their campus an ideal place for learning.“Mr. Bartley is an amazing leader who empowers his Leadership Team to provide the best possible learning opportunities for all students,” Vanessa Dunson, teacher at SMS, said.When asked about the honor, Mr. Bartley says it has helped him and his Leadership Team realize new learning opportunities that will help their students succeed further both inside and outside the classroom.“It opened our eyes to additional supports we can continue to strive towards in order to see our students and community flourish,” Bartley said.Humble ISD is proud to have model educators like Mr. Bartley shaping the lives of students.“Mr. Bartley is a passionate educator and a quality individual,” Donnie Bodron, Humble ISD Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools, said. “He always keeps students’ and families' needs at the forefront, and he truly lives by his mantra of ‘students first.’’’In addition to a certificate, H-E-B expressed its gratitude to Mr. Bartley and other winners with $500 in H-E-B gift cards.This is Mr. Bartley’s 18th year in education, all of which have been with Humble ISD. He joined Humble ISD as an adaptive behavior teacher before serving as an assistant principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He has been the SMS Principal for six years.