The Stars in the Classroom luncheon, an event held by the Houston Texans and First Community Credit Union, took place Thursday afternoon at Reliant Stadium. There, linebacker Brian Cushing helped recognize each of the 11 winning teachers that were chosen over the course of the 2013 season.
The selected teachers were nominated by students in the Houston area who believed their teacher possesses exceptional qualities. FCCU selected 11 out of the hundreds of applicants and rewarded them with game tickets, sideline passes, Texans memorabilia, a donation to their school and a surprise visit to their classroom by Cushing. Thursday's event was the culmination of the program where the teachers were honored with complimentary lunch and a commemorative plaque.
"It was a special opportunity this year every Tuesday to go and surprise some teachers and students," Cushing said. "It was a very unique situation and something I obviously haven't done in years past but was very grateful I was able to do."
Cushing's favorite thing about his work with the Stars of the Classroom program was undoubtedly the shock factor of his surprise visits.
"Sometimes it would take teachers a few seconds to recognize you, others right away would be like 'What are you doing in my classroom?' It was definitely different and it was something that was fun. Just to see the look on those teachers' faces and to know the kind of hard work they put in for their students to write essays and speak out for them to get them this opportunity, it's special. I know that they're good at their job, and it's something they love to do."
