PHOENIX, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Arizona
Educational Foundation (AEF) named the 10 candidates under
consideration for the 2021 Arizona Teacher of the Year Award.
Desert Financial Credit Union proudly serves as the title sponsor,
continuing its community commitment to education. CEO Jeff Meshey announced the ten candidates along
with 2017 Teacher of the Year Michelle Doherty, who recently
retired from Osborn School District after 22 years.
In alphabetical order, the nominees are:
Estevan Carreon (Special
Education), Independence High School, Glendale Union High School
District; Jillian Hernandez
(Elementary Education), Puente de Hózhó Elementary School,
Flagstaff Unified School District; Jeffrey
Mann (World History), Flowing Wells High School, Flowing
Wells Unified School District; Sara
Mora (Career and Technical Education), Wrightson Ridge School, Sahuarita Unified School
District; Sharisse Nunes
(Elementary Education), Falcon Hill Elementary, Mesa Public
Schools; Nicole Powell (Elementary
Education), Las Sendas Elementary, Mesa Public Schools;
Shaylyn Savage (Special Education)
Sunset Ridge Elementary School, Pendergast Elementary School
District; Elizabeth "Liz" Shaw (Social Studies), Rincon Vista
Middle School, Vail Unified School District; Hillary Stacey (Chemistry), Empire High School,
Vail Unified School District; Sara
Wyffels (Spanish), Chandler High
School, Chandler Unified School District.
AEF's annual Teacher of the Year program is the highest
honor bestowed upon Arizona's
public school teachers. Considered the "Academy Award" of teaching,
the winning educator goes on to become Arizona's candidate for National Teacher of
the Year. The annual Teacher of the Year program is the premier
event of the AEF, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to
spotlighting and championing the exceptional work of public
schools.
"Supporting education has always been a top priority. We find
ways to honor the legacy of our credit union's founding teachers
and we're proud to serve as the title sponsor for this important
recognition. Our Teacher Appreciation program honors educators
throughout the year, and we're proud to share the news of these 10
educators who consistently go above and beyond. Now, they're being
asked to do more than ever. They are also essential workers,"
said Meshey, President and CEO at Desert Financial Credit
Union.
Any certified full-time teacher working in an Arizona state-accredited public school or
Bureau of Indian Education school is eligible for nomination.
Teachers can self-nominate or students, colleagues, administrators,
family members and friends can also submit nominations.
"We are so grateful to have Desert Financial serve as the
presenting sponsor of the 2021 Arizona Teacher of the Year
Awards," stated Kim Graham,
Executive Director of AEF. "Desert Financial was started by
teachers who wanted a financial institution dedicated to educators'
needs. We see this as a natural partnership as both of our
organizations have deep respect and admiration for teachers and
public education."
Now that the 10 candidates have been identified, they undergo a
final interview process. Following that, five teachers will be
named "Ambassadors for Excellence" and finalists for the Arizona
Teacher of the Year Award. The remaining five will become
"Semifinalists." All 10 are celebrated throughout the year at
various recognition events, including the Arizona Teacher of the
Year Awards ceremony. The event will go virtual this year.
The 2021 Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards ceremony will air on
October 23rd, 2020 at
6 p.m. To watch, AEF will publicize a
link to the awards ceremony on its website at
www.azedfoundation.org. The virtual ceremony will feature videos of
the five Ambassadors as well as congratulatory messages from
special guests. The ceremony will conclude with the announcement of
the next Arizona Teacher of the Year.
Winnings for the Arizona Teacher of the Year include
$15,000 from the Arizona Educational
Foundation and paid travel to attend several National Teacher of
the Year events. These include a trip to the White House to meet
the U.S. President and a weeklong trip to the International Space
Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. The
winner is also considered for an honorary doctorate from
Northern Arizona University. The 2021
Arizona Teacher of the Year and four Ambassadors for Excellence
also receive professional speech and storytelling training. This
helps them in delivering hundreds of presentations during their
year of recognition. AEF also has generous partners who provide
gifts to the top 10 teachers including a free membership to
Treasures4Teachers, scholarships from the Arizona K12 Center to pursue National Board
Certification, on-field recognition during the Fiesta Bowl, and the
opportunity to ride on the APS fire engine during the Fiesta Bowl
Parade.
Lynette Stant, a
3rd-grade teacher at Salt River Elementary, part of Salt
River Schools district is the first teacher from an Arizona Bureau of Indian Education school to
earn the coveted distinction. She is still carrying forth the
duties of her role as 2020 Arizona Teacher of the Year. Learn
more about Lynette's story on becoming 2020 Arizona Teacher of the
Year.
"I became a teacher because I don't ever want a Native
American student to feel they are not prepared to meet the
challenges of college," said Stant. "Providing
equitable learning opportunities in an environment that respects
and honors Native American culture is essential."
While Stant missed out this year on some of the traditional
activities and perks of the role, she was surprised at how busy she
stayed advocating for equity in schools. Although the pandemic
interrupted Space Camp and Stant's trip to the White House, those
opportunities will be provided for her next summer.
According to Kim Graham, AEF's
Executive Director, the Arizona Teacher of the Year program, now in
its 38th year, is made possible by the generous support
of donors and sponsors. "The Arizona Educational Foundation is a
nonprofit organization. We exist because of donations we receive
from individuals and business partners who value teachers and
schools as much as we do," states Graham. To make a donation or
for sponsorship inquiries, please contact Kim Graham.
About Desert Financial Credit Union
Celebrating 81
years in Arizona, Desert Financial
is the state's largest local credit union with $6 billion in assets, more than 330,000 members
and 47 locations across the Valley. As a not-for-profit
cooperative, Desert Financial takes pride in sharing success. In
2019, Desert Financial gave nearly $11
million to Valley nonprofits, the community and members.
Learn more at Desert Financial Credit Union.
About Arizona Educational Foundation
The mission of
AEF is to identify, support and celebrate excellence in
Pre-K-12th grade Arizona public education through business and
community partnerships. We do this through a variety of programs
for teachers, administrators, and students. Some of our programs
shine a spotlight on excellence; others provide a stepping stone to
help support schools and educators on the road to awesomeness. In
addition to the Arizona Teacher of the Year program, AEF also
coordinates the Arizona State Spelling Bee, the A+ School of
Excellence Award, the Principals Leadership Academy of Arizona,
teachSTEM, and Take Your Legislator to School. AEF was founded in
1983 by then State Superintendent of Public Education, Carolyn Warner, who felt a nonprofit needed to
be established to champion public education and recognize the great
work of public school educators.
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SOURCE Desert Financial Credit Union