History Teacher Named Arizona Educational Foundation Arizona Teacher of the Year
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Media Contact: Melissa Kaszuba
October 19, 2024 | melissauriascommunications.com, 732-865-6687
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PHOENIX, Ariz., October 19, 2024 — Today, Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF®) announced Emmett Burnton from Boulder Creek High School in the Deer Valley Unified School District as the 2025 Arizona Teacher of the Year. Burnton now becomes Arizona’s official candidate for National Teacher of the Year
He is in his 9th year of teaching AP World History and U.S. History Dual Enrollment at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem. Burnton received his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education- History from Northern Arizona University and his Master of Arts – History at Arizona State University. Burnton is the Founder of Duel of Fates, a local business built upon redefining how students study the world history curriculum. At Boulder Creek, Burnton sponsors the Anime Club, the Culture Club and is co-level lead of the Advanced Placement professional learning community for history and was the world history level lead for six years. In 2017 Burnton was nominated for the Deer Valley Rookie of the Year Award and in 2024 was awarded the title Deer Valley Education Foundation Teacher of the Year. As a student, he went from suspensions, fighting, and being labeled as academically troubled, to now helping the next generation channel their energy into a positive medium, ensuring students of all backgrounds and levels learn how to take ownership of themselves.
The Arizona Teacher of the Year Award is our state’s highest state-level recognition for public school educators. The program has been coordinated by the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) for the past 41-years, with AEF serving as the State Coordinator of the National Teacher of the Year program. Burnton will join other State Teachers of the Year from across the country in a year of professional learning and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like meeting the U.S. President and visiting the Oval Office, training at Google Headquarters in California, to learning to be an astronaut at International Space Camp.
Burnton was one of fifteen educators honored by AEF this year as part of the Teacher of the Year program. Five quarterfinalists and five semifinalists were identified in August, with the five finalists, known as “AEF Ambassadors for Excellence” taking the stage at the awards ceremony on October 19th to find out live who won. The ceremony was held at the Madison Center for the Arts in Phoenix. Governor Katie Hobbs and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne addressed the crowd of 600 individuals representing the education and corporate sectors. Desert Financial Executive Vice President, Cathy Graham, presented the award. Desert Financial has served as the presenting sponsor of the Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards for the past five consecutive years.
All of our Teacher of the Year nominees exemplify the best that Arizona has to offer in terms of educational excellence, being a role model and inspiring students in their community. We are so proud of each and every one of them. AEF congratulates Emmett on being named Arizona Teacher of the Year and looks forward to him representing us in Washington, D.C., as Arizona’s 2025 National Teacher of the Year candidate.
The prize package for the Arizona Teacher of the Year includes $15,000 from the Arizona Educational Foundation and travel to National Teacher of the Year events, including a trip to the White House to meet the President and a weeklong trip to International Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Burnton will also be considered for an honorary doctorate from Northern Arizona University.
The 2025 Arizona Teacher of the Year, four Ambassadors for Excellence, and five semifinalists, also receive professional speech and media training to aid them in delivering hundreds of presentations during their year of recognition. AEF also has generous partners who provide gifts to the top ten teachers including scholarships from the Arizona K12 Center to pursue National Board Certification, the opportunity to ride on the APS fire engine during the Fiesta Bowl Parade, and a “Fiesta Bowl Experience” package including tickets and on-field recognition provided by Fiesta Bowl Charities. In addition to serving as presenting sponsor of the ceremony, Desert Financial Credit Union provides each teacher with an iPad, keyboard case, and $25 gift card.
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ACCESS TEACHER OF THE YEAR MEDIA AND PRESS KIT
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About Desert Financial Credit Union
Celebrating 85 years in Arizona, Desert Financial is the state’s most trusted local credit union with over $8 billion in assets, 450,000+ members and nearly 50 branches. Membership eligibility is open across Arizona with contactless solutions making it easy to click, call or come in. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Desert Financial takes pride in sharing success. In 2024, members received $20 million in dividends via the Member Giveback Bonus. Desert Financial is the official retail banking partner of Arizona State University®. Federally insured by NCUA. Learn more at desertfinancial.com.
About Arizona Educational Foundation, AEF®
The mission of AEF is to celebrate excellence and cultivate opportunity in Pre-K-12th grade Arizona public education. This is accomplished through a variety of programs for teachers, administrators, and students. Some 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, and teachSTEM. 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. AEF annually reaches over 500,000 students, teachers and administrators throughout Arizona. For more information visit azedfoundation.org, or contact info@azedfoundation.org.