PHOENIX, Ariz., August 6th, 2024 — Today, the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF®) named the fifteen educators who will be celebrated as part of the Arizona Teacher of the Year® Awards. This exciting event, sponsored for the fifth consecutive year by Desert Financial Credit Union, recognizes outstanding teachers and their incredible contributions to public education.
Considered the “Oscar Awards” for teachers, the educator selected as the AEF Arizona Teacher of the Year will represent our state in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
A total of 625 teachers from across Arizona were nominated for this prestigious award. An independent panel of past award winners and community members narrowed the candidates down to fifteen quarterfinalists. The ten teachers with the highest scores after the application round now move on as semifinalists. The remaining five will be given “Honorable Mentions” and are no longer under consideration for the award this year but may be nominated again in the future. All fifteen educators will be celebrated at the Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards on October 19th. 2024.
The 15 Candidates for the 2025 AEF® Arizona Teacher of the Year® Award are:
SEMIFINALISTS: These ten teachers are candidates for the Arizona Teacher of the Year Award. They will move on to a semifinal round that includes an in-person interview with the selection committee, a lesson demonstration, and an impromptu speech.
Tori Anderson (10th-11th grade English Language Arts), Carl Hayden High School, Phoenix Union High School District, serving 20 years as a teacher.
Jodian Brown (4th grade Reading, Math & Science), Desert View Intermediate School, Page Unified School District, serving 16 years as a teacher.
Emmett Burnton (AP World History, U.S. History Dual Enrollment), Boulder Creek High School, Deer Valley Unified School District, serving 9 years as a teacher.
Noel Craver (5th grade General Education), Cottonwood Elementary School, Vail Unified School District, serving 11 years as a teacher.
Ryan Donovan (AP U.S. History), Boulder Creek High School, Deer Valley Unified School District, serving 9 years as a teacher.
Jenni Feidler-Aguilar (PreK-6th grade Visual Art), Gilbert Elementary School, Gilbert Public Schools, serving 15 years as a teacher.
Kayce Kahl (5th grade General Education), Clarendon Elementary School, Osborn School District 8, serving 15 years as a teacher.
Katie Krause (4th-5th grade General Education), Eva Marshall Magnet Elementary School, Flagstaff Unified School District, serving 13 years as a teacher.
Laura Pina (Grades 2nd-6th English Language Development), Homer Davis Elementary School, Flowing Wells Unified School District, serving 9 years as a teacher.
Jennifer Spector (5th grade English Language Arts & Social Studies), Desert View Elementary School, Washington Elementary School District, serving 20 years as a teacher.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: These five teachers are quarterfinalists and, while no longer in the running for Arizona Teacher of the Year, are named “Honorable Mentions” and will be celebrated at the awards ceremony.
Martha Celia Alonso (Principles of Biomedical Science CTE), Douglas High School, Douglas Unified School District #27, serving 15 years as a teacher.
Lara Cox (K-6th Physical Education), Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary School, Queen Creek Unified School District, serving 17 years as a teacher.
Kristy Davis (Kindergarten General Education), Madison Camelview Elementary School, Madison Elementary School District, serving 15 years as a teacher.
Caitlyn Ferell (10th-12th grade English), Flowing Wells High School, Flowing Wells Unified School District, serving 11 years as a teacher.
Danielle Rutherford (9th-12th grade Visual Art & Student Council), Sahuarita High School, Sahuarita Unified School District, serving 16 years as a teacher.
The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF®) is proud to have served as the state coordinator for the National Teacher of the Year program since 1983, highlighting the best of Arizona’s public school teachers. This program is the highlight of AEF’s efforts to recognize and support excellent teaching in public schools across the state. Desert Financial, Arizona’s largest credit union, is committed to honoring educators and supporting education.
"Founded by teachers, Desert Financial has always valued the vital role educators play in our communities. As someone deeply passionate about education, I am proud that we are once again sponsoring the AEF Arizona Teacher of the Year Award," said Cathy Graham, Executive Vice President of Desert Financial. “Every nominee is truly deserving of this award, and I am eager to see who will be named Arizona Teacher of the Year.”
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 be nominated by a student, colleague, administrator, family member, or friend, and can also self-nominate.
“We are so thankful to have Desert Financial back as the presenting sponsor of the 2025 Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards,” said Kim Graham, AEF’s Chief Executive Officer. “This event is a wonderful opportunity to show our teachers the respect and admiration they deserve.”
What’s Next?
The ten semifinalists will participate in the next round at the end of August. Ultimately, five teachers will be named “Ambassadors for Excellence” and finalists for the Arizona Teacher of the Year Award, while five will be recognized as “Semifinalists.” All fifteen will be celebrated at the Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards on October 19, 2024, at the Madison Center for the Arts in Phoenix. All fifteen educators receive a prize package courtesy of AEF’s amazing partners. The educator taking home top honors as the Arizona Teacher of the Year receives a $15,000 award from the Arizona Educational Foundation and over $10,000 in travel paid to attend several National Teacher of the Year events including a trip to the White House to meet the U.S. President and a weeklong trip to International Space Camp in Huntsville, AL. They are also considered for an honorary doctorate from Northern Arizona University.
The ten Finalists and Semifinalists will 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 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. Desert Financial provides each teacher with an iPad and keyboard case. The five teachers receiving “Honorable Mentions” receive a $50 Amazon gift card and tickets to attend the Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards where they will be recognized with the ten Finalists and Semifinalists.
The 2025 AEF Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards ceremony will take place on October 19th, 2024 beginning with the “Apple-lutely Fabulous Cocktail Reception” sponsored by Western Governor's University at 4:00 p.m and the awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Madison Center for the Arts in Phoenix, AZ. To sponsor or obtain tickets, please visit https://www.azedfoundation.org/teachersrock.
Efrain Casillas, a music teacher at Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary and Desert Oasis Elementary in the Tolleson Elementary School District, continues his role as the 2024 Arizona Teacher of the Year.
Event Details:
The awards ceremony will begin with a reception at 4:00 p.m. and the main event at 5:30 p.m. To sponsor or get tickets, visit www.azedfoundation.org/teachersrock.
Support Our Teachers:
According to Kim Graham, AEF’s Chief Executive Officer, the Arizona Teacher of the Year program, now in its 41st year, is made possible by the generous support of donors and sponsors. “The Arizona Educational Foundation is a nonprofit. 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 at kim@azedfoundation.org.
For more information visit www.azedfoundation.org, or contact info@azedfoundation.org.
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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 equity 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, teachSTEM, Our World, 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. AEF annually reaches over 500,000 students, teachers and administrators throughout Arizona. For more information visit www.azedfoundation.org, or contact info@azedfoundation.org.
Media Contact:
Melissa Kaszuba, Urias Communications, for AEF®
Mobile: (732) 865 - 6687 | Email: melissa@uriascommunications.com
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