Click here to sponsor the 2012 Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards Luncheon or to purchase individual tickets.

Congratulations 2012 AEF
Arizona Teacher of the Year

Kristie Martorelli

Mrs. Martorelli is a Kindergarten through 3rd grade Reading Interventionist at Thompson Ranch Elementary School in the Dysart School District in El Mirage.

Click here to read about Mrs. Martorelli and the other 2012 teacher honorees.

2011 Teacher of the Year:

Amanda McAdams
10th grade English teacher and Student Council advisor at Apollo High School, Glendale, Glendale Union High School District. Video

Congratulations to the 2011 Ambassadors for Excellence:

• Pam Barrier
  12th grade Economics and Free Enterprise teacher, Boulder Creek High School, Anthem, Deer Valley District Video
  
• Brandi Dignum
  K – 6th grade Music teacher, Richardson Elementary School (A+), Tucson, Flowing Wells District Video
  
• Josh Tabor
  9th – 12th grade Mathematics teacher, Canyon del Oro High School, Tucson, Amphitheater District Video
  
• Andy Townsend
  5th grade teacher, Elvira Elementary School, Tucson, Sunnyside District Video

Watch the 2011 Arizona Teacher of the Year Program on Eight/AZ PBS: www.azpbs.org/azteacher

Congratulations to the 2011 Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalists:

• Tina Chiu, 4th grade teacher, Mitchell Elementary School, Phoenix, Isaac District
• Scott Fray, 7th and 8th grade General Science teacher, West Sedona School, Sedona, Sedona-Oak Creek District
• Amy Bolling Metcalf, 11th and 12th grade English and Language Arts teacher, Cactus Shadows High School, Cave Creek, Cave Creek District
• Mario Ruiz, 7th and 8th grade Social Studies teacher and Student Council advisor, Flowing Wells Junior High School, Tucson, Flowing Wells District
• Toni Ann Schadler, 6th grade Lanuage Arts teacher, Coatimundi Middle School, Rio Rico, Santa Cruz Valley District

About Teacher of the Year

WHAT IS IT?
The Arizona Teacher of the Year program is the only statewide program that spotlights the contributions of Arizona’s teachers. The program annually recognizes five exceptionally skilled and dedicated pre-kindergarten through 12th Grade public school teachers. Nominees are those individuals who have gained the respect and admiration of students, parents, and co-workers. They play an active and useful role in their communities as well as their schools, often distinguishing themselves as leaders. They have a superior ability to help all students achieve.

WHEN DOES IT HAPPEN?
April/May - Applications become available to schools and teachers statewide
August - Applications due to Arizona Educational Foundation
late September/early October - Finalists notified; interviews conducted
November - Teacher of the Year named

HOW DOES IT WORK?
Teachers may self-nominate, be nominated by a student, a co-worker, a principal, a school or district committee, a friend or family member to apply for the award. Teacher nominees/applicants must submit a written application that is reviewed by a panel of judges consisting of educators, students and members of the business community. Ten finalists are selected from the written applications.

The 10 finalists are asked to prepare a 15-minute videotape. The final selection process includes review of the videotape, an interview and an impromptu speech by each of the 10 finalists. Following that process, the Teacher of the Year is selected along with four “Ambassadors for Excellence” and five finalists. The Teacher of the Year and Ambassadors have multiple opportunities during the year to make public appearances throughout the state, speaking to professional, civic, educational, parent and student groups.

Former Teachers of the Year, Ambassadors or Finalists are ineligible to apply for the award.

WHAT ARE THE REWARDS?

The Teacher of the Year

• Receives a $20,000 cash award
• Receives a laptop computer from Intel Corporation
• Competes for the honor of National Teacher of the Year *
• Attends Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama
• Meets the President of the United States
• Receives a full scholarship from Argosy University to earn a masters or doctorate degree in education
• Receives professional speech training
• Consideration by Arizona Board of Regents to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from NAU
• Invited to serve as an adjunct professor for one year at NAU
• Receives a SMART®board
• Marches in Fiesta Bowl Parade on Wells Fargo Stagecoach
• Receives a "Teacher of the Year" ring from Herff Jones
• Attends sporting event in Wells Fargo Suite at US Airways Arena or the Ballpark
  
  

  The 4 Ambassadors

• Receive a $5,000 cash award
• Receive a laptop computer
• Receive professional speech training
• Scholarship from Argosy University for 50% of the cost of tuition to earn a masters or doctorate degree in education
• March in Fiesta Bowl Parade on Wells Fargo Stagecoach
• Attend sporting event in Wells Fargo Suite at US Airways Arena or the Ballpark

The 5 Semi-Finalists

• Receive a $1,000 cash award
• March in Fiesta Bowl Parade on Wells Fargo Stagecoach

WHO MAKES THIS POSSIBLE?
Sponsored by:
Wells Fargo Bank

In collaboration with:
The Arizona Republic
Intel Corporation

Ambassador Sponsors:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association)
Boeing Corporation
Intel Corporation
Midstate Energy
SRP
Valley Schools Insurance Trust

*The National Teacher of the Year (NTOY) program is the oldest and most prestigious honors program to focus public attention on excellence in teaching. It is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), a nonprofit organization located in Washington, D.C. The NTOY program is sponsored by the ING Foundation and Target in partnership with the University of Phoenix Foundation and People to People Ambassador Programs.