128 teachers are nominated for education honor
Yuma County Teacher of the Year ceremony is April 24
The 31st annual Yuma County Teacher of the Year honor will be bestowed April 24.
This year, 128 teachers in K-12 school districts across Yuma County were nominated for the honor.
“The Yuma County Teacher of the Year spotlights the contributions of outstanding teachers throughout the county by annually recognizing these exceptionally skilled and dedicated professionals,” said Crane Superintendent Laurie Doering. “Nominees have gained the respect and admiration of students, parents and co-workers. They play an active role in our communality as well as their schools, often distinguishing themselves as leaders. They have a superior ability to help all students achieve, and we are elated to honor them at the Yuma County Teacher of the Year banquet on Tuesday, April 24th.”
Chosen by their colleagues, teachers are nominated in six categories including first year, primary, intermediate, K-6 special area, junior high/middle school and high school. All nominees were honored at a kickoff dinner earlier in the month at Arizona Western College.
Yuma Rotarians interviewed teachers last week and narrowed down the list to a group of three semifinalists in each area (except one). Those chosen as semifinalists are asked to submit a short essay containing a brief history of their background in education, their philosophy of education, their view of the teacher’s role in society and a 10-minute video tape of them teaching in the classroom.
Rotarians then conduct a second interview to narrow down each group of three semifinalists to one finalist in each category and to an overall winner. There are no semifinalists in the first-year teacher category; there is only a winner who will be announced at the Yuma County Teacher of the Year banquet.
The Teacher of the Year banquet is April 24 at the Yuma Civic and Convention Center. During the banquet, winners in each category will be announced as well as the Outstanding First-Year Teacher and the overall 2018 Teacher of the Year. Hall of Fame members will also be recognized at the event, which is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Yuma and the Education Foundation of Yuma County.