Gila Ridge teacher soars
Jaime McGalliard named 2018 Teacher of the Year
Teaching is all about relationships — relationships with students, relationships with colleagues, relationships with administrators.
That is the crux of what teaching is all about, Jaime McGalliard, the 2018 Yuma County Teacher of the Year said in her acceptance speech.
“I’m here because of relationships,” she said. “I started teaching at Pecan Grove when everybody told me they were going take over the school and fire everybody there. And now I see some Pecan Grove teachers in this place over there and one’s now the Teacher of the Year.”
McGalliard, has been teaching at Gila Ridge High School since it opened in 2007 under Principal Jamie Sheldahl.
“I’m still there because of you,” she told him as he stood behind her on the stage, now superintendent of Yuma District One.
“We’re not here because someone taught us to read… it’s about the relationships.”
When McGalliard arrived at the Yuma Civic Center on Tuesday evening, the entire softball team that she coaches (and has a state championship on the line) was there.
“To be honest with you, I was floored and I just wanted to cry,” she said after the ceremony. “To me, it wasn’t just that they were here, they wrote me cards and each card said something that I’ve said to them, and then they made hashtags of it. It just let me know that they’re listening. It just let me know that they’re here, they’re present, and if we can be present together, I think we can make a great team and it’s contagious all the way around for us to get great together.”
Gila Ridge’s Tricia Ellsworth was named the 2018 High School Teacher of the Year. Ellsworth said she was inspired by the administrators at Gila Ridge as well. “I’m grateful for their support of me…”
The Middle School/Junior High winner, Shellie Springborn, had to stand on her tiptoes to reach the microphone, even after lowering it.
“This past month has been the most eventful of my career, and I’ve been inspired by recent events,” she said. “One thing to remember, though, is that wherever you go from here, always be brave, be positive, be a reminder to our great community that their kids are our kids.”
The Special Area/Special Education winner, Kenrick Escalanti of Desert Sonora Elementary in Somerton, introduced himself in his native Quechan language in his speech.
“I’m empowered by seeing all these teachers so pumped up and fired up for their kids, and I’m humbled to be a part of it. Thank you.”
The Intermediate winner was Valle Del En Canto’s LaDonna Crab, also in the Somerton School District. Primary winner Addie Swope of Sunrise Elementary School thanked all the classified staff who help with school every day.
“My job would be impossible without them,” she said.
Cibola High’s Monique Muro was named First Year Teacher of the Year.