Teacher of the Year Nominees
This year, 128 teachers in K-12 school districts across Yuma County were nominated for the 31st annual Yuma County Teacher of the Year awards, which will be announced on April 24. Teachers are nominated in six categories including first year, primary, intermediate, K-6 special area, junior high/middle school and high school. Nominees include:
Name/School/District School College/University
Sarah Berner Yuma/La Paz Community College District Arizona Western College
First Year Teacher
Juan Carlos Alvarez Somerton ESD Tierra del Sol Elementary
Marisela Buchanan Gadsden ESD Arizona Desert
Gabriela Conchas Gadsden ESD Gadsden Elementary
Ariana Calderon Yuma Union HSD Yuma HS
Jordan Jenkins Yuma District One O. C. Johnson Elementary
Kelsey Jenkins Yuma District One Rolle Elementary
Brittany Keizor Somerton ESD Somerton MS
Katie Lamaestra Crane Gowan Science Academy
Juan Lomeli Yuma Union HSD San Luis HS
Lorenia Lopez Corral Gadsden ESD San Luis MS
Norma Melendrez Gadsden ESD Rio Colorado Elementary
Yadira Montes-Fuerte Crane Pueblo Elementary
Eliza Moody Crane Mesquite Elementary
Zarel Moreno Crane Salida del Sol Elementary
Montserrat Munoz Crane Centennial MS
Monique Muro Yuma Union HSD Cibola HS Valerie Pena Crane Crane MS Shelby Stoner Yuma Union HSD Gila Ridge HS
Nancy Tapia Somerton ESD Desert Sonora Elementary
Carla Torres Yuma District One Sunrise Elementary
Ligia Valles Gadsden ESD Ed Pastor Elementary
Brianna Villa Yuma Union HSD Kofa HS
Ashley Vega Crane Valley Horizon Elementary
Justin Wolter Yuma District One Woodard JHS
High School
Hillary Brown Yuma Union HSD Vista Alternative HS
Stormi Carlson Antelope HSD Antelope HS
John Ellegood Yuma Union HSD Kofa HS
Tricia Ellsworth Yuma Union HSD Gila Ridge HS
Zachary Kelly Yuma Union HSD San Luis HS
Jaime McGalliard Yuma Union HSD Gila Ridge HS
Marc Osborn Yuma Union HSD Kofa HS
Abby Palmer Yuma Union HSD Cibola HS
Marelis Rivera Yuma Union HSD Yuma HS
Itzel Rodriguez Yuma Union HSD Cibola HS
Jeff Saari Yuma Union HSD San Luis HS
Liang Zhao Diocese of Tucson Yuma Catholic High School
Intermediate (4-6)
Vicky Anaya Somerton ESD Tierra del Sol Elementary
Angelica Ballesteros Crane Valley Horizon Elementary
Joanna Bauder Crane Pueblo Elementary
Rita Beltran Gadsden ESD Cesar Chavez Elementary
Jazmine Campos Yuma District One O. C. Johnson Elementary
LaDonna Crabb Somerton ESD Valle del Encanto Elementary
Laura Danford Yuma District One Rolle Elementary
Wendy Espinoza Crane Rancho Viejo Elementary
Alex Figueroa Gadsden ESD Gadsden Elementary
Eloisa Flores Yuma District One Roosevelt Elementary
Sandra Flores Crane HL Suverkrup Elementary
Ashlee Kimber Crane Mesquite Elementary
Sergio Lara Gadsden ESD Rio Colorado Elementary
Liz Leon Gadsden ESD Arizona Desert
Chele Marceau-Burch Yuma District One Desert Mesa Elementary
Jazmin Martinez Harvest Prep Harvest Prep South
Elsa I. Medford Crane Ronald Reagan Elementary
Elizabeth Molina Somerton ESD Desert Sonora Elementary
Maricela Patron Gadsden ESD Ed Pastor Elementary
Ana Karmina Rodriguez Gadsden ESD Desert View Elementary
Marlee Stiger Yuma District One Sunrise Elementary
Lorraine (Margie) Tanaka Crane Gary Knox Elementary
Marlene Torres Somerton ESD Orange Grove Elementary
Tamara Van Sickle Crane Gowan Science Academy
Michele Van Voorst Yuma District One Otondo Elementary
Catalina Vidal Yuma District One Pecan Grove Elementary
Cheryl L. Wright Yuma District One Palmcroft Elementary
Junior High/Middle School
Selene Arredondo Gadsden ESD Southwest JHS
Christopher Berg Yuma District One Castle Dome MS
Alanna Garcia Somerton ESD Somerton MS
Monica Huff Yuma District One Gila Vista JHS
Brian Jacobson Gadsden ESD San Luis MS Vivian Klee Crane Crane MS Anthony R. McDaniel Crane Centennial MS
Amanda Rahkola Yuma District One Fourth Avenue JHS
Sarah Rodriguez Mohawk Valley ESD Mohawk Valley School
Shellie Springborn Yuma District One Woodard JHS
Carrie Stacy Yuma District One Ron Watson MS
K-6 Special Area
Brenda Ault Crane Ronald Reagan Elementary
Erin Bruns Crane Valley Horizon Elementary
Diana Buitrago Yuma District One O. C. Johnson Elementary
Julio Castillo Gadsden ESD Cesar Chavez Elementary
Jose Dorame Yuma District One Pecan Grove Elementary
Nalleli Escalante Somerton ESD Orange Grove Elementary
Kenrick Escalanti Somerton ESD Desert Sonora Elementary
Adriana Figueroa Gadsden ESD Rio Colorado Elementary
Teresa Gonzalez Gadsden ESD Ed Pastor Elementary
Keila Guerra Crane Pueblo Elementary
Shelley Hawkins Crane HL Suverkrup Elementary
Ana Sylvia Heras Crane Rancho Viejo Elementary
Elvira Ingram Gadsden ESD Gadsden Elementary
Jan Jackson Yuma District One Rolle Elementary
Daniel Konkler Crane Salida del Sol Elementary
Leslie Lara Gadsden ESD San Luis Preschool
Kate Lasch Yuma District One Palmcroft Elementary
Irasema Maxwell Somerton ESD Valle del Encanto Elementary
McKenzie May Yuma District One Sunrise Elementary
Julie O’Connor Somerton ESD Tierra del Sol Elementary
Elizabeth (Ann) Ogram Crane Gary Knox Elementary
Amy Olson Yuma District One Roosevelt Elementary
Lidia Pizano Gadsden ESD Desert View Elementary
Maria Rojano Gadsden ESD Arizona Desert
Marissa Tromm Crane Mesquite Elementary
Bryan Yahna Crane Gowan Science Academy
Holly Warner Yuma District One Desert Mesa Elementary
Primary (K-3)
Whitney Andrews Crane Pueblo Elementary
Vanessa Arredondo Somerton ESD Valle del Encanto Elementary
Shelley Bartlett Yuma District One O. C. Johnson Elementary
Linda Bergman Yuma District One Rolle Elementary
Jocelyn Blank Crane Gowan Science Academy
Cori Burton Yuma District One Desert Mesa Elementary
Sandra Camarillo Somerton ESD Tierra del Sol Elementary
Diane Castillo Gadsden ESD Rio Colorado Elementary
Yolanda Couch Yuma District One Roosevelt Elementary
Ernestina Estrada Gadsden ESD Arizona Desert
Elizabeth Figueroa Gadsden ESD Gadsden Elementary
Flynn Frances Crane Salida del Sol Elementary
Garcia Anna Yuma District One Pecan Grove Elementary
Melyssa Haberle Crane Mesquite Elementary
Lauren Hewlett Crane Gary Knox Elementary
Kathleen McGinnis Yuma District One Palmcroft Elementary
Rachel Mesa Crane HL Suverkrup Elementary
Rubycell Rodriguez Gadsden ESD Cesar Chavez Elementary
Nidia Sanchez Somerton ESD Orange Grove Elementary
Cruz Anel Sandoval Somerton ESD Desert Sonora Elementary
Allyson Seale Crane Ronald Reagan Elementary
Katie ScottQ Yuma District One Price Elementary
Jessica Silva Gadsden ESD Desert View Elementary
Diana Spratt Yuma District One Alice Byrne Elementary
Addie Swope Yuma District One Sunrise Elementary
Karla Yanez Gadsden ESD Ed Pastor Elementary
Brandee Valtierra Crane Valley Horizon Elementary