MOHAVE COUNTY – Extending the impact of Arizona’s most robust teacher support program, Fiesta Bowl Charities granted the classroom wish of 500 teachers for $2,500 each during the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP. This year’s recipients include 20 Mohave County teachers.
For the second straight year, the Wishes for Teachers program drew record interest, topping 4,000 applications from Arizona teachers, coaches and school staff, including from 14 new cities this year. The $1.25 million in donations will be distributed to 84 cities and towns across Arizona, impacting 237,737 students. The program granted wishes in 380 different schools, covering 108 school districts and 79 charter schools.
The Kingman recipients and their wishes are:
* Melissa Creek, a first grade general education teacher at Manzanita Elementary School, will purchase technology to create an after-school robotics program for her entire school.
* Benjamin Maticic, an algebra, engineering, and robotics teacher at Kingman Academy High School, will purchase a smart board for his classroom.
* Caylie Robertson, an eighth grade social studies teacher at Kingman Academy Middle School, will purchase Chromebooks and new technology for her classroom.
* Shelley Stanley, a kindergarten general education teacher at Hualapai Elementary, will purchase new playground equipment for her school.
* Taryn Strong, a fourth to sixth grade emotional disability program teacher at Desert Willow Elementary, will purchase STEM building kits, robots, and building materials for her students.
The Fort Mohave recipients and their wishes are:
* Erica Burmeister, a kindergarten general education teacher at Fort Mohave Elementary School, will purchase LCD tablets and general materials for her students to learn the foundations of writing.
* Amanda Carroll, a third grade general education teacher at Desert Star Academy, will purchase math and reading manipulatives for her special education students.
* Lauren Hutchins, a first grade general education teacher at Desert Star Academy, will create a classroom library.
* Joshua Michel, a math, choir, and drama teacher at Desert Star Academy, will provide students with costumes and props for their musical productions.
* Samantha Penfold, a first grade general education teacher at Fort Mohave Elementary School, will provide flexible seating options for her students.
* Melinda Robbins, a fifth grade general education teacher at Camp Mohave Elementary, will create a “Discovery Den” lab and purchase a laser engraver for students to work on creative projects.
* Juliza Tiu, an English language arts teacher at River Valley High School, will purchase a karaoke machine, speakers, and microphones for her classroom.
The Mohave Valley recipients and their wishes are:
* Chad Fulton, a seventh grade science teacher at Mohave Valley Junior High, will purchase realistic science models for his classroom lessons.
* Jose Tejeda, a physical education teacher at River Valley High School, will purchase reusable water bottles for his students.
The Bullhead City recipients and their wishes are:
* Michael Cook, a visual arts teacher at Mohave High School, will purchase materials for his animation class.
* Valari Delgadillo, a kindergarten teacher at Sunrise Elementary, will create an engaging and comfortable classroom for her students.
* Angella Hall, a K through fourth grade English language arts teacher at Desert Valley Elementary School, will purchase additional literacy materials such as books, manipulatives, and flashcards.
* Josephine Ruiz, a first grade teacher at Diamondback Elementary, will create a reading corner in her classroom with new furniture and books.
The Lake Havasu City recipient and their wish is:
* Micky Moschetti, a seventh and eighth grade computer science teacher at Thunderbolt Middle School in Lake Havasu City, will purchase STEM supplies, 3D printers and filament for their school.
The Dolan Springs recipient and their wish is:
* Anita Eustace, a third grade general education teacher at Mt. Tipton Elementary School in Dolan Springs, will purchase math manipulatives and general supplies for their classroom.
A full list of Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers recipients can be found here.
Recipients include teachers instructing bilingual classrooms, sustainability classes, physical education, special needs and much more. The 500 wishes range from new seating and books to robotics kits and virtual reality headsets.
“Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers was born to honor, support and celebrate Arizona’s educators. Teachers are unsung heroes and selfless mentors with incredible influence on our youth to help shape them to become the next generation of leaders,” said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. “Providing resources that they would not otherwise have gives them the ability to create new areas of teaching that will unlock students’ potential.”
For the ninth consecutive year, a survey from the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association confirmed a continued teacher shortage in Arizona. The data indicates approximately 25% of teacher vacancies across the state this year remain unfilled.
With the support of Palo Verde, Fiesta Bowl Charities has donated $8.25 million to Arizona classrooms over the nine years of the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program, benefitting over 2,600 teachers and more than one million students.
“We are humbled to be a part of this extraordinary effort that has a huge impact on Arizona’s students and teachers,” said Kory Raftery, manager of Palo Verde external affairs. “This program is a perfect match for Palo Verde’s values and is a great representation of our people.”
Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers was created in 2016 because Fiesta Bowl Charities identified a need. Teachers often spend their own money on classroom materials and activities. In a study by Education Forward Arizona, Arizona is ranked 50th in teacher pay.
“Wishes for Teachers is one of the many ways SRP supports education,” said Anita Tarango, Manager of Community Engagement Strategy at SRP. “Every year, SRP contributes more than $2 million to support education initiatives throughout Arizona, including teacher grants, free professional development workshops for teachers, funding to organizations dedicated to advance education in the state and more.”
Draft Day included celebrities, community partners and others making surprise phone calls and notifications to the recipients. Each of the 500 unique wishes will benefit teachers, schools and students by providing technology, classroom furniture, fitness equipment, reading materials and much more.
In addition to the $2,500 award, recipients are invited to attend the Rate Bowl where they are honored on the field in a halftime presentation and to march in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe.
The recipients were selected in a random drawing during the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP.
