Antonette Shirley earned the Arizona Department of Education’s Copper Apple Awards for the month of August. In front, from the left, are Chandler Unified Governing Board President Patti Serrano, CUSD board member Dr. Claudia Mendoza, Arizona Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education professional learning specialist Elaine Mollindo, ADE education program specialist Kai-Se Toledo, Sophia Begody, the deputy associate superintendent for the ADE’s Office of Indian Education; Shirley, CUSD Superintendent Anna Battle and board members Ryan Heap and Barb Mozdzen. In back is CUSD board member Kurt Rohrs.
Before the Chandler Unified Governing Board took on more delicate topics involving indigenous people at its Sept. 9 meeting, an award involving educating such students was presented to a CUSD staff member.
Antonette Shirley earned the Arizona Department of Education’s Copper Apple Awards for the month of August.
Sophia Begody, the deputy associate superintendent for the Arizona Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education, read aloud why Shirley, CUSD’s indigenous student engagement specialist, won the award.
“Tonight, we celebrate a program that has demonstrated exceptional innovation and leadership and a commitment to Native American students, families, educators and communities,” Begody said. “Recognizing the importance of authentic partnership, the district opened its facilities to host tribal consultations for the Navajo Nation. A student-led development of a land acknowledgement for students whose ancestral homelands are tied to the Chandler area was going a step further. A Native American powwow, attended by district and city officials (in April) was another example.”
The program was also a runner-up for program of the year at the 2025 Johnson O’Malley Association conference.
According to the ADE website, a Copper Apple award is a “state-level recognition honoring schools, leaders, or teachers showing excellence in action through academic growth, program innovation, or classroom math instruction.”
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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