By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

A Chandler Unified teacher is among the top 10 semifinalists for the Arizona Educational Foundation’s Teacher of the Year award, to be announced Oct. 18.

Angelica Abbey, a sixth-grade teacher at Frye Elementary School in Chandler, is among those 10 educators, according to a news release.

Fifteen Arizona educators —10 semifinalists and five honorable-mention selectees — made the list for the award, hosted by Arizona Educational Foundation and presented by Desert Financial Credit Union.

One of the semifinalists will be crowned the 2026 Arizona Teacher of the Year at the Oct. 18 red-carpet event at the Madison Center for the Arts in Phoenix — and will go on to represent Arizona in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

The program celebrates excellence in public education. There were 200 nominations statewide this year.

Abbey is no stranger to recognition from outside the district. She was one of 20 in this year’s Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s Sunshine for Teachers contest for spreading joy; a CUSD Educator of the Year, as chosen by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce and in 2023, she earned a trip to experience Disney educational events and celebrations.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.   Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org.

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.

Community: He supports animal shelters.