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A Gilbert Elementary School teacher has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Arizona Educational Foundation’s Teacher of the Year award.
Jenni Feidler-Aguilar, a pre-K-sixth grade visual art teacher at Gilbert Elementary in the Gilbert Public Schools district, has served 15 years as a teacher.
She was among the 15 educators who will be celebrated as part of the awards program, sponsored for the fifth consecutive year by Desert Financial Credit Union. The program recognizes outstanding teachers and their contributions to public education.
Last school year, more than 30 students in first through sixth grade were part of a club Feidler-Aguilar founded with two other Gilbert Elementary teachers.
Students met bi-weekly after school with their advisers to learn more about the importance of kindness and doing things for others. Activities included kindness exercises and scenarios, donation drives, campus art projects, making holiday gifts and cards for others, and visiting local Gilbert businesses on ‘Random Acts of Kindness Day’.
“Jenni is not only passionate about teaching students the love of art, but truly cares about Gilbert Public Schools and Gilbert Elementary,” Elementary Education Assistant Superintendent Jason Martin said in a release. “Her love of teaching goes well beyond the walls of her classroom as she is a leader on her campus as well as mentoring new art teachers across the district.”
Feidler-Aguilar was chosen from a pool of 625 teachers from across Arizona who were nominated for the award. An independent panel of past award winners and community members narrowed the candidates down to 15 quarterfinalists.
The 10 teachers, including Feidler-Aguilar, with the highest scores after the application round move on as semifinalists. The remaining five will be given “Honorable Mentions” and are no longer under consideration for the award this year but may be nominated again in the future.
All 15 educators will be celebrated at the Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards on Oct. 19.
