The Higley Unified School District recently celebrated its outstanding educators through its annual Teacher of the Year event.

Each year, one teacher from every school is selected through a nomination process to receive the honor of being named their school’s Teacher of the Year.

From this group of honorees, a district panel conducts interviews and selects one overall Teacher of the Year for both elementary and secondary education. 

These awards celebrate educators who consistently go above and beyond in their dedication to teaching.

This year's HUSD Teacher of the Year for Elementary is Bridges Elementary School sixth-grade ELA teacher Margaret Silva.

HUSD's Teacher of the Year for Secondary is Cooley Middle School seventh and eighth grade science teacher Taylor Vickers. 

Here are all the Teacher of the Year Award winners for 2024-25:

• Margaret Silva, Bridges Elementary School;
• Sara Casamento, Centennial Elementary School;
• Robyn Nelson, Chaparral Elementary School;
• Jennifer Ignacio, Coronado Elementary School;
• Meena Kazmi, Cortina Elementary School;
• Julie Ringle, Gateway Pointe Elementary School;
• Nicole Payne, Higley Traditional Academy;
• Lindsey Crawford, Power Ranch Elementary School;
• Sarah Ballard, San Tan Elementary School;
• Taylor Vickers, Cooley Middle School;
• Lena DiBartolomeo, Sossaman Middle School;
• Kristi McCullough, Cooley Early Childhood Development Center ;
• Steven Neal, Higley High School; 
• Alison Locke, Williams Field High School.