In November, 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 16 teachers in Glendale. For the second straight year, the Wishes for Teachers program drew record interest, topping 4,000 applications from Arizona teachers, coaches and school staff.

The $1.25 million in donations will be distributed to 84 cities and towns, impacting 237,737 students. The program granted wishes in 380 different schools, including charters.

Glendale recipients and their wishes are:

• Jessica Buttles, a K-6 Achievement Interventionist at Sunburst Elementary, will purchase books for the students’ lending library.
• Lauren Hartley, a speech teacher at William C. Jack Elementary, will purchase iPads for their students.
• Rose Harvey, a sixth grade science teacher at Mirage Elementary, will purchase new materials, seeds, and tools for the school's garden.
• Selena Hernandez, a ninth to 12th grade math teacher at IntelliSchool Glendale, will purchase math manipulatives, supplies, and calculators for students.
• Mary Herrera, a kindergarten general education teacher at Brighton Charter School, will update the classroom library and purchase puppets to match the new books.

• Lorin Herrington, a second grade general education teacher at Highland Lakes School, will provide flexible seating options for the classroom.
• Tatiahna Hoaglund, a special education teacher at Brighton Charter School, will provide flexible seating options and sensory materials.
• Cheyenne Khoury, a special education teacher at Arrowhead Elementary School, will purchase manipulatives and sensory tools.
• Andrea Maturan, a kindergarten general education teacher at Barcelona Elementary School, will provide headphones for all the students in the class.
• Brigette McKee, an eighth grade physical education teacher at Highland Lakes School, will purchase new sports and fitness equipment for physical education class.
• Kelly Moore, an art teacher at Mirage Elementary, will purchase iPads or tablets.
• Candice Roa, a 12th grade government and economics teacher at Mountain Ridge High School, will purchase general classroom items and new furniture.
• Alexis Salas, a fourth to eighth grade special education teacher at Barcelona Elementary School, will provide their students with disabilities with materials to teach them life skills.
• Christy Scofield, an eighth grade science teacher at Sierra Verde STEAM Academy, will purchase whiteboard tables.

• Wendy Weddleton, a fifth to eighth grade special education teacher at Sweetwater School, will purchase technology that supports their nonverbal students.
• Serena Wheatley, a K to fourth grade special education teacher at Sonoran Sky Elementary, will purchase sensory items for their students with intellectual disabilities.

“Providing resources that they would not otherwise have gives them the ability to create new areas of teaching that will unlock students’ potential,” stated Fiesta Bowl Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses, in a press release.

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 during the nine years of the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program, benefitting more than 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,” stated Kory Raftery, manager of Palo Verde external affairs. 

Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers was created in 2016 because Fiesta Bowl Charities identified a need. In a study by Education Forward Arizona, Arizona is ranked 50th in teacher pay.

Anita Tarango, Manager of Community Engagement Strategy at SRP, stated that every year, SRP contributes more than $2 million to support education initiatives throughout Arizona.

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.