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15 Queen Creek teachers receive grants from Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities

Posted 11/7/22

Continuing the Fiesta Bowl Organization’s annual tradition of honoring, supporting and celebrating educators throughout Arizona, Fiesta Bowl Charities has granted 400 teachers – including …

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Grants

15 Queen Creek teachers receive grants from Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities

Posted

Continuing the Fiesta Bowl Organization’s annual tradition of honoring, supporting and celebrating educators throughout Arizona, Fiesta Bowl Charities has granted 400 teachers – including 15 from Queen Creek schools – with $2,500 each through the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day, presented by SRP.

The wishes were spread throughout the state this year with 72 cities and towns represented among the 400 teachers selected. Nearly 212,000 students across 321 schools and 95 districts will be positively impacted by their teachers’ wishes. In total, according to a press release from Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes, this year’s group of educators have more than 2,300 years of experience in classrooms.

The 400 wishes granted will benefit teachers who aim to enrich the lives of their students through technological improvements, the addition of educational programs, fitness equipment and much more.

Here are the classroom wishes being granted to Queen Creek teachers:

  • Julie Aboud, an economics teacher at Casteel High School, will purchase new resources for her classroom, including specialized calculators and test review resources.
  • Geneva Baker, a science teacher at Casteel High School, will purchase supplies for the Science Olympiad Club, including Chromebooks and digital scales.
  • Traci Becker, a kindergarten teacher at Benjamin Franklin Charter School, will purchase supplies for a Lego Camp to engage students.
  • Amie Chombah, a fourth-grade teacher at Auxier Elementary, will provide new resources for her classroom including books and sensory tools.
  • Shelly Haggarton, an art teacher at Heritage Academy Gateway, will purchase new tables for her art class.
  • Levi Hoaglund, an economics teacher at Combs High School, will purchase resources focused on finance and economics for his students.
  • Catherine Holmes, a first-grade teacher at Harmon Elementary School, will update her classroom library and provide new seating options.
  • Lori Manha, a fourth-grade teacher at Heritage Academy Gateway, will purchase manipulatives to assist with math instruction.
  • Kim Miller, a gifted-education teacher at American Leadership Academy-Signal Butte, will purchase Chromebooks for her classroom.
  • Jennifer Sawyers, a literature teacher at Legacy Traditional School, will purchase new books so her students can take one home to read and use for homework.
  • Megan Schlottog, a STEM teacher at EDUPRIZE, will purchase coding robots for her students.
  • Mandy Shelley, a fourth-grade teacher at EDUPRIZE-San Tan Valley, will purchase hands-on learning materials for her students.
  • Mark Williams, a health and physical education teacher at Poston Butte High School, will purchase equipment for the weight room and fitness area.
  • Nikki Wilson, a physical education teacher at American Leadership Academy-Ironwood, will purchase new equipment for physical education class.
  • Jentry Yard, an honors biology, AP biology and biotechnology teacher at Casteel High, will purchase biotechnology equipment for her class.

“Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers is one of the most impactful teacher support programs in Arizona, donating $1 million to benefit thousands of Arizona students,” noted Randal Norton, Fiesta Bowl board chair, in the release, “Teachers are truly selfless individuals who help shape the futures of our students here in Arizona and we are proud to play a part in supporting our teachers to do more in the classroom for the leaders of tomorrow.”

This year’s $1 million donation brings the Wishes for Teachers’ seven-year cumulative grant total to $5.7 million awarded to 1,600 teachers, impacting more than 700,000 students across Arizona.

“Palo Verde is excited and humbled to be part of such an incredible program that invests in teachers who are inspiring tomorrow’s leaders both inside and outside of the classroom,” stated Kory Raftery, manager of external affairs at Palo Verde. “One of our principles at Palo Verde is putting people first and Wishes for Teachers allows us to partner with an organization that supports some of the most important people in our communities.”

Created in 2016, the Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers program grants classroom wishes to Arizona teachers. Public and charter school K-12 teachers across the state are invited to apply each fall with the recipients verified and selected by a random drawing during the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by Salt River Project.

“Providing teachers with the tools and resources they need benefits Arizona’s children,” stated Andrea Moreno, program manager of SRP Community Stewardship. “I’m honored to share that from 2021 to 2022, SRP provided $1.4 million in classroom grants, teacher workshops and materials. Our future workforce relies on the support that we provide to educators and nonprofit organizations today.”