Fiesta Bowl Charities granted 400 teachers — including 14 from Glendale — 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 amongst the 400 teachers selected.

Nearly 212,000 students across 321 schools and 95 districts will be positively impacted by their teachers’ wishes with this year’s group.

Recipients included those teaching the arts to science, both gifted and special education, and languages and life skills amongst a diverse group of subjects. The 400 wishes granted will benefit teachers through technology improvements, addition of educational programs and fitness equipment and more.

Through the program, here are the classroom wishes being granted to Glendale teachers:

• Samella Allen, a science teacher at Challenger Middle School in Glendale, will create a “Cozy Space” in their classroom.
• Eric Axelrod, a computer science teacher at Desert Sky Middle School in Glendale, will purchase new robots for their classroom.
• Michele Balsamo, a reading specialist at The Traditional Academy at Bellair in Glendale, will have a classroom makeover with new furniture and education supplies.
• Kenneth Bloomfield, a physical education teacher at Hillcrest Middle School in Glendale, will purchase new equipment for their physical education class.
• Regina Curiale, a special education teacher at Glenview College Preparatory High School in Glendale, will purchase a smartboard for their classroom.
• Heidi Franklin, a special education teacher at Cactus High School in Glendale, will provide new resources for their students including flexible seating and desk options.
• Lauren Heidbreder, a math teacher at Sunset Elementary School in Glendale, will purchase resources for their classroom including new white boards and flexible seating options.
• Selena Hernandez, a math teacher at IntelliSchool in Glendale, will purchase math manipulatives for their students.
• Amber Logan, a visual art teacher at Highland Lakes School in Glendale, will purchase new furniture and supplies for their art class.
• Hang Mai, a special education teacher at Greenbrier Elementary in Glendale, will purchase resources for their classroom including chair organizers and fluorescent light filters.
• Tana Strow, a physical education teacher at Park Meadows School in Glendale, will provide a Gaga Ball Pit for their school.
• Tammy Tamayo, a fourth grade teacher at Challenge Charter School in Glendale, will provide flexible seating options for their classroom.  
• Chin Lan Wheatley, a Mandarin teacher at Desert Sage Elementary School in Glendale, will purchase Chinese culture resources for their classroom.
• Catherine Wilson, a special education teacher at Arrowhead Elementary School in Glendale, will provide new leveled books for their classroom.

This year’s $1 million total 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 Arizona students.