It means the world to me that such major companies are able to give back to their communities and help out in the classroom.”

Tori Dymond | Kingswood Elementary School teacher

Ten teachers from across the Dysart Unified School District were the recipients of the 2024 APS Supply My Class grant.

The Arizona-based utility company started the program seven years ago to help local educators teaching in Title I, K-12 schools get the supplies they need to support their students’ success.

Applications for the program were open over the summer. Qualified applicants were entered into a random drawing that was held before the start of the school year.

This year, 500 teachers from the APS service area were each awarded a $500 virtual gift card with which to stock up their classrooms.

The names of the 10 winners from the Dysart Unified School District were kept under wraps until APS representatives paid a surprise visit to their classrooms to present the award with the help of the schools’ administration.

Second-grade teacher Tori Dymond from Kingswood Elementary School was both shocked and humbled by the award.

“It means the world to me that such major companies are able to give back to their communities and help out in the classroom,” Dymond said.

Kindergarten Interventionist Andrina Jimenez from Thompson Ranch Elementary School also expressed her gratitude.

“I feel very lucky to have been selected for the APS Supply My Class grant,” Jimenez said. “It helps me remember that what I do on a daily basis means something to others in the community.”

All the teachers are excited to put their gift cards to good use. Their shopping lists include everything from basic school supplies and manipulatives, to flexible seating and student incentives. One thing they all have in common, however, is they all plan to use every last penny to purchase supplies that will directly benefit their students.

This year’s winners encourage their fellow educators to apply for the grant next summer. With no essay requirement, all it takes is a five minute application that could win them $500.

Beside Dymond and Jimenez, the other recipients were Allyssa Jebrail (Ashton Ranch Middle School), Jennifer Dawn (Ashton Ranch), Lindsey Serene (Freedom Traditional Academy), Karin Salsberry (Dysart Middle School), Keegan Cook (Dysart High School), Alex Carrion (Surprise Elementary School), Natasha Ludwig (Surprise Elementary) and Xe Yang (Thompson Ranch).