Coconino County Superintendent Cheryl Mango Padgett would like to extend her heartfelt congratulations to the outstanding educators who have been selected as finalists for the prestigious Teacher of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards.
Winners in each category will be announced at the 11th Annual Coconino County Teacher of the Year Awards event beginning Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM at the High Country Conference Center.
Finalists for the Teacher of the Year award include:
- Jodian Brown, Desert View Middle School
- Jeremiah Smith, Coconino High School
- Sydney Wade, Mount Elden Middle School
New Teacher of the Year Finalists:
- Emily Cartwright, Marshall Magnet Elementary School
- Noah Cordova, Ponderosa High School
- Kylie Heidet, Knowles Elementary School
- Lauren Kimsey, Demiguel Elementary School
- Madison O'Brien, Puente de Jozo Elementary School
The Coconino County Teacher of the Year event is a countywide celebration honoring the extraordinary contributions of state-certified kindergarten through 12th grade teachers. This year, a total of 36 remarkable teachers were nominated for the Teacher of the Year category, and 12 exciting new teachers were nominated for the Teacher of the Year category.
At the awards ceremony, Coconino County Teacher of the Year, Coconino County New Teacher of the Year, and Outstanding Ambassador (runner-up) will be recognized. Each finalist will receive cash, an automatic nomination for Arizona Teacher of the Year, and various other awards. The Coconino County Teacher of the Year will also receive a one-year lease on a vehicle, generously provided by Flagstaff Findlay Toyota. Lifetime Her Achievement recipients will also be recognized for their exemplary contributions to education at the event and will be awarded cash prizes. This prestigious award was selected at the discretion of the Superintendent and made a surprise announcement at the Teacher of the Year event in April 2024.
This amazing event is made possible through the support and sponsorship of dedicated businesses and community members. We are proud to honor Mr. Findlay Toyota as our Lead Recognition Sponsor and Teacher of the Year Sponsor, APS as our Rookie Teacher of the Year Sponsor, and Coconino County as our Lifetime Achievement Award Sponsor. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Oversight Committee. We also appreciate the contributions of our sponsors at the Honor Society level and above, including NARBHA, Stone Canyon Media, Coconino Community College, NAU College of Education, and CAVIAT. A complete list of sponsors can be found at: https://coconino.az.gov/3154/Coconino-County-Teacher of the Year.
For more information, contact Program Coordinator Michelle Despain at mdespain@coconino.az.gov or call 928-679-8070.
