AEF Arizona Teacher of the Year for 2013 honors are announced | News

The Arizona Educational Foundation announced last week their 2013 AEF Arizona Teacher of the Year, as well as their four finalists as Ambassadors for Excellence.

Nancie Lindblom, an 11th grade AP U.S. History teacher at Skyline High School in Mesa, won the ultimate honor.  Lindblom has been teaching for the last 17 years, earning her bachelors degree from Northern Arizona University and is currently working on her masters degree from Ashland University. 

She had this to say about teaching history, “If students can relate to the people of history, I can convince them that they can achieve the same great deeds. I want them to believe it is possible for them to make a difference.” 

As AEF Arizona Teacher of the Year Lindblom will receive a $15,000 cash prize, as well as awards and recognitions, plus professional speech training, a SMARTboard  and a full scholarship toward an advanced degree at Argosy University.  She will also be meeting President Obama and competing for National Teacher of the Year, in addition to attending Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

 “It’s such an inspirational experience to watch Ms. Lindblom in her classroom. Her energy as a teacher and the enthusiasm she generates among her students are palpable. Excellent teachers like Ms. Lindblom make all the difference in the success of Arizona’s students,” said Executive Director of AEF, Bobbie O’Boyle, in a recent news release. “Thanks to our generous sponsors and donors, the Arizona Educational Foundation continues to be able to provide this distinguished award for the 30th consecutive year and celebrate the teaching profession.”

AEF also announced their four Teacher of the Year finalists, called ‘Ambassadors for Excellence’, three of which are local teachers here in Tucson.  The four Ambassadors are:

• Becky Cavazos, 4th grade teacher at Borton Magnet School, TUSD
• Lindsey Connor, 7th grade mathematics teacher at San Tan Elementary School, Gilbert, Higley Unified School District;
• Katrina Herrera, 6th through 8th grade special education math teacher at Sierra Middle School, Sunnyside Unified School District
• Jose “Chach” Snook, 7th and 8th grade choir and drama teacher at Flowing Wells Jr. High School, Flowing Wells Unified School District.

These four will serve as spokespeople for their profession, and advocating for the classroom by making presentations across the state.  Each Ambassador received $5,000 cash, professional speec training and a scholarship to Argosy University for 50 percent of the cost of tuition toward a master’s or doctoral degree in education.

The five semi-finalists were:

• Sarah Burgess, 11th grade US History, Hamilton High School, Chandler (Chandler Unified District)
• Dr. Michael Frank, 9th – 12th grade Science and Biology, Empire High School, Tucson (Vail Unified District)
• Jonathan Howell, 10th – 12th grade Anatomy and Physiology, EVIT/East Valley Institute of Technology, Mesa
• Kimberly Lynch, 5th grade, Ellsworth Elementary School, San Tan Valley (J.O. Combs Unified District)
• Julie Tatum, Sahuarita Intermediate School, Sahuarita (Sahuarita Unified District)

Lindblom and the four Ambassadors, as well as the five semi-finalists in the Teacher of the Year competition will also be marching in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl Parade. 

The AEF Arizona Teacher of the Year program is the only statewide program that spotlights the contributions of Arizona’s teachers. To learn more, please visit www.azedfoundation.org.