2021 Excellence in Education Awards

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS

EVENT SPONSOR

TEACHER OF THE YEAR SPONSOR

TRANSFORMATION TEACHING SPONSOR

INSPIRATION SPONSOR

WINNERS AD SPONSOR

HIGH IMPACT SPONSOR

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR DONORS

PROGRAM PRINT DONATIONS

HONORING EDUCATORS FROM

Recognizing the outstanding, dedicated educators in our Tempe community.

Since 2010, these programs have culminated every spring with the highly anticipated black tie awards banquet, held at the Tempe Center for the Arts and featuring celebrity emcees and high profile guest speakers.

The Excellence in Education event is the only of its kind in the valley. Teachers have called it “The Academy Awards of Education” because of the red carpet entry, the Diablos in their tuxes and the awards. It’s a spectacular night honoring outstanding educators serving the Tempe community and it’s the Diablos mission in action.

Our committee, once again, decided to conduct the 2021 Excellence in Education event to a virtual broadcast. Our hope is that the 2022 Excellence in Education will be an in person celebration of our community educators and students.

CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS!

WATCH THE EVENT – 2021

2021 Excellence In Education Finalist

Teacher of the Year

Tempe Elementary School District

Nicole Mercurio – Gililland Middle School – 2021 Winner!
Tricia Valliere – Aguilar Elementary School
Angela Varnado – Arredondo Elementary School

Kyrene School District

Katie Dirvonas – Kyrene de la Mirada
Michele Ferber – Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School – 2021 Winner!
Bobby Norman – Akimel A-al Middle School

Tempe Union High School District

Natasha Alston – Mountain Pointe High School
Karen Crane – McClintock High School – 2021 Winner!
David Duplessis – Corona del Sol High School

 

Lifetime Achievement

Tempe Elementary School District

Pat Burdette – District Office
Amy Garza – District Office

Kyrene School District

Nancy Branch – Kyrene de la Mirada
Tamara Simons – Kyrene de la Estrella

Tempe Union High School District

Nita Atkins – Tempe High School
Justine Centanni – Corona del Sol High School

Leadership

Tempe Elementary School District

Carrie Fox – Arredondo Elementary School
Brittany Franklin – District Office

Kyrene School District

Spencer Fallgatter – Kyrene de la Mariposa
Lisa Roberts – District

Tempe Union High School District

Tomika Banks – Mountain Pointe High School
Steve Threadgill – Corona del Sol High School

High Impact

Tempe Elementary School District

Emily Parrillo – Arredondo Elementary School
Kelly Trujillo – Carminati Elementary School

Kyrene School District

Patti Kuluris – Kyrene Monte Vista
Melissa Wertenberger – Akimel A-al Middle School

Tempe Union High School District

Micah Kriston – McClintock High School
Susan Manning – Compadre Academy

Inspiration

Tempe Elementary School District

Helen Buck-Pavlick – Fees College Preparatory Middle School
Emily Parrillo – Arredondo Elementary School

Kyrene School District

Katie Miceli – Akimel A-al Middle School
Tamzyn Whitaker – District

Tempe Union High School District

Valerie Molina – Marcos de Niza High School
Otilia Tines – McClintock High School

Rising Star

Tempe Elementary School District

Nia Lewis – Aguilar Elementary School
Dasha McKinney – Ward Traditional Academy

Kyrene School District

Abby Greb – Kyrene del Cielo
Abigail Knight – Kyrene de la Colina

Tempe Union High School District

Abigail Anderson – Mountain Pointe High School
Shelly Peckins – McClintock High School

Class Act

Tempe Elementary School District

Elvia Jaime – Laird School
Ashley Torres – Arredondo Elementary School

Kyrene School District

Tiffany Hood – Akimel a-Al Middle School
Loira Guerra Talmon – Kyrene de Las Lomas

Tempe Union High School

Sandra Rivera – Mountain Pointe High School
John Sharp – Tempe High School

Transformational

Tempe Elementary School District

Andrea Peterson – Arredondo Elementary School
Taylor Sypher – Aguilar Elementary School

Kyrene School District

Dodi Price – Kyrene del Cielo
Amy Russo – Kyrene Monte Vista

Tempe Union High School

Amanda Cogswell – Desert Vista High School
Tahlia Remer – Marcos de Niza High School