2020 Excellence in Education Awards
Recognizing the outstanding, dedicated educators in our Tempe community.
The cornerstone of the Tempe Diablos community outreach is our commitment to enhance youth education in the Tempe area school districts.
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 for Teachers” 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.
Given the recent events around COVID-19 and to protect the safety and health of our community, the Tempe Diablos have decided to move the Excellence in Education event to a virtual event that is streamed and broadcast. This decision follows the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in which gatherings of 50 or more people should be postponed for at least the next eight weeks.
More information about this virtual event will be posted at tempediablos.org so stay tuned!
Note: Promotional video released before COVID-19 Arizona and national guidelines released. The event will be turned into a virtual event.
2020 Excellence In Education Finalist
Teacher of the Year
Tempe Elementary School District
Beth Lewis – Arredondo Elementary School
Amanda Roeder – Ward Traditional Academy
Chelsea Walker – Scales Technology Academy
Kyrene School District
Mark Collins – Kyrene Traditional Academy
Melissa Taugner – Kyrene de las Brisas
Kirstin Williams – Kyrene de la Mirada
Tempe Union High School District
Felissa Dixon – Marcos de Niza High School
Debbie Lenz – McClintock High School
Jill Osborne – Tempe High School
Lifetime Achievement
Tempe Elementary School District
David Carpenter – Hudson Elementary School
Erin Feeney – Getz School
Kyrene School District
Ana Gomez del Castillo – Kyrene de los Lagos
Mark Knight – Kyrene School District
Tempe Union High School District
Greg Hebert – Corona del Sol High School
Patrick McChesney – Marcos de Niza High School
Leadership
Tempe Elementary School District
Michelle Hart – Fuller Elementary School
Vernice Sharpe – Nevitt Elementary School
Kyrene School District
Mary Brown – Kyrene de las Manitas
Susan Edinger – Kyrene de la Mirada
Tempe Union High School District
Jamaica Drowne – Marcos de Niza High School
Jennifer Summers – Desert Vista High School
High Impact
Tempe Elementary School District
Amy Garza – Tempe Elementary School District
Alice Lin – Arredondo Elementary School
Kyrene School District
Nicole Monaco – Kyrene Akimel A-Al
Harley Ruda – Kyrene Traditional Academy
Tempe Union High School District
Dawn Schmidt – Corona del Sol High School
David Taylor – McClintock High School
Inspiration
Tempe Elementary School District
Erin Feeney – Getz School
Paige Reesor – Gililland Middle School
Kyrene School District
Jill Malina – Kyrene Aprende
Nick Nigh – Kyrene Community Education
Tempe Union High School District
Meredith Morrissey – Mountain Pointe High School
Kate Roman – Marcos de Niza High School
Rising Star
Tempe Elementary School District
Taylor Denny – Holdeman Elementary School
Hope Tedrow – Thew Elementary School
Kyrene School District
Cynthia Languren – Kyrene de la Mariposa
Jessica McIntyre – Kyrene Middle School
Tempe Union High School District
Marcela Campbell – Tempe High School
Kelsey Tomlinson – Desert Vista High School
Class Act
Tempe Elementary School District
Pamela Latham – Curry Elementary School
Tanisha Leon – Arredondo Elementary School
Kyrene School District
Karol Pacheco – Kyrene de los Cerritos
Qua Shawn Simpson – Kyrene de los Niños
Tempe Elementary School District
Kendal Dorland – Desert Vista High School
Jessica Verdugo – Tempe High School