Annual Teaching Honors Bestowed

By Sarah Reynolds, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.

Apr. 25–Debra Weigel, a third grade teacher at Gary A. Knox Elementary School, earned an “A” from Yuma County educators Tuesday night. Weigel was picked as the Teacher of the Year by the Education Foundation of Yuma County and the Rotary Clubs of Yuma County.

“It’s awesome to get to work every day doing something you love,” said Weigel. “Let’s just keep challenging the kids to dream.”

Weigel has been a teacher for 20 years, since she graduated from St. Cloud University in Minnesota in 1980.

She taught primary grades in Minnesota, Kentucky and even overseas in Malaysia before coming to Yuma in 2003.

Neil Johnson, Knox Elementary’s assistant principal, described her as a true master teacher in his nomination letter. “Throughout her lessons, students are actively engaged and enthusiastic about learning. She also has planned for differentiated abilities in her room and assures all students at all times have something academic in nature.”

Weigel is on Knox’s Writing Committee, a member of the National Education Association and is active in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Other top teachers for specific grades and categories were also honored.

The awards were founded 20 years ago by the Rotary Clubs of Yuma County and a group of area educators that would become the Education Foundation of Yuma County.

As the Teacher of the Year, Weigel received a trip for two to Hawaii, a $1,200 gift certificate to Circuit City, and she gets to select a student to receive a two-year scholarship to AWC.

All of the winning teachers received trophies, three credit hours from NAU-Yuma and spa packages from Lotus Day Spa. Sarah Stewart of Rancho Viejo elementary, the outstanding first-year teacher, received $1,000 in cash.

Yuma educators were also inducted into the Teacher Hall of Fame during the ceremony.

BANQUET AWARD WINNERS

TEACHER OF THE YEAR — Debra Weigel, first grade, Gary A. Knox Elementary PRIMARY (K-3) CATEGORY WINNER — Melissa Lucille Haile, kindergarten, Palmcroft Elementary INTERMEDIATE (4-6) — Tamy Lynne Teeter, fourth grade, Gary A. Knox Elementary JUNIOR HIGH/MIDDLE SCHOOL — Michael Marquette, seventh grade social studies, Centennial Middle School HIGH SCHOOL — Eraclio “Lucky” Arviso, advanced economics and marketing, Cibola High School K-6 SPECIAL AREA — Shirley Rutledge, reading intervention specialist, Gwyneth Ham School FIRST-YEAR TEACHER — Sarah Stewart, Rancho Viejo Elementary ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE — Dr. Mohammad Bahramzadeh, political science NAU-YUMA — B. Randolph Martin, education

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR AWARD Ray V. Butcher Dr. Augustus Cotera Raymond Drysdale Robert Frazier

FRANCIS WOODARD AWARD Louis Leroy

OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATION CONTRIBUTING TO YUMA COUNTY AWARD Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Rudy Garcia

ESTELLE DINGISS AWARD USAF Master Sergeant Victoria Castillo

TEACHER OF THE YEAR Debra Weigel

— Sarah Reynolds can be reached at sreynolds@yumasun.com or 539-6847.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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