Education Notes: Tortolita educator earns Teacher Excellence Award

Stacy Bansback, a Tortolita Middle School teacher, has been awarded the April Teacher Excellence Award.

The honor from Tucson Values Teachers and OfficeMax/Office Depot comes with a $100 gift card from OfficeMax/Office Depot, $250 cash courtesy of Tucson Electric Power and Helios Education Foundation, and school supplies.

Bansback, an 18-year teacher, has worked the last 11 years in Marana Unified School District and the last six at Tortolita.

School psychologist Cindy Townsend nominated Bansback for the award.

“Mrs. Bansback goes above and beyond for her students,” Townsend wrote in her nomination.

“She gives up her lunch break to tutor students who need extra help, she coaches soccer and volleyball after school, she buys supplies for kids who can’t afford them, and donated dressers and beds to students who need them. She is a strong advocate for her students and makes sure they get the help they need.”

To nominate a teacher for the monthly honor, visit TucsonValuesTeachers.org

Area students honored as outstanding teens

Eleven Tucson-area students have been chosen to receive the Metropolitan Education Commission’s Outstanding Teen Citizen awards for their community contributions, as well as for improving their own lives.

The winners of the 21st Annual Dorothy Finley Outstanding Teen Citizen Awards were selected by their peers.

The honorees are: Cholla High School students Justin Alvarez and Adriana Noriega; Desert View High School students Abigail Dorough, Zamara Fabela, Amy Martinez and Anthony Woznick; Aiselyn Anaya of Amphitheater High School; Madelynn Mankee of Marana Middle School; Sunnyside High School students Sergio Iriqui and Patrick Robles; and Danitza Barra of Sahuarita Middle School, who was also the Crystal Apple Youth honoree.

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Hughes CU hands out $2,000 scholarships

Hughes Federal Credit Union awarded $2,000 scholarships to five local students: Maximillian Atkinson of Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, Nicolas Dasper-Sullivan of Marana High School, Julia O’Rourke of Ironwood Ridge High School, Nathan Schafer of Sahuaro High School and Delany Harris, who is homeschooled.

Delta Kappa Gamma recognizes 15 teachers

Delta Kappa Gamma, an international organization of women educators, honored 15 Marana School District teachers at its sixth annual “Early Career Educator” appreciation and recognition brunch.

Principals nominated the educators for demonstrating a strong commitment to go above and beyond to provide quality educational experiences for their students.

The honorees include: Jessica Leonard, Rachel Wilson, Deborah Bushe, Amanda Basaldua, Erin Williams, Alyssa Coccio, Charlotte Galvan, Tyann Quintana, Becca Hammer, Charleen Proper, Megan Crawford, Samantha Jaeger, Krista Robinson, Flor Preciado and Katherine Kent.

TUSD among the best

for music education

The Tucson Unified School District has been recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation as among the best communities for music education.

The NAMM Foundation designated 583 of the nation’s 13,600 school districts this year as Best Communities for Music Education and 135 individual schools as recipients of a SupportMusic Merit Award.

The program and the SupportMusic Merit Award evaluate schools and districts based on funding, staffing of highly qualified teachers, commitment to standards and access to music instruction.