Local nonprofit Tucson Values Teachers awarded five educators with Teacher Excellence Awards in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.
The winning teachers are Nogales High School science teacher Ganesh Tiwari, Catalina Foothills’ Manzanita Elementary kindergarten teacher Kylie Baker, TUSD’s Hollinger K-8 second-grade teacher Mayra Ruiz, TUSD’s Palo Verde High PE teacher Jim Mentz and Marana Unified’s Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8 eighth-grade science teacher Lauren Ochoa.
Winning teachers received flowers, $250 cash courtesy of Helios Education Foundation, a $100 gift card to Office Depot and other prizes.
For more information on the winning teachers and the student-submitted video nominations, go to tucne.ws/1hlk.
For more information about the Teacher Excellence Award or to nominate a teacher, go to tucsonvaluesteachers.org.
Tucson seniors earn scholarship
Graduating seniors Zayonna West of Catalina High School in TUSD and Cesar Valencia Montaño of Sunnyside High School earned the the Marge Christensen Gould Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship provides $1,500 toward each student’s college education that is renewable for a second year.
Applications for next year’s award will open in January at cfsaz.org/what/scholarships.
Engineering class for teens
Arizona high school juniors and seniors can create transportation systems projects and attend virtual field trips in an online summer course by the U.S. Department of Transportation, offered through Arizona State University.
Students will participate in projects and virtual field trips that demonstrate how engineers plan and maintain systems of transportation around the state. Students will have an opportunity to interact with Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering faculty members and students to complete several hands-on projects.
Students will also be provided with a TI-Nspire graphing calculator and learn to use the software through an online workshop offered by Texas Instruments. They also will receive materials to build and test an Arduino-based autonomous robot — at no cost to the students.
Workforce development training, such as the OSHA 10 safety course, is part of the program, which could help students qualify for future jobs and internships.
Students can register for one of two sessions by May 22. The sessions are June 28 to July 2 and July 12 to July 16.
For more information or to register, go to tucne.ws/1hln or call 480-965-2272.
26 protest signs from Arizona #RedforEd teacher rallies
"Give my mom a raise!"
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Part of the crowd of approximately 1,500, flashes an assortment of colorful signs to the traffic along Congress at Granada, part of the rally and march for the #RedforEd movement, Wednesday, April 4, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
"Teachers need more than apples"
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Supporter Dathon Golish employs a minimalist approach to his signage, part of the 1,500 rallying for the #RedforEd movement, Wednesday, April 4, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
"I find your lack of funding disturbing"
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Approximately a thousand teachers, other staff and supporters line Congress Street at Granada Avenue on the first day of the statewide Arizona Teacher Walkout on April 26, 2018.
"This would not happen at Hogwarts"
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Hundreds of teachers, staff and supporters line Broadway Boulevard east of Euclid Avenue as they join with Tucson Unified School District in a Stand-Out near East Broadway Boulevard and North Euclid Avenue on April 25, 2018, Tucson, Ariz. Educators planned to line Broadway Boulevard from downtown to Houghton Road in advance of Thursday's state-wide walkout.
"School funding would be groovy"
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Pictured left to right are Margarita Lopez, Evan Sands, 8, Andrea Lopez, Norah Sands, 6 and Dan Lopez
"2008 called and it wants its funding back"/"I'd rather be teaching"
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Approximately a thousand teachers, other staff and supporters line Congress Street at Granada Avenue on the first day of the statewide Arizona Teacher Walkout on April 26, 2018. Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
"Stone Cold Doug Ducey"
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Jalyn Wheatley, a history teacher at Pueblo High School, waves her sign near Highland Avenue as teachers, staff and supporters join with Tucson Unified School District in a Stand-Out near East Broadway Boulevard and North Euclid Avenue on April 25, 2018, Tucson, Ariz. Educators planned to line Broadway Boulevard from downtown to Houghton Road in advance of Thursday's state-wide walkout.
"If you think education is expensive, wait until you see how much ignorance costs."
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Teachers and other supporters rally during the the third day of the Arizona teacher walkout at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on Monday, April 30, 2018.
"This is why we can't have nice things"
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Dennis Tamblyn, left, and Greg Guenther show their support for the #RedforEd movement at a downtown rally Thursday, April 26, 2018.
"WTF: Where's the funding?"
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"My 32 3rd graders deserve better"
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"Don't make me go all We$t Virginia on you"
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FILE - In this Wednesday, March 28, 2018 file photo, Arizona teachers and education advocates march at the Arizona Capitol protesting low teacher pay and school funding in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
"Arizona exports teaching talent"
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Tucson High science teacher Jim Sinex tries to interact with westbound Congress motorists stopped for the traffic light at Granada, part of a rally and march by 1,500 teachers, students and supporters for the #RedforEd movement, Wednesday, April 4, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
"I have never had a fully funded education"
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From left, Borton Elementary schoolmates Rubi Mills, 11, Willa Barron, 10, Adelaide Mills, 9 and Camryn Hernandez, 8, holds their signs near Tyndall Avenue as teachers, staff and supporters join with Tucson Unified School District in a Stand-Out near East Broadway Boulevard and North Euclid Avenue on April 25, 2018, Tucson, Ariz. Educators planned to line Broadway Boulevard from downtown to Houghton Road in advance of Thursday's state-wide walkout.
"Make Arizona Smart again"
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"Starving the schools feeding the rich"
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Thousands participate in a protest at the Arizona Capitol for higher teacher pay and school funding on the first day of a state-wide teachers strike Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Phoenix. A sea of teachers clad in red shirts and holding "Money for Schools" signs reached the Arizona Capitol to press lawmakers for action Thursday, a key event in an unprecedented walkout that closed most of the state's public schools and built on an educator uprising that bubbled up in other parts of the U.S. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
"Teachers want their careers valued and respected"
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Thousands participate in a protest at the Arizona Capitol for higher teacher pay and school funding on the first day of a state-wide teachers strike Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Phoenix. A sea of teachers clad in red shirts and holding "Money for Schools" signs reached the Arizona Capitol to press lawmakers for action Thursday, a key event in an unprecedented walkout that closed most of the state's public schools and built on an educator uprising that bubbled up in other parts of the U.S. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
"No teachers or support staff left behind"
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Hundreds of teachers, supporters and families gathered on all four corners of Granada and Congress Street in downtown Tucson Thursday morning to show support for the #RedforEd movement which seeks to restore funding to Arizona's public education system.
"Teachers are walking out so we can walk into a better future"
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Participants chant during a protest at the Arizona Capitol for higher teacher pay and school funding on the first day of a state-wide teachers strike Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
"It's not political, it's survival"
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Thousands march to the Arizona Capitol for higher teacher pay and school funding on the first day of a state-wide teacher strike Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
"Invest in Arizona's largest asset -- the children"
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"I work to make a living, I teach to make a difference, so stop making me pay for school supplies & resources. $48,000? Said no teacher ever!"
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"You can't put students 1st if you put our teachers last!
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Sydney Sears, a first year teacher, has to rely on family to help pay the bills to support the #RedforEd movement.
"Support educators who rise up. Ducey, you really have to wise up."
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"I'd rather be teaching but this is important"
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Winslow teacher Nicole Tell (right) joins her follow Arizona teachers at the Arizona State Capitol during Day 3 of a walkout for higher pay and more education funding on Apr. 30, 2018 in Phoenix, Ariz. (Photo by Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic)
"Make teacher exploitation extinct"
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Thousands of marchers, most of them in full support of the Red For Ed movement, head west on Congress as they take part in the annual May Day Rally, Tucson, Ariz., Tuesday, May 1, 2018.
