Bloom Elementary School crossing guard Barbara Whitney was named the AAA Arizona’s Pima County Crossing Guard of the Year. Whitney, who shows up for work 30 minutes early every day, was surprised during a school assembly Tuesday with a plaque and a $500 Target gift card. The east-side school also received $500 as part of the honor. Whitney has served as a TUSD crossing guard since 2008, three years of which have been spent at Bloom. She is one of two AAA Arizona winners in the state. The other is in Maricopa County.


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