Every student has that one teacher who is their absolute favorite– the one that goes out of his or her way to help you, the one that always has interesting lesson plans, or is willing to help you when you are struggling.
Every year the Deer Valley Education Foundation (DVEF) honors outstanding teachers with awards called Teacher of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
“[It is] a way for teachers to be recognized for the work they are doing,” said Tiffany Ellis, 2014 Teacher of the Year and OHS history teacher.

DVEF asks students, parents and other staff members to nominate teachers who go above and beyond.

Brad Brazell, assistant principal, posed the question, what makes a teacher excellent in the students eyes? “I am going to guess its someone that cares about you. Somebody who is fair and honest.”
According to Marie Brennan, executive director at DVEF, nominees for the Teacher of the Year award must have completed their fifth year teaching in the district. The nominee applications are reviewed to what is referred to as a “Selection Panel made up of independent, non district community members,” Brennan said.
The nominees go through lengthy processes in order to come out on top. “Absolutely, we want our teachers to be recognized for the great things they do,” said Brazell, in response to being asked if he encourages teachers to undergo the process.
25- 30 finalists are selected to go through and interview process. The final winner receives a check and dinner.
“I felt more gratification from my students agreeing. It actually made me feel better than the money,” Ellis said.
The winners will be honored on May 13 at the Arizona Broadway Theatre.