Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1540396
CELEBRATING UNION EXCELLENCE 5 FALL 2025 | ADVOCATE IN OUR UNION, excellence isn't one- size-fits-all. Whether you're organizing for better working conditions, studying for a certification, or tackling a challenging project, your union siblings are here to cheer you on. In June, the Arizona Education Foundation announced the finalists for the 2026 Arizona Teacher of the Year — and, as in years past, AEA members were proudly and powerfully represented. Congratulations to the following AEA members recognized for excellence in their profession. e 2026 Arizona Teacher of the Year will be announced on October 18, with the winner going on to represent Arizona in the National Teacher of the Year competition. Arizona Education Foundation Celebrates Union Educators What does excellence mean to you? Spotlight on the 2025 Teacher of the Year Emmett Burnton, Arizona's 2025 Teacher of the Year, is a proud AEA member and educator at Boulder Creek High School. A member of the Deer Valley Education Association, Emmett has long been a champion of both classroom excellence and union values. "When our profession faced challenges: funding crises, policy attacks, and attempts to undermine public education, who stood up? e union. Joining isn't just about personal protection; it's about investing in the structural integrity of our profession and public education itself. It is about embodying the very concept of what nations are founded on, the democratic principles of equity, of resistance, and justice." Tyler Hill Tolleson Union Education Association Science teacher University High School Dawn Quamahongnewa Flagstaff Education Association Fourth-grade teacher Leupp Public School Angelica Abbey Chandler Education Association Sixth-grade teacher Frye Elementary School Teresa Anthofer Marana Education Association English teacher Marana High School Jennifer Fox Scottsdale Education Association Second-grade teacher Hopi Elementary School 2026 Arizona Teacher of the Year Union Finalists and Semifinalists