2017-2018 District Awards

    • Congratulations to the AESD Child Nutrition team, for being awarded the 2018 Champions of Breakfast award for implementing the Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) program during the 2017-2018 school year!
    • Mrs. Panco, first grade teacher from James W. Rice Primary, was selected for the Tribute to a Teacher Award from KTAR, and was presented with a check for $1,000 on February 27.
    • Debbie Hein, Kindergarten Teacher at Carol G. Peck, and Desiree Dancer, teacher at Montebello School, earned their National Board Certification, which is an advanced teaching credential that complements a teacher’s state teaching license.
    • Westwood Primary third grade teacher, Paige Bodam, and second grade teacher, Nicole Barraza, were recognized on October 27 by the Marc Sollee Agency of Farmers Insurance in their "Thank America's Teachers" program. Each teacher received approximately $100 in classroom supplies!
    • Rafael Vazquez, Simpson teacher, was selected as a winner of the Esperanza Latino Teacher Award through Chicanos Por La Causa.
    • Andalucia Middle School eighth grader, Louis Cabrales, was selected as a Walmart Everyday Hero, and was recognized by 12News for his contributions to the Alhambra community, and his story as a cancer survivor.
    • James W. Rice Primary’s Joseph Fuentes was named the Diamondbacks’ Most Valuable Teacher in July 2017! He was recognized for his dedication to students, passion for teaching, and his consistent efforts as a great team player, and he was awarded $1,000 to spend in his classroom.

2016-2017 District Awards

    • Kelly Davis, third grade teacher at Montebello, was recognized as KNIX's Teacher of the Week in September 2016.
    • Ms. Zimmerman and her class at Sevilla West were AzTEA’s “Sparking Creativity Contest” winners for Spring 2017! In their project, each student took a writing piece and made their own individual video using Adobe Spark Video.
    • The Alhambra Elementary School District is a proud recipient of the Healthy Arizona Worksite Award, at the “Gold” Level! Gold Level organizations have established wellness programs based on data and documented outcomes. Alhambra is exceptionally proud of its Wellness Initiative, and the impact it is making on the health and wellbeing of our employees!
    • The Montebello MESA team earned First Place in the Technical Paper and Fourth Place Overall at the National MESA Competition in June 2017!
    • Jordyn Dudley, seventh grade math teacher at Granada East, and Wendy Skelton, Alhambra preschool teacher, were both recipients of the Fiesta Bowl’s “Wishes for Teachers” project, and were awarded $5,000 for use in their classrooms.
    • Alhambra School District finished in the Top 100 Knovation's Digital Learning Awards Program, which recognizes districts' effective use of digital resources in teaching and learning.
    • The Alhambra GATE program received the “Water Awareness Month” proclamation on March 28, 2017 from the Glendale Mayor and Council for their work with the Glendale Conservation and Sustainable Living Division.
    • Derek Brown, fifth grade teacher at Alhambra Traditional School, was chosen as a Channel 12 A+ Teacher of the Week.
    • Out of 2000 students, 50 teachers, 13 schools, and 10 districts, Nicholas Collotta and his fifth graders at Barcelona Middle were the Minutes out of Your Seat program champions this school year!
    • Montebello's Playworks Coach Mitzi Ortega was named the Rookie of the Year for Playworks.
    • Granada Primary School was named an "SFA Experienced School Site".

2015-2016 District Awards

    • Candace Green, art teacher at Sevilla West School, earned her National Board Certification, which is an advanced teaching credential that complements a teacher’s state teaching license.
    • Governing Board Member Adam Lopez Falk was one of five Board members in Arizona to receive the All-Arizona School Board Award by the Arizona School Boards Association.

2014-2015 District Awards

    • The Alhambra District MESA (Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement) Team, from Montebello School, earned three awards at the MESA National Challenge in Ogden, Utah. They were awarded an overall fourth place in the United States for designing, engineering, and operating prosthetic arm that could perform a variety of real life tasks. Alhambra’s Montebello MESA Team earned second place in the country in the "Design Efficiency" category, a third place award in the "Object Relocation" category and a third place award in the Academic Poster Presentation category. In addition to earning these top awards, Alhambra’s Montebello Team placed fourth in distance accuracy, fifth place in the oral presentation, and eighth place in the technical paper.
    • Carin Hart, third grade teacher at Westwood Primary School, was selected as a 2015 Rodel Aspiring Principal.
    • Alhambra District was awarded an Overall Excellence in Public Relations; an Award of Distinction for the EXPRESSions Project; and an Award of Distinction for the Recognizing Outstanding Teaching Commitment by Reaching Out and Touching Children (ROTC) Program from the Arizona School Public Relations Association.
    • Stefanie Ewbank, fourth grade teacher at Simpson School, earned her National Board Certification, which is an advanced teaching credential that complements a teacher’s state teaching license.
    • Jennifer Hollenbeck, second grade teacher at Westwood Primary School was one of seven local teachers selected as a Rodel Exemplary Teacher.
    • Alhambra School District finished in the Top 100 Knovation's Digital Learning Awards Program, which recognizes districts' effective use of digital resources in teaching and learning.
    • Liz Welch, fourth grade teacher at Montebello School, was named a KNIX/Fulton Homes Teacher of the Week.
    • Martin Perez, fifth grade teacher at Montebello School, was selected as a recipient of the 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 Award.

2013-2014 District Awards

    • Alhambra's MESA (Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement) Team from Montebello School, lead by MESA advisor Kelby Milgrim, are NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! The team earned first place in the country in the "Design Efficiency" category, and a third place award in the "Technical Paper" category at the 2014 MESA National Challenge in Portland, Oregon.
    • Congratulations to Governing Board member Mari Alvarado for being selected as a recipient of the All Arizona School Board Award sponsored by the Arizona School Boards Association.
    • Lisa Elliott, third grade teacher at Montebello School, earned her National Board Certification, which is an advanced teaching credential that complements a teacher’s state teaching license.
    • Cathy Butler, first grade teacher at Westwood Primary School, was named a KNIX/Fulton Homes Teacher of the Week.
    • Christie Pentkowski, third grade teacher at Granada Primary School, for being named one of 11 Rodel Exemplary Teachers in the state! The exemplary teachers will receive $5,000 and will mentor six Rodel Promising student teachers over a three-year period.
    • Elizabeth Zipp, sixth grade teacher at Cordova Middle School, was a winner in the Arizona Cardinals Heroes in the Classroom award program.
    • Wendy Galindo, first grade teacher at Granada Primary School, was selected as a winner in the OfficeMax A Day Made Better Program.
    • Alhambra technology staff members, Ruben Montoya and Devi Beck, were recognized as persons of the year by AzTEA (Arizona Technology in Education Association). Mr. Montoya was awarded the 2013-14 Educational Technology Specialist of the Year; and Ms. Beck was selected as the 2013-14 Technology Support Person of the Year.

2012-2013 District Awards

    • Donna Campbell, Child Nutrition Coordinator, was named Arizona’s Outstanding Director of the Year from the School Nutrition Association. This award distinguishes school nutrition directors who excel in all areas of program management such as budget, staff training, marketing, and championing the benefits of their program to the public.
    • Alhambra leads the way with our STEM initiative. The District was one of seven sites selected to receive a grant through the Science Foundation Arizona and the Helios Education Foundation to launch Helios STEM school pilot programs at Cordova Middle and Granada East schools; our MESA Clubs swept the regional and state competitions by capturing 30 awards in these two events; and 35 students from Alhambra received admissions letters from BioScience High School, which admits just more than 100 students per year. As you can see, Alhambra is making it happen in the STEM field.
    • The district received three awards of excellence from the Arizona School Public Relations Association for our Faith-based Leaders Council, our business partnership with Stand for Children, and overall excellence for school public relations.
    • Tanya Whiteford, Outreach Coordinator at James W. Rice Primary School, was selected as 2013 Aspiring Principal by the Rodel Foundation of Arizona.
    • James W. Rice Primary School was one of three schools in Phoenix to receive a Gold Medal Award and become a “Beat the Odds School” sponsored by the Center for the Future of Arizona.
    • The Alhambra District had a stellar showing at the MESA (Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement) Regional Competition at Arizona State University. Alhambra captured total of 20, out of 30, awards, which include seven 1st place awards, seven 2nd place awards, and six 3rd place awards.
    • Three Alhambra teachers earned their National Board Certification, which is an advanced teaching credential that complements a teacher’s state teaching license. Congratulations to Jill Bahti, District Academic Coach; Maggie Walton, third grade teacher at Cordova Middle; and Gerri Layton, District Academic Coach, for achieving certification.
    • Michelle Blilie, junior high math teacher at Alhambra Traditional School, received a Golden Bell Award from the Arizona School Boards Association for her Math Mentors Program.
    • Carin Bayer, third grade teacher at Granada Primary School, was selected as a winner in the OfficeMax “A Day Made Better Program.”
    • Kathleen Ross, a special education teacher at Sevilla Primary School, received the 2011 Outstanding Educator Awardfrom the Phoenix Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
    • Bridget Larkin, fifth grade teacher at Alhambra Traditional School, was named a KNIX/Fulton Homes Teacher of the Week.
    • Heather Raths, third grade teacher at Sevilla Primary School, was a winner in the Arizona Cardinals Heroes in the Classroom award program.
    • Dr. Doug Virgil, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, and the Business Department received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for achieving the highest standards in government accounting and financial reporting for our comprehensive annual financial reports.
    • Megan Kristianson, third grade teacher at Granada Primary School was selected as a semifinalist for the 2013 Rodel Exemplary Teacher Awards!
    • James W. Rice Primary School was invited to apply for the National Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Program. Schools are invited by the Arizona Department of Education, the National Association of State Title I Directors, and the U.S. Department of Education. In order to qualify for the Distinguished School award, schools must be highly performing and significantly closed the achievement gap between students. . .and James W. Rice Primary School is one of Arizona’s selections for the honor.
    • Alhambra School District’s Preschool Program earned its national accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

2011-2012 District Awards

    • Sevilla West School and Westwood Primary School were 2 of 21 A+ schools in the state.
    • The district received eight awards from the Arizona School Public Relations Association for our Superintendent’s High Five Student Recognition Program, the Superintendent’s SMAC-N-Snack, Get the Scoop Social Media Campaign, Bring Your Parents to School Day, our STEM Initiative, Quality Counts Customer Service Program, our business partnership with Communities In Schools, and overall excellence for school public relations.
    • Sevilla Primary School was 1 of 9 schools in Phoenix to receive a gold award and named a “Beat the Odds School” by the Center for the Future of Arizona.
    • Richard Holmes, district academic coach, and Stacy O’Rourke, Assistant Principal at Granada Primary School, were named Rodel Aspiring Principals.
    • Seven Alhambra schools were honored by the Arizona Business and Education Coalition as 2011 NCEA Higher Performing Schools. NCEA's list reocgnizes 196 Arizona school that are most successful at preparing students for college and careers. Schools include:
      • All Subject Higher Performing Schools
        • Granada Primary
        • James W. Rice Primary
        • Sevilla Primary
        • Westwood Primary
      •  Higher Performing Schools
        • Alhambra Traditional
        • Carol G. Peck
        • Sevilla West
    • Elizabeth Yaeger, third grade teacher at Sevilla Primary School, was a winner in the OfficeMax “A Day Made Better” program, which recognizes outstanding teachers for the work they do every day with students. Ms. Yaeger was also honored with 3TV’s Silver Apple Award.
    • Leticia Comparan, kindergarten teacher at Cordova Primary School, was a winner in the Arizona Cardinals Heros in the Classroom award program.
    • Enid Gilland-Kent, art teacher at Sevilla Primary School, was selected as a recipient of the Elementary School Division Outstanding Art Educator, an Arizona Art Education Association State Award.
    • Five Alhambra teachers were selected as semi-finalists for the 2012 Rodel Exemplary Teacher Award. These exemplary teachers include
      • Christine Harrington, K-1 teacher at Catalina Ventura School
      • Barry Greenawalt, fifth grade teacher at Granada East School
      • Scott Thompson, sixth grade teacher at Granada East School
      • Tania Smith, fourth grade teacher at Simpson School
      • Elizabeth Yaeger, second grade teacher at Sevila Primary School
    • Alhambra's Child Nutrition Department was one of three organizations statewide to receive the Arizona Department of Education Desert Oasis Award for having an outstanding Summer Food Service Program that positively impacted the community.
    • Dr. Doug Virgil, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, and the business department, received two Certificates of Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Association of School Business Officials International and the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for achieving the highest standards in government accounting and financial reporting for our comprehensive annual financial reports.
    • Dr. Nan Williams, Director of Technology, was one of 50 people nationwide to receive the 2011 Making IT Happen Award from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

2010-2011 District Awards

    • Granada East School was 1 of 25 A+ schools in the state.
    • Sakeenah Smith, third grade teacher at Montebello School received The Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona’s Exemplary Teacher Award.
    • Leslie Zraick, collaborative peer teacher at Granada East, was named a Rodel Aspiring Principal.
    • Adrienne Stevenson, first grade teacher at Granada Primary School, was named a KNIX Teacher of the Week.
    • Cindy Ponce, third grade teacher at Carol G. Peck School, was a winner in the OfficeMax “A Day Made Better” program, which recognizes outstanding teachers for the work they do every day with students.
    • Sandy Satterfield, performance pay coordinator, was selected as the 2010 Personnel Administrator of the Year sponsored by the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association.
    • The district received awards of excellence from the Arizona School Public Relations Association for our new district and school websites; New Parent Orientations; Professional Learning Community Parent Classes, and our Refugee Fairs and Educational Nights.