Honoring four outstanding teachers in Arizona every year.

Teaching from the soul

Ms. Ana Gonzalez-Willis

Special Education Teacher, Webster Elementary School

Ms. Ana Gonzalez-Willis's boundless compassion and selflessness compel her to help every child she can—both at home and abroad. 

In Mesa, Ms. “G,” as her students affectionately call her, creates an inclusive and welcoming classroom environment for her students. She translates for parents and educates them on their rights so they can advocate for their children. And with the larger school community, she works as a bridge for other students and staff so they can better understand autism. 

But for Ms. G, making a positive impact on her students, their parents, and her colleagues is just the beginning. Last summer, she spent two months of her vacation volunteering at a rural school in the Dominican Republic. She took the time to learn about the culture, understand their unique needs, and collaborate with local educators to develop curriculum for students with special needs. Today, the Dominican federal government has adopted her learning model and is implementing it at other schools throughout the country. 

Once his student, always his family 

Mr. John Flores

STEM Pathways Teacher, Bogle Junior High School

When his mom passed away during his senior year of high school, Mr. John Flores had to take a detour from his dreams of one day becoming a teacher. Instead, he had to enter the workforce to pay the bills and survive. 

But his belief in the transformative power of education kept him moving forward, and he eventually made his way to college. This experience taught him about compassion and not giving up on his dreams, which is what he teaches his students in his STEM classes, the tennis teams, and the VFX Robotics team, which has participated in the World Championships the past three years. 

Besides teaching and coaching, he makes sure to attend band concerts and other events during his free time to show each student they matter—even if they are not in his class or his teams. One time, he even sacrificed his Spring break to help his former students at a local high school get to their robotics competition and support them. 

Today, he and his wife give back to other motivated students who have lost a parent. Through a partnership with the Chandler Education Foundation, the Grumski-Flores scholarship gives students the opportunity to pursue their college dreams and show them that at least one person out there believes in their potential. 

Never a quitter

Mrs. Diane Hernandez

7th & 8th Grade English Language Arts, History and Social Studies, and Community Projects Teacher, Global Academy of Phoenix

Not even a cancer diagnosis could stop Mrs. Hernandez from teaching. That’s how committed she is to her students. Despite the surgeries and ongoing radiation therapy, she kept going to class and supporting her students personally and academically. 

Mrs. Hernandez has always made a big impact at her school. For her community-based projects, she has students research and engage with a cause they care about, which teaches students to be active and responsible citizens. Her own empathy has compelled her to start mental health support programs and organize clothing and food drives so students and their families have basic necessities. 

During her cancer journey, Mrs. Hernandez’s strength, resilience, and selflessness inspired everyone at school, encouraging empathy, community support, and the motivation to never give up. Her journey through cancer brought the school community closer together, and as of November 2024, her cancer went into remission. 

Hope sprouts from darkness

Mrs. Arlene Wade-Peña

Second Grade Teacher, Elvira Elementary School

Few college students have to juggle school with work to support their two children as a single parent—and battle cancer at the same time. But that’s what Mrs. Arlene Wade-Peña had to do. 

And since she started teaching at Elvira Elementary School, her principal credits her with helping bring the school from a “D” to an “A” rating thanks to her leadership. It’s because Mrs. Wade-Peña is the kind of teacher who shares her knowledge generously with colleagues so all students can get the best education possible—all while mentoring new teachers. 

In her free time, Mrs. Wade-Peña volunteers with the local Little League team and serves as Kinder Jump Start Coordinator in her school’s Teacher Assistance Program, where she helps parents and children transition to kindergarten. She also revived the school’s Student Council so upper elementary students could have an opportunity to get involved, make change, and be role models for the younger students. 

Decades after beating cancer and having what felt like the weight of the entire world on her shoulders, Mrs. Wade-Peña is still not taking a break from giving back to others.