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PRESS RELEASE

Rio Salado College Honors Outstanding Teachers

Desert Vista English teacher Erik Dominguez spent hours coaching the school’s speech theater and debate team racking up an impressive three state championships in a row. Hull Elementary teacher Lisa Boyer has a knack for reaching and teaching struggling youngsters. Queen Creek High School teacher Matthew Chicci has become a role model encouraging others to enter the teaching field from his example.

This Monday, May 21 Dominguez, Boyer and Chicci will be recognized along with six other Valley teachers in the “Excellence in Education” program sponsored by Rio Salado College in partnership with KEZ 99.9 FM.

Valley teachers are selected and recognized once a month throughout the school year for their outstanding contribution to education and their performance as role models and mentors. KEZ’s Marty Manning and Maribeth All, coordinator of Rio Salado College’s Excellence in Education program, pay a surprise visit to each teacher. The winning teachers are awarded $99, an Excellence in Education plaque, a KEZ Prize Bag, and their pictures are posted on the KEZ and Rio Salado College websites; www.kez999.com and www.riosalado.edu.

On Monday a “Teacher of the Year” will be selected from the group of nine at a special luncheon and receive a $1,000 cash prize from KEZ.

This year’s “Teachers in Excellence” are as follows:

  • Sister Fran Grzeslo from St. Thomas Aquinas Grade School in Avondale
  • Holly Batsell from Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Glendale
  • Suzanne Horst from Greenway High School in Phoenix
  • Erik Dominguez from Desert Vista High School in Phoenix
  • Matthew Chicci from Queen Creek High School in Queen Creek
  • Rebecca Lucero from West Phoenix High School in Phoenix
  • Lisa Boyer from Hull Elementary in Chandler
  • Alison Urban from Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Mesa
  • Ms. DiAnna Martinez of Buckeye Union High School in Buckeye

For information contact:

EJ Anderson
(480) 517-8472
ej.anderson@riomail.maricopa.edu

Linda Bird
(480) 517-8462
linda.bird@riomail.maricopa.edu