News Story

The WESD is proud to announce that Alyssa Weed, music teacher at Acacia Elementary School, has been selected as a Top 10 finalist for the Arizona Educational Foundation Teacher of the Year Award!

The AEF™ Arizona Teacher of the Year program spotlights the contributions of outstanding public school teachers throughout Arizona by annually recognizing 10 exceptionally skilled and dedicated pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public school teachers. Considered the “Oscar Awards” of teaching, the educator ultimately selected as Arizona Teacher of the Year becomes our state’s candidate for National Teacher of the Year.

WESD Governing Board member, Mrs. Lindsey Peterson, was also selected as a Top 10 finalist! Mrs. Peterson is an English teacher at Apollo High School in the Glendale Union High School District.

The top 10 candidates will be interviewed by the Arizona Educational Foundation. After interviews are completed, the top five teachers will be named “Ambassadors for Excellence” and finalists for the Arizona Teacher of the Year Award. The remaining five will become “Semifinalists.” All 10 are celebrated throughout the year at various recognition events.

This is the third time in four years that the WESD has had a Top 10 finalist. Both Alyssa and Lindsey will be honored at the 2022 Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony in October where the Teacher of the Year will be selected and announced.

Congratulations, Alyssa and Lindsey! We are honored to have you as part of our WESD Family!