Sherri Pine Named Four Peaks for Teachers’ Teacher of the Year
MESA, Ariz. — The dedication and resilience of teachers often go unnoticed, but this week, 12News had the opportunity to shine a spotlight on an extraordinary educator. Sherri Pine, a sixth-grade teacher at Ishikawa Elementary School, has been named Four Peaks for Teachers’ Teacher of the Year.
As a token of appreciation for her hard work and commitment, Pine was awarded $3,000 for her classroom during a heartwarming ceremony on Thursday night. In addition to the grand prize, ten other nominated teachers will also receive a $1,000 cash grant. Pine’s dedication to her students and passion for teaching stood out among the nominees, earning her the prestigious title of Teacher of the Year.
With 39 years of teaching experience under her belt, Pine has seen her fair share of challenges. Last year, she faced immense difficulties when a fire broke out at her own home and later, her classroom also fell victim to a fire, displacing her entire class. Despite these setbacks, Pine remained resolute and used the adversity as a teaching moment for her students.
“The hard part was teaching the kids that we’re resilient and that, they were like ‘why did this happen, why did this happen?’ and I told them why not?” shared Pine.
Her ability to turn adversity into a valuable learning experience for her students resonated with the community and led to her nomination for Teacher of the Year. The surprise announcement took place at the Tempe 8th Street location of Four Peaks Brewing, where Pine was surrounded by loved ones and colleagues who lauded her dedication to her students.
The Four Peaks for Teachers program was created to support local educators by offsetting some of the costs they incur for classroom supplies. A percentage of each can, bottle, and a pint of Four Peaks Kilt Lifter goes towards the program, providing essential school supplies to teachers in need. This year alone, over 7,000 kits were distributed to teachers across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
“We spend so much money in our classrooms every year, every teacher does, it’s not unique to me,” Pine remarked, highlighting the financial strain teachers often face.
While this year’s nominations have concluded, Four Peaks encourages the community to stay engaged and nominate exceptional teachers next May. For more information on the program and how to get involved, visit https://www.fourpeaksforteachers.org/.
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