It’s often been called, “The Oscar Awards of Teaching” — and for good reason!
Recently, The Arizona Educational Foundation named their five finalists for the 2025 Teacher of the Year Award.
The five finalists are referred to as “Ambassadors for Excellence,” with the winner being selected on October 19 at a special ceremony.
ABC15 recently caught up with all five of these hero educators to find out what the nomination means to them.
Arizona Teacher of the Year We started in the Phoenix Union High School District and Carl Hayden High School with Language Arts teacher Torrun Anderson .
“It’s overwhelming,” explains Anderson about what it’s been like to be a finalist. “I’m at a loss for words!”
But like the great English teacher she is, Anderson came up with the perfect metaphor to meet the moment.
“I feel like one of those little turtles at the ocean. The ones who come out of the shell and have to make it from the sand into the ocean.”
And it’s a job that’s taken her across oceans — quite literally! Miss Anderson has taught all over the world, including in Abu Dhabi.