2024 TEACHER OF THE YEAR T The Seventeenth Annual Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year Awards Dinner Ceremony took place last month on Friday August 09, at the VFW Ballroom. The "Fabulous Roaring Twenties was the theme for this year and with the vibrant sounds of the music from that era and the ballroom decorated in 1920's motif, the twenty nominated teachers along with their family. Principals, Superintendents and 200 guests, as they made their way into the event. The grand occasion was co-sponsored by the Santa Cruz County School Superintendent Alfredo 1. Velásquez, South 32, Santa Cruz Community Foundation and the Nogales Rotary Club and coordinated by the Santa Cruz County School Superintendent's Accounting Specialist Patricia Barraza-Preciado. With the presentation of the colors by the Rio Rico High School ROTC and the singing of National Anthem by Ms. Maria Martinez, SCC School Superintendent Alfredo I. Velasquez welcomed all the guests and thanked all nominees and all our teachers for their extraordinary dedication and commitment to the students of Santa Cruz County. Over 40 door prizes donated by local businesses from throughout the county were raffled, while the guests enjoyed an excellent dinner provided Sodexo. All proceeds from ticket sales for the dinner ceremony and raffle tickets that evening is designated to the Witham 1. Rothstein Memorial Scholarship for graduating students in our county. Mrs. Patricia Barraza Preciado introduced each of the twenty Teacher of the Year nominees with a short quote on their philosophy of teaching, Each of them took center stage and were awarded a trophy presented by Santa Cruz County School Superintendent Alfredo L. Velasquez. They also received a Teacher of the Year Appreciation Platter consisting of a cash award and assorted gift cards valuing over 8650.00. Given the difficult task of selecting the 2024 Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year were five incredible judges chosen from across the county. This year We are honored to announce and congratulate Mr. Chris Regala from Mountain View Elementary as the recipient of the 2004 Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year Award. Mr. Regala thanked and dedicated his award to his third-grade teacher. He stated that positive reinforcements and kindness were her way of teaching and treating students. Mr. Regala ended his speech by reminding teachers that "he believes that, every student is a genius and they do not learn from people that they do not like." Mr. Regala, was awarded the Teacher of the Year Trophy. a 83,000.00 check, a 65-inch TV. laptop, one-night stay for two from Tubac Resort, $500.00 for Professional Development and prizes and gift cards from local community members with a total value close to 85.000.00 We also want to congratulate the 2024 Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year Runner-up from Challenger Elementary Ms. Lizette Ocampo. Ms. Ocampo was presented the Runner-up trophy along with a $2000.00 check, lap top, stainless steel BBQ. $250.00 for Professional Development along with prizes and gift cards from local community members, valued close to 63.300.00 We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the sponsors and donors that made this event possible and a great success. We appreciate your support. Santa Cruz County School Superintendent's Office.......Mr. Alfredo L. Velásquez Santa Cruz Community Foundation. Mr. Chris Young Unisource.. Ms. Shea-Lynn Hoisington Ms. Georgina Tavera Ms. Tashina Freeman Mr. Pat Risner Nogales Rotary Club.. McDonald's. South 32. Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District Nogales Unified School District First Bank of Yua Mr. David Verdugo Ms. Angel Canto Mr. David Esquivel Mariposa Community Health Center. Mr. Dan Prevost Mr. Jaime Chamberlain Auto Center Mr. Carl Krause Ms. Alexa Ramirez Mr. Anthony Griffen Nogales Hall of Fame. Home Ford Wise Trucking Santa Fe Ranch. Santa Cruz County Supervisor Dist. 2. Santa Cruz County Supervisor Dist. 1 Community Member. LIST OF SPONSORS AND DONORS Community Member Mr. Emilio Velásquez Ragazzi Restaurant... Community Member Ms. Suzie and Alva Luz Sainz Rascon Stylist... Community Member Ms. Georgina Tavera Martinez Group Calistro Distributing ..Mr. Charlie Calixtro Shannon Brokerage. Mr. Terry Shannon Nogales Woman's Club..........Ms. Marta Valenzuela Community Member. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Valenzuela Zula's/Santa Cruz County Supervisor Dist. 3.... Global Arts. Mr. Bruce Bracker Ms. Adriene Halpert Red Mountain Food..........Ms. Cindy Matus-Morriss Community Member.. Community Member.. Sunstreet Mortgage. Santa Cruz Elementary (Little Red). Mr. Jorge Leon Ms. Angelica Rascon Mr. Fernando Sandoval Mr. German Mendoza Ms. Sandra Moraga Ms. Lucy Gonzalez Mrs. Kathy Romero Community Member......Mr. and Mrs. Gustavo Acosta Patagonia Trading Post.Ms. Anne Anderson's Trucking LLC. Mr. & Mrs. Charlie Chiquete Wisdom's Cafe. United Way. United Mr. and Mrs. Santa Cruz County Manager Mr. Jesus Valdez Santa Cruz County Recorder......Ms. Anita Moreno Tubac Resort and Spa Ms. Vicky Pettypool Mrs. Socorro Hernandez Mr. Joe Grossi Mr. Luis Preciado Mr. and Mrs. George A. Wise El Zarape Restaurant Mr. Antony Sedgwick Jostens. Preciado Art... Mr. Rudy Molera Italian Peasant & Habanero Restaurant. Nogales Chamber Mr. Manny Ruiz Ms. Irene Molera of Commerce.. Mr. Armando Gil Mrs. Olivia Ainza Kramer Community Member.. Nickels Diner Titos Pizza Fly's Exclusives Community Member. Community Member. Community Member. 063 Bike Club We Love Nogales.. Gathering Grounds. Nogales International. Mr. Paul Hathaway Mr. and Mrs. Nick Rendon Mr. Armando Suarez On behalf of the Santa Cruz County educators and the Santa Cruz County School Superintendent's Office, we would like to thank all the business and community organizations for their support in making the 2024 Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year Awards Dinner Ceremony one of the most celebrated occasions in Santa Cruz County. Ms. Frankie Yourgules Ms. Terri Spri Ms. Kerri Munoz Lourdes Rivera Ms. Melissa Gallegos Mr. Edgardo Munoz Mr. & Mrs. Doles Mr. Manuel Coppola 2024 TEACHER OF THE YEAR T The Seventeenth Annual Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year Awards Dinner Ceremony took place last month on Friday August 09 , at the VFW Ballroom . The " Fabulous Roaring Twenties was the theme for this year and with the vibrant sounds of the music from that era and the ballroom decorated in 1920's motif , the twenty nominated teachers along with their family . Principals , Superintendents and 200 guests , as they made their way into the event . The grand occasion was co - sponsored by the Santa Cruz County School Superintendent Alfredo 1. Velásquez , South 32 , Santa Cruz Community Foundation and the Nogales Rotary Club and coordinated by the Santa Cruz County School Superintendent's Accounting Specialist Patricia Barraza - Preciado . With the presentation of the colors by the Rio Rico High School ROTC and the singing of National Anthem by Ms. Maria Martinez , SCC School Superintendent Alfredo I. Velasquez welcomed all the guests and thanked all nominees and all our teachers for their extraordinary dedication and commitment to the students of Santa Cruz County . Over 40 door prizes donated by local businesses from throughout the county were raffled , while the guests enjoyed an excellent dinner provided Sodexo . All proceeds from ticket sales for the dinner ceremony and raffle tickets that evening is designated to the Witham 1. Rothstein Memorial Scholarship for graduating students in our county . Mrs. Patricia Barraza Preciado introduced each of the twenty Teacher of the Year nominees with a short quote on their philosophy of teaching , Each of them took center stage and were awarded a trophy presented by Santa Cruz County School Superintendent Alfredo L. Velasquez . They also received a Teacher of the Year Appreciation Platter consisting of a cash award and assorted gift cards valuing over 8650.00 . Given the difficult task of selecting the 2024 Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year were five incredible judges chosen from across the county . This year We are honored to announce and congratulate Mr. Chris Regala from Mountain View Elementary as the recipient of the 2004 Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year Award . Mr. Regala thanked and dedicated his award to his third - grade teacher . He stated that positive reinforcements and kindness were her way of teaching and treating students . Mr. Regala ended his speech by reminding teachers that " he believes that , every student is a genius and they do not learn from people that they do not like . " Mr. Regala , was awarded the Teacher of the Year Trophy . a 83,000.00 check , a 65 - inch TV . laptop , one - night stay for two from Tubac Resort , $ 500.00 for Professional Development and prizes and gift cards from local community members with a total value close to 85.000.00 We also want to congratulate the 2024 Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year Runner - up from Challenger Elementary Ms. Lizette Ocampo . Ms. Ocampo was presented the Runner - up trophy along with a $ 2000.00 check , lap top , stainless steel BBQ . $ 250.00 for Professional Development along with prizes and gift cards from local community members , valued close to 63.300.00 We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the sponsors and donors that made this event possible and a great success . We appreciate your support . Santa Cruz County School Superintendent's Office ....... Mr . Alfredo L. Velásquez Santa Cruz Community Foundation . Mr. Chris Young Unisource .. Ms. Shea - Lynn Hoisington Ms. Georgina Tavera Ms. Tashina Freeman Mr. Pat Risner Nogales Rotary Club .. McDonald's . South 32 . Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District Nogales Unified School District First Bank of Yua Mr. David Verdugo Ms. Angel Canto Mr. David Esquivel Mariposa Community Health Center . Mr. Dan Prevost Mr. Jaime Chamberlain Auto Center Mr. Carl Krause Ms. Alexa Ramirez Mr. Anthony Griffen Nogales Hall of Fame . Home Ford Wise Trucking Santa Fe Ranch . Santa Cruz County Supervisor Dist . 2 . Santa Cruz County Supervisor Dist . 1 Community Member . LIST OF SPONSORS AND DONORS Community Member Mr. Emilio Velásquez Ragazzi Restaurant ... Community Member Ms. Suzie and Alva Luz Sainz Rascon Stylist ... Community Member Ms. Georgina Tavera Martinez Group Calistro Distributing ..Mr . Charlie Calixtro Shannon Brokerage . Mr. Terry Shannon Nogales Woman's Club .......... Ms . Marta Valenzuela Community Member . Mr. and Mrs. Mark Valenzuela Zula's / Santa Cruz County Supervisor Dist . 3 .... Global Arts . Mr. Bruce Bracker Ms. Adriene Halpert Red Mountain Food .......... Ms . Cindy Matus - Morriss Community Member .. Community Member .. Sunstreet Mortgage . Santa Cruz Elementary ( Little Red ) . Mr. Jorge Leon Ms. Angelica Rascon Mr. Fernando Sandoval Mr. German Mendoza Ms. Sandra Moraga Ms. Lucy Gonzalez Mrs. Kathy Romero Community Member ...... Mr . and Mrs. Gustavo Acosta Patagonia Trading Post.Ms. Anne Anderson's Trucking LLC . Mr. & Mrs. Charlie Chiquete Wisdom's Cafe . United Way . United Mr. and Mrs. Santa Cruz County Manager Mr. Jesus Valdez Santa Cruz County Recorder ...... Ms . Anita Moreno Tubac Resort and Spa Ms. Vicky Pettypool Mrs. Socorro Hernandez Mr. Joe Grossi Mr. Luis Preciado Mr. and Mrs. George A. Wise El Zarape Restaurant Mr. Antony Sedgwick Jostens . Preciado Art ... Mr. Rudy Molera Italian Peasant & Habanero Restaurant . Nogales Chamber Mr. Manny Ruiz Ms. Irene Molera of Commerce .. Mr. Armando Gil Mrs. Olivia Ainza Kramer Community Member .. Nickels Diner Titos Pizza Fly's Exclusives Community Member . Community Member . Community Member . 063 Bike Club We Love Nogales .. Gathering Grounds . Nogales International . Mr. Paul Hathaway Mr. and Mrs. Nick Rendon Mr. Armando Suarez On behalf of the Santa Cruz County educators and the Santa Cruz County School Superintendent's Office , we would like to thank all the business and community organizations for their support in making the 2024 Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year Awards Dinner Ceremony one of the most celebrated occasions in Santa Cruz County . Ms. Frankie Yourgules Ms. Terri Spri Ms. Kerri Munoz Lourdes Rivera Ms. Melissa Gallegos Mr. Edgardo Munoz Mr. & Mrs. Doles Mr. Manuel Coppola