Annual Educator Awards
Please join the Arizona Indian Education (AIEA) in celebrating the many professionals who significantly impact American Indian students. Each year, we host our Annual Educator Awards Celebration. This event was created to honor educators throughout Arizona who work with American Indian students and who have made significant impacts in the area of American Indian education. AIEA acknowledges the many leaders in our state who have done substantial work to promote language, culture, and tribal sovereignty.
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!
AIEA highly encourages you to nominate an educator who passionately and proactively supports American Indian students. Review important information and submit your nomination today using the 2026 Nomination Form below.
Nomination must be submitted by June 30, 2026 11:59 PM Arizona Time
Awardees will be notified by July 30, 2026
Awardees may submit an award acceptance or highlight video or statement by September 2, 2026
All awardees must be present for this celebration event on Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Important Dates
Must not have been awarded an AIEA Educator’s Award previously
Must not nominate oneself
Must work directly with or advocates for Native students (Nominee does not have to be Native themselves)
Nominee Eligibility Requirements:
Submit Your Nomination Today
Early Career Educator Award: This award seeks to recognize and encourage educators (including certified teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators) beginning their professional careers (Eligibility: Currently in their first 1-5 years of teaching experience)
Warrior Educator Award: This award recognizes educators (including certified teachers, paraprofessionals, or administrators) who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to American Indian student success through leadership and mentorship. (Eligibility: more than 5 years of teaching experience)
Founder Award: This special award honors any type of educator (teacher, paraprofessional, principal, superintendent, etc.) who has shown a minimum of twenty years of dedication to American Indian students. Retired educators are welcome to be nominated.
Caregiver Award: This special recognition acknowledges the continued support that parents, grandparents, and other caregivers provide to American Indian students. AIEA recognizes that caregivers are not always parents and we welcome nominations for a wide variety of caregivers in this category.
Empowering Our Community Award: This award is for individuals or organizations who made significant efforts to empower and/or provide support for American Indian students through leadership, advocacy, and/or volunteering, in after-school or out-of-school settings.
Unsung Hero Award: There are many people who devote time and energy into providing a rewarding experience on a regular basis to American Indian students. Please use this category to nominate a bus driver, cafeteria worker, classified staff or other unsung hero of your school/district/education program.
Indian Education Program Award: This category is specifically designated for those professionals who lead a JOM program, Title VI, or additional support for American Indian education programs.
Language Revitalization Award: This award seeks to honor those who continue to protect, promote, and teach tribal languages in any setting.
AWARD CATEGORIES & QUALIFICATIONS
Early Career Educator Award - Laiken Liu Chan (Casa Blanca Community School)
Warrior Educator Award - Melanie Begay (Phoenix Elementary School District)
Founder Award - Ted Hibbeler (Phoenix Union High School District & Maricopa County Community College)
Serving the Community Award - Andre Pineda (Whiteriver Unified School District)
Unsung Hero Award - Sandra Casoose (Chandler Unified School District)
Program Award - Priscilla Flores (Tucson Unified School District)
Language Revitalization Award - Delphine Saraficio (Ha:san Preparatory and Leadership High School)
Administrator Award - Dr. Maxine Roanhorse-Dineyazhe (Bureau of Indian Education’s Phoenix Education Resource Center)
Congratulations to our 2024-2025 AIEA Educator awardees!
The Arizona Indian Education Association is grateful to the University of Arizona and the Coyote Store at San Xavier for the financial sponsorships that made our September 4th, 2025 Educators Celebration possible.