Wishes for Teachers program distributes $1.5M to hundreds of Arizona educators

TEMPE — The Fiesta Sports Foundation’s Wishes for Teachers program handed out a total of $1.5 million to hundreds of Arizona educators on Tuesday.

The 540 teachers received $2,500 each to fund classroom projects or supplies in the 10th year of the education grant program.

Wishes for Teachers expanded this year to include three schools that received $50,000 each for building remodels.

Teachers were called and told their wishes had been granted after winners were selected through a lottery system.

East Valley educator ‘shocked’ after getting Wishes for Teachers grant

Sierra Meyers, a physical education teacher at James Madison Preparatory School in Tempe, said her award will help fund new equipment at the charter school.

“I put a lot of my own money into the program so the kids can have a good P.E. class. So … new footballs, new basketballs, hula hoops, cones — really any basic P.E. stuff you can think of — that’s what we’re going to get,” she said.

Meyers added that students had to be cautious with sports equipment in the past because it could not be replaced, but now kids won’t have to worry.

“Honestly, I never win anything,” she said. “So, it feels really good. I just I can’t believe it. I applied on a whim. I applied for a lot of scholarships for this type of stuff, so I’m shocked.”

Kristina Chumpol, chief impact officer and chief of staff for the Fiesta Sports Foundation, said the teachers’ wishes revolved around their students and improving the classroom.

“What we see more than anything is really just basic needs in the classroom,” she said. “Oftentimes it’s reading supplies, getting updated books, flexible seating options. Teachers have desks that aren’t functioning the way they should be.”

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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