Phoenix teacher wins Bruce & Gaydos’ teacher tribute for teaching math, empathy, leadership

PHOENIX — A math teacher at a Phoenix high school is this year’s first Pay Tribute to a Teacher winner.

Dustin Thomas, who teaches ninth and 10th grade math at Camelback High School, is our January winner of the $2,500 award, sponsored by Your Valley Toyota Dealers.

“I’m a second-generation math teacher,” Thomas told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos. “My mom was a math teacher, and I ended up in her class in high school. … She taught at Arcadia High.”

Back when he was a student, he called his mother Mrs. Thomas. Although he followed in her footsteps professionally, he’s a tad different personally.

“My daughter is in my math class,” he said. “And she does call me Dad.”

Phoenix math teacher won first Pay Tribute to a Teacher award of 2026

His skills at teaching math are only part of why he was nominated for this month’s Pay Tribute to a Teacher Award. In fact, the person who put his name forward for the winnings said he strengthens the school community by coordinating volunteer opportunities and continually pushing students to grow as leaders.

Thomas said he gives students opportunities to connect with their wider community with charitable projects such as those through Camelback Montessori.

“It’s just the after-school club we do,” he said. “We do all kinds of different activities. One of them is we fundraise to buy the materials to then make blankets, and then we donate those blankets to different communities around the neighborhood. This year, we’ve made 80 blankets so far.”

Want to nominate somebody for the Pay Tribute to a Teacher award? Submissions are accepted here.

Related

KTAR News donated $30,000 to support metro Phoenix teachers throughout 2025Making shopping for back-to-school supplies easier for Phoenix-area parentsKimberly Yee wins GOP primary for Arizona schools chief over Tom HorneArizona voters to choose Republican and Democratic nominees for top education positionFormer Mesa High School official claims that an inaccurate police report destroyed his careerFormer ASU President, who elevated university’s status, dies at 89