Chandler English language teacher wins ‘Pay Tribute to a Teacher’ September award

The KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos Pay Tribute to a Teacher September award went to Monica Garcia, an English language development teacher at Hamilton High School in Chandler.

The award, sponsored by Your Valley Toyota Dealers, gives a deserving teacher $2,500 each month.

Garcia told KTAR News 92.3 FM she has spent 28 years teaching English language learners. Her current classroom includes students from 21 countries who speak 18 languages.

“I have to teach them in English, so I use a lot of visuals, a lot of gestures, body language — whatever works. That means making a fool of myself sometimes. That’s OK, as long as they understand,” she said.

Garcia said she would use the prize money to give back to her students.

“We have so many unique needs in our class. I would get some word-to-word dictionaries that would be more representative of all the languages in my classroom. I would do different little seating arrangements for listening practice, speaking and listening. And also, I have a little care cabinet for students that needs anything from snacks to toothpaste and socks. And I would help stock that a little bit more,” she said.

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

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

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