Phoenix humanities teacher wins Outspoken’s ‘Pay Tribute to a Teacher’ award

PHOENIX – April’s KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos’ “Pay Tribute to a Teacher” award went to Rachel Winstead, a Humanities teacher at Metropolitan Arts Institute in Phoenix.

Winstead is in her third year of teaching at the charter college prep arts school, moving to Arizona and getting her master’s degree in education in 2020.

She said working in an arts school means she teaches English and history with creative elements included to keep kids interested, like having her students perform Shakespeare plays to learn the material.

“I’m competing against theater class and I’m competing against drawing class and like these things that they’re really passionate about,” she said. “The cool thing about teaching them history and teaching them English, it’s all about stories, right? And when we create art, we’re trying to tell a story.”

Winstead said she plans to use the prize money to expand her classroom library, ensuring her students have access to books that excite them and encourage a love of reading.

Winstead was submitted as a nominee for the award by one of her students, who said Winstead gives wonderful advice and lends out books to students, making her classroom a safe space.

“The way which she manages her classroom and her students, in my eyes, indicates a strong love for education,” wrote the student who nominated Winstead. “As a student artist, I can just personally tell when my teachers truly love teaching, and Mrs. Winstead is one of those teachers.”

That appreciation goes both ways, with Winstead saying she loves being surrounded by young artists.

“It is the best job, and it is something that I love waking up and doing every day,” said Winstead.

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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