ARIZONA NEWS

West Valley teacher wins Gaydos and Chad’s teacher tribute

Apr 17, 2023, 8:00 PM | Updated: 8:04 pm

(Photo provided by Thasanee Morrissey...

(Photo provided by Thasanee Morrissey

PHOENIX — A West Valley high school teacher was named KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Gaydos and Chad Show’s Pay Tribute to a Teacher winner for March, presented by your Valley Toyota Dealers.

Thasanee Morrissey is a senior high school teacher of AP biology and anatomy at Canyon View High School in Waddell.

She’s going on 11 years of teaching, and for her, she feels most rewarded when she gets students enthusiastic and excited about science.

“Even the students that aren’t so enthusiastic and aren’t really into science, getting them to talk about science and they don’t even realize that they’re talking about science but that they’re getting excited and see the have that ‘ah-ha’ moment to see how all these thing we talk about apply to them or any other real-world situation,” Morrissey said.

“That’s kind of my philosophy in the classroom, let’s get as many real-world experiences to you as possible involving the world of science.”

That’s what prompted one letter writer, a current student, to nominate her for the $2,500 prize.

“I wanted to express the profound impact that she has had on my academic and personal growth. Mrs. Morrissey’s unwavering support and encouragement have been instrumental in my success,” the letter writer said.

“She challenged me to think critically and creatively and always encouraged me to push my limits and pursue my passion for science inside and outside the classroom.”

Morrissey said she plans to use her reward for feeding the animals, like her lizards and a frog, in her classroom.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

A lottery ticket from an Avondale Fry's won $50,000 in a recent Powerball drawing....

Kevin Stone

Lottery ticket from West Valley supermarket wins $50,000 in Powerball

A lottery ticket purchased at an Avondale supermarket won $50,000 in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing.

29 minutes ago

vaccinating chickens egg prices...

Kevin Stone

Arizona egg farmer wants to vaccinate chickens from bird flu, but government won’t allow it

A prominent Arizona egg farmer says vaccinating chickens from the bird flu would lower prices, but the federal government won’t allow it.

1 hour ago

Valley events calendar...

KTAR.com

Valley events calendar: Here’s a rundown of things to do around metro Phoenix

Our Valley events calendar keeps you up to date on the wide variety of activities across the Phoenix area.

3 hours ago

The evacuation order for the Brady Fire was lifte on Wednesday....

KTAR.com

Evacuation order lifted for residents near Brady Fire south of Prescott

The evacuation order for a community threatened by the Brady Fire south of Prescott was lifted on Wednesday evening, authorities said.

5 hours ago

off-road vehicle crash...

Kevin Stone

2nd teen in off-road vehicle crash at Phoenix canal has died

The second teen involved in an off-road vehicle crash at a Phoenix canal last week has died, authorities announced Wednesday.

6 hours ago

Two men were injured on Wednesday night when a suspect opened fire at a group of unsheltered people...

Kevin Stone

Suspect opens fire at unsheltered people at Tempe park, injuring 3

Three people were injured on Wednesday night when a suspect opened fire at a group of unsheltered people in Tempe, authorities said.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Bright Wealth Management

How IRAs are a helpful tool in retirement planning

When it comes to retirement planning, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be a great tool for income growth.

...

Fiesta Bowl Foundation

Join us for the 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade

The 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe returns on Saturday, December 28, at 10 a.m.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to save money on retirement planning following 2024 election

PHOENIX -- With the 2024 election over, economic changes could impact how people plan for retirement as 2025 is on the horizon.

West Valley teacher wins Gaydos and Chad’s teacher tribute