Elementary school teacher based in Gila Bend wins final $2.5K Pay Tribute to a Teacher award of 2025

PHOENIX — Closing out this year’s Pay Tribute to a Teacher program, brought to you by Your Valley Toyota Dealers, is our December winner: Cahril Nengasca.

“I’m currently teaching a third and fourth grade combo class in Paloma Elementary School District in Gila Bend,” Nengasca told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos.

She’s receiving $2,500 to support her work in the community. Her influence reaches far beyond academics, as she nurtures confidence, kindness and curiosity in her students, modeling tenacity and empathy, according to the person who nominated her for the award.

“I’ve been teaching for seven years, but it’s my fourth year teaching here in the United States because (I’m) originally from the Philippines,” Nengasca said. “I came in here as a J-1 teacher. It’s an exchange cultural program for teachers.”

Pay Tribute to a Teacher winner talks teaching in US vs. Philippines

One of her favorite parts of teaching in the U.S. is having enough classroom supplies.

“Back in my home country, kids barely have school supplies and other stuff, and that’s what I love here,” Nengasca explained. “The government really puts a lot of funds for the schools here.”

She also said she loves her American students, as well as her fellow teachers and administrators. They all moved her with their support for a humanitarian project aiding Cebu, her home province in the Philippines, after a 6.9‑magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction.

“That’s where my family lives, and I couldn’t sit still knowing that they were going through that,” Nengasca said. “I reached out to my principal and asked if I could talk to our student council and do some small fundraising, just to help. … I never expected anything big.”

Gila Bend elementary school teacher talks charity, humanitarian efforts

Under her guidance, the student council organized a fundraiser to raise money to send food, water and essential supplies for people impacted by the earthquake.

“We were able to help almost 100 families,” Nengasca said.

Recently, tragedy struck again, and she hopes to use part of the $2,500 to help those in need.

“My family — also, the hometown that I grew up in — experienced a typhoon, and there was flash flooding there,” Nengasca said. “Families lost everything. … My (family) lost our house. … I want to help them, a little bit, to have a … fresh start and encourage them to keep going.”

The person who nominated her for the award said her ultimate goal is to make the world a better place and praised her as a role model of perseverance during hard times.

Nengasca said she was honored to be described in such a way.

“I really want to help, not my family only, but also for the people in my community,” she said.

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

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