Salt River Elementary educator named 2020 Arizona Teacher of the Year

PHOENIX — A third grade teacher in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community has been given the state’s top honor for educators.

The Arizona Educational Foundation on Thursday named Lynette Stant of Salt River Elementary School, about 6 miles east of Scottsdale, the state’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

Stant will receive $15,000 cash, a classroom makeover, scholarships to pursue further training and a spot on the APS fire engine in the Fiesta Bowl Parade.

Now a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award, she will travel to Washington, D.C., for the induction ceremony and meet President Donald Trump.

On behalf of the Nez-Lizer Administration, we congratulate Lynette Stant for being honored as the "2020 Arizona Teacher of the Year" on Oct. 24, 2019. She is the first American Indian teacher to earn the prestigious honor and recognition. Stant is of the Navajo Nation. pic.twitter.com/sPkfsWoSDS

— Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (@NNPrezNez) October 25, 2019

Stant is a member of the Navajo Nation and an Arizona State University graduate.

Stant has taught at the Salt River school for 16 years and attended a reservation school in New Mexico as a child.

She is the first American Indian teacher to receive the award in its 37-year history.

Any full-time Arizona public school teacher who has taught for at least four years is eligible for the award.

Taryn Tidwell of Mesa and Sheila Rowe of Glendale were among the four runners-up, who received $5,000.

Five semifinalists — including Jessica Buttles and Jennifer Fowler of Glendale, Lauren Cluff of Mesa and Angie Edington of Phoenix — received $1,000.

Both groups also received scholarships for training and spots in the parade.

Kareem Neal, a special education teacher at Maryvale High School in Phoenix, received the award last year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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