ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona teacher tribute award goes to bilingual teacher Ricardo Garza

Jul 28, 2023, 8:00 PM | Updated: Jul 29, 2023, 8:22 pm

Arizona teacher tribute award...

Phoenix teacher Ricardo Garza won KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Gaydos and Chad Show’s Arizona teacher tribute award in June.

PHOENIX — An English teacher who serves immigrant students across country lines was July’s Arizona teacher tribute award winner.

KTAR News 92.3 FM‘s Larry Gaydos and Chad Benson crowned English teacher Ricardo Garza as the June winner of their Pay Tribute to a Teacher award.

The monthly reward gives $2,500 to a teacher who uplifts their community and goes above and beyond to serve students. That sum of cash comes from Your Valley Toyota Dealers, a Gaydos and Chad show sponsor.

Garza, who is from Mexico, is part of a teacher exchange program that takes him to the United States to teach the children of immigrants.

“You know, there’s a great necessity for us bilingual teachers to actually work with students whose parents are immigrants,” Garza told Gaydos and Chad on Friday.

Garza’s work for the Teacher Exchange Program exposes students to American culture while also honoring their home countries.

The person who nominated him for the award says his work in the program helps to “shape young people into positive agents of change.”

“As a result of his participation in the Teacher Exchange Program, Mr. Garza brings a wealth of interactive teaching practices to his students and colleagues,” according to Edwin Garza, who nominated Garza for the award.

“He has acquired critical thinking skills, an inquiry-based approach, and an analytical mindset that greatly contributes to the development of good citizenship among his students.”

Arizona teacher tribute award winner gives thanks

Garza has been teaching for 13 years.

“Basically, what I do is teach English to immigrants so we’ll be helping them out here in Oaxaca and also in Phoenix, AZ,” he said.

He first joined the teacher exchange program to understand why families immigrate to the U.S. so he could prepare them for success.

“I needed to see how things are working over there in the United States,” Garza told Gaydos and Chad.

He’s been teaching students in Mexico and the U.S. English ever since.

After winning the reward, Garza said every cent will go to the students, who are in dire need.

“All the money’s gonna go to resources for the students, whatever they need,” he said.

We want to hear from you.

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

Arizona News

(Bissell Pet Foundation photos)...

KTAR.com

Valley kennels taking part in ‘Empty the Shelters’ adoption discount event

Several Valley and state shelters will participate in a national reduced-fee pet adoption event in October.

1 hour ago

From left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice ...

Associated Press

Republican hopefuls face growing urgency to stop Donald Trump entering 2nd debate

Republicans are meeting for their second presidential debate on Wednesday as Donald Trump's top rivals seek to blunt the momentum of the former president.

3 hours ago

caution tape near a crime scene...

KTAR.com

Man hospitalized after being stabbed in Phoenix, no suspects detained

Phoenix police are searching for suspects involved in a stabbing after a man was hospitalized Tuesday night, authorities said. 

5 hours ago

Cloud seeding...

Luke Forstner

In the right conditions, cloud seeding can provide water source for Arizona

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s last Water Watch Minute was about cloud seeding: how the technology works and how it has the potential to shore up water supplies, as long as specific conditions are met.

6 hours ago

Arizona's Secretary of State Adrian Fontes...

Brandon Gray

Report: Arizona sees high turnover of local election officials since 2020 presidential election

A new report from cross-partisan organization Issue One has found about 55%  of the chief local election officials are new since the November 2020 presidential election.

6 hours ago

(KTAR News Photo)...

Mike Broomhead

Amazing Arizonans: David McIntyre shares how health care affects local veteran community

On this episode of Amazing Arizonans, Mike Broomhead talks with David McIntyre, the president and CEO of Triwest Healthcare Alliance.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

SCHWARTZ LASER EYE CENTER

Key dates for Arizona sports fans to look forward to this fall

Fall brings new beginnings in different ways for Arizona’s professional sports teams like the Cardinals and Coyotes.

...

DAY & NIGHT AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING AND PLUMBING

Importance of AC maintenance after Arizona’s excruciating heat wave

An air conditioning unit in Phoenix is vital to living a comfortable life inside, away from triple-digit heat.

...

Ignite Digital

How to unlock the power of digital marketing for Phoenix businesses

All businesses around the Valley hopes to maximize their ROI with current customers and secure a greater market share in the digital sphere.

Arizona teacher tribute award goes to bilingual teacher Ricardo Garza