Queen Creek Unified School District's Lara Cox, a kindergarten through sixth grade physical education teacher at Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary School, has been awarded an honorable mention in the Arizona Educational Foundation's 2025 Teacher of the Year Awards. The San Tan Valley resident will be honored at the Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards ceremony on Oct. 19.
Cox was among 15 educators named yesterday by the Arizona Educational Foundation to be celebrated as part of the Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards in the fall. The awards recognize outstanding teachers and their incredible contributions to public education.
A total of 625 teachers from across Arizona were nominated for this prestigious award. An independent panel of past award winners and community members narrowed the candidates down to 15 quarterfinalists.
The 10 teachers with the highest scores after the application round now move on as semifinalists. The remaining five are given honorable mentions and are no longer under consideration for the award this year but may be nominated again in the future. All 15 educators will be celebrated at the Oct. 19 awards ceremony.
Jenni Feidler-Aguilar, a preK-6 visual art teacher at Gilbert Elementary School, who has served 15 years as a teacher, is among the 10 semifinalists who will move on to a semifinal round that includes an in-person interview with the selection committee, a lesson demonstration and an impromptu speech.
Considered the “Oscar Awards” for teachers, the educator selected as the Arizona Teacher of the Year will represent Arizona in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
Last year, Cox was a finalist for the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year award.
