(May 6, 2025…Phoenix, AZ) Greg Rosenthal and his wife Stacy did the honors in presenting Amy Shugar the Star Teacher Award for April. Amy is a 3rd year 1st grade teacher at Whispering Winds Academy at 43rd Street just north of Greenway in the Paradise Valley School District. Whispering Winds is a K-6 grade school with 518 students. It is a STEM School and has been a leader in STEM Education for the past 15 years (all the 1st graders had a computer to use in the classroom). In addition, the school is a Mandarin Chinese Dual Language Immersion school, also providing Mandarin enrichment through a world language for students not in immersion.
Amy was nominated by Greg and Stacy’s daughter Annie who was a part time summer receptionist for B&C before she moved to Florida. Annie and Amy grew up together, so it was a real family project as Stacy has gone into Amy’s classroom and read to her students on occasion. Amy is very passionate and so enthusiastic about her students, and they obviously love her. I have never seen such a beautifully decorated and inspirational classroom. Here is Annie’s nomination:
Amy is a bubbly and colorful personality that relates to her students by making learning fun! She teaches through games, songs, and dances and her classroom is decorated from top to bottom in positive colorful messages that she made herself in the absence of school funding for decor.
Whispering Wind’s principal Rebecca Rodriguez said that the $250 the school received will partially be donated to the fund that buys small incentives for teachers like gift cards, and she will also use the funds for an ice cream social for the school.
A Valley teacher is chosen each month to receive $500 through a nominating process on the firm’s website www.bcattorneys.com. Nominations are accepted from students, former students and parents who wish to honor and thank a teacher who has had a profound impact on their life. Many teachers spend their own money to augment the costs of classroom supplies, field trips and other non-covered costs that arise throughout the school year. B&C hopes to alleviate that burden for one deserving teacher each month. In addition, the school where the educator teaches receives a check for $250 to be used at their discretion.
Nominations are open to all teachers in K-12 who teach in Maricopa County. Winners will be notified and then presented a check at their school by a member of Burch & Cracchiolo. Photos and/or video will be taken to post on the firm website and social media. To nominate go to www.bcattorneys.com, click on the “Nominate a Star Teacher” button and tell us why you think your teacher deserves the B&C Star Teacher Award.
About Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A.
Now with a team of 45+ esteemed law professionals, Burch & Cracchiolo is one of the Southwest's premier law firms. The firm was founded in 1970 by Haze Burch and Dan Cracchiolo and today the firm’s lawyers are among the most highly regarded and recognized leaders in the areas of business and corporate law, construction, criminal defense, estate and wealth preservation planning, family law, finance, labor and employment, litigation, personal injury and insurance defense, real estate, and tax law. The firm has a long history of giving back to the community through non-profit sponsorships, donations, and volunteer efforts. B&C has been honored as an AZ Business Angel by the Arizona Business Magazine in 2020, 2021 and 2022.