(January 19, 2024…Phoenix, AZ) Please meet our January Star Teacher Ashley Schauer, 4th grade teacher at Kerr Center for Agriscience (a Mesa Public School magnet school). Ashley has been a teacher there for 9 years and clearly loves her job and her students, including the black and white class bunny Harry Potter! This morning they were studying fractions which they will use tomorrow when they go out and measure fertilizer and food mixtures when they tend to the crops they are growing and the animals they are raising in the fields behind the school.
Ashley was nominated by one of her classroom volunteers, Brian Edwards:
I was connected with Ms. Schauer through the "Your Experience Counts" program of Hands On Phoenix. I have now worked with Ms Schauer for about 2 months and have been increasingly impressed by what a great educator and human being she is. When I first started working with her it became evident very quickly that she was dealing with young people who in many cases came from very difficult circumstances, economically and socially. For example, some of these young people are dealing with the loss of parents and other significant people in their lives. These losses have been in tragic circumstances and yet she has shown them compassion and empathy that is helping these young people cope with their tragedy.
As a teacher she is innovative and creative using a variety of media and other tools to engage the students in developing curiosity and a desire to learn. I say this as a parent of adult children who were also provided a platform for continuing their education beyond the classroom. through wonderful educators. The difference here is that my children were in a socio-economic category significantly above the students Ms Schauer is dealing with.
To highlight the impact she has on her students, a student, who is now a Senior in high school, returned to visit her in the classroom over the Thanksgiving Break and thank her for the positive impact she has had on his life. I can't think of any higher endorsement of an educator having a positive impact on the lives of young students.
Ashley is also teaching her students to code so she intends to buy Lego’s Mindstorms robotic system with her $500 where the students can apply their coding skills and build a complex system at the same time.
Ashley Schauer
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 50+ 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.