Pictured above: Attorney Helen Pauly-Hice, Rita Atkinson, and Simis principal Lindsay Murray are joined by Rita’s delightful 2nd graders.
(November 28, 2025…Phoenix, AZ) Burch & Cracchiolo is pleased to honor Rita Atkinson of Madison Simis Elementary School as our November Star Teacher. Simis has 960 students in PK-4th grades. She has been teaching 1st and 2nd grade there for 18 years. Rita grew up in Phoenix and went to Madison Simis herself. She got her B.A. in elementary education from the University of Arizona. She was nominated by parent Melissa Camp who wrote:
Ms. Atkinson is a caring & fun teacher, & not afraid to openly & unapologetically show her love for Batman. She is dedicated teaching my daughter in 2nd grade, but she also taught my 16-, 13- and 10-year-olds when they were in 1st grade. Ms. Atkinson is a leader at the school, mentoring student teachers & offering differentiated instruction for gifted & struggling learners. Not only is she hilarious but her heart & love for teaching has been evident. She is known to attend student's events like birthdays & sports. One year she picked up my son and his friend to attend a charity Batman event for my son's friend's brother's benefit. She even has sent postcards to kids over summer break. She makes sure students do not go hungry and always has back up snacks for her kids daily even if they forgot one at home. We admire her dedication to teaching and she is so humble and deserving. She is preparing our future leaders to lead and should be recognized.
Helen engaged the kids in a wonderful conversation and Q&A about what attorneys do, and they were very eager to participate. It was wonderful!
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.