Cactus Shadows Fine Art Center was filled with red attired teachers as they gathered the day before the walkout to honor Cave Creek Unified Schools District’s teacher of the year. CCUSD elementary schools nominate one teacher each and the high school and junior high may nominate two educators each. The winners are decided by a group outside the district.
The Teacher of the Year program is supported by Dick and Barbara Gunderson. Barbara is a retired teacher and Dick was an insurance executive. They are glad to be able to support educators. The winner receives $3000 and two honorees each receive $1000.
The nominees were Marian Bauer, Black Mountain Elementary School; Julie Dine, Horseshoe Trails Elementary School; Amy Dummett, Lone Mountain Elementary School; Honoree, Cathy Malina, Desert Willow Elementary School; Michael Hudnutt, Cactus Shadows High School; Honoree Shelley Kniffen, Sonoran Trails Middle School; and Teacher of the Year, Christine Huguley, Desert Sun Academy.
