PHOENIX — An Anthem teacher not only gets to claim the title of Arizona's Teacher of the Year but will also experience once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like meeting the President of the United States and going to space camp. And who doesn't want to go to space camp?
The Arizona Educational Foundation named Emmett Burnton, an AP World History and U.S. History Dual Enrollment teacher from Boulder Creek High School, as the top teacher for 2024-2025 school year Saturday night at the Madison Center of the Arts in Phoenix.
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Burnton is not only an exceptional history teacher, but he also founded a business in Anthem "built upon redefining how students study the world history curriculum," the foundation said.
Burnton sponsors the anime club, the culture club and is co-level lead of the Advanced Placement professional learning community for history and was the world history level lead for six years, according to the foundation. In 2017, Burnton was nominated for the Deer Valley Rookie of the Year Award and in 2024 was awarded the Deer Valley Education Foundation Teacher of the Year.
Burnton is in his ninth year of teaching at Boulder Creek High School. As Arizona's Teacher of the Year, he will join other state teachers of the year for a year of professional learning and experiences like meeting the President of the United States, training at Google headquarters and learning to be an astronaut at International Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.
He will also be considered for an honorary doctorate from Northern Arizona University.
“All of our Teacher of the Year nominees exemplify the best that Arizona has to offer in terms of educational excellence, being a role model, and inspiring students in their community,” said Kim Graham, AEF’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are so proud of each and every one of them. AEF congratulates Emmett on being named Arizona Teacher of the Year and looks forward to him representing us in Washington, DC, as Arizona’s 2025 National Teacher of the Year candidate.”
Congratulations from all of us here at 12News!
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