MESA, Ariz. — 12News got to help surprise a Mesa teacher this week! Sixth-grade teacher Sherri Pine of Ishikawa Elementary School has been named Four Peaks for Teachers’ Teacher of the Year.
Pine was awarded $3,000 for her classroom on Thursday night.
“I love my job, it’s the best job in the world,” said Pine.
She has been teaching for 39 years and truly faced a difficult last year.
Pine shared she had a fire at her own home and then weeks later her classroom also caught fire displacing her entire class and leaving Mrs. Pine and her students heartbroken.
“The hard part was teaching the kids that we’re resilient and that, they were like ‘why did this happen, why did this happen?’ and I told them why not?” said Pine.
She used the moment as a teaching lesson, and said to her class, “So what are we going to do with this situation? It can break us or we can take control of this,” shared Pine.
Pine was nominated for the Teacher of the Year by several family members and friends.
She was surprised on Thursday night that she was in fact the Teacher of the Year winner inside the Tempe 8th Street location of Four Peaks Brewing.
Trevor Needle with Four Peaks, told Mrs. Pine she embodies the reason they do this program.
“After we went through all of our panels and went through all of our finalists, you clearly deserve this, thank you for everything you do to support Arizona,” said Needle.
The program “Four Peaks for Teachers” was created to help offset many of the cost our local teachers take on. A percentage of each can, bottle, and a pint of Four Peaks Kilt Lifter goes to the program. It also helps to provide schools supplies to thousands of teachers in need.
“We spend so much money in our classrooms every year, every teacher does, it’s not unique to me,” said Pine.
Each Year Four Peaks supplies goodie bags to any teacher who needs them which include everything from pencils to scissors. This year, Four Peaks said they gave out more 7,000 of those kits to teachers across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Ten other nominated teachers will also receive a $1,000 cash grant. Pine has been awarded the grand prize of $3,000 and catered teachers’ lunch at their school.
Four Peaks said this year’s nominations are closed, but you can find out more details about getting supplies and nominating an amazing teacher in our community by checking back in next May.
You can find more information on the program at https://www.fourpeaksforteachers.org/.
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