Buckeye Schools Honor 12 Staffers in Two Months | The Locally Times
One WestPark teacher received two separate district awards between November 2025 and January 2026, among 12 total staff and volunteers honored.
The Buckeye Elementary School District (BESD) continues its practice of formally recognizing employees and volunteers for their contributions. Between November 2025 and January 2026, the district presented awards to 12 individuals during its public Governing Board meetings, highlighting roles from teachers to support staff and volunteers. A district announcement indicated the educators were selected for fostering student growth, designing thoughtful lessons, and building strong classroom communities. The nine honorees represent five different schools within the district. The recipients were Ms. Alvarez from Marionneaux, Ms. Haller and Ms. Hodgdon from Buckeye, Ms. Patterson from John S. McCain III, Mr. Monohan from Steven R. Jasinski, and a group of four from WestPark: Ms. Garr, Ms. Lissette Sanchez, Ms. Barahona, and Ms. Hatt. A district announcement shows Superintendent Dr. Lanese presented awards for Educator of the Year, Education Support Staff of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year. These awards were given in partnership with the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Buckeye Rocks Award program. The November honorees were Ms. Hatt, named Educator of the Year; Mrs. Whitten, named Education Support Staff of the Year; and Ms. Matthews, named Volunteer of the Year. The district’s announcement noted these individuals were recognized for their dedication to student success. Records show that Ms. Hatt of WestPark is the same individual who received the Superintendent Award of Excellence in January, marking two distinct public recognitions for the teacher in a three-month span. ## Award Process Details Not Publicly Specified The district’s public announcements for the awards offered general praise, citing the honorees' positive impact and dedication to students. However, the announcements did not specify the nomination process, selection criteria, the specific achievements of the honorees, or if the awards included a monetary component or other tangible benefits. The recognition of school staff occurs within the broader financial context of the district. This program provides a primary property tax reduction for owner-occupied homes, and the state then reimburses the school districts for those funds. The district’s budget, supported by this funding, covers all operations, including any costs associated with staff appreciation programs. District budget documents detailing specific allocations for award programs are not included in the public announcements.