What We Did Over Winter Break: A Wish Come True!

While most of us were relaxing over the holidays, one of our very own was being celebrated on a statewide stage! We are thrilled to share that Amanda Johns, a dedicated special education teacher here at Valley Vista High School, was a recipient of the 2025 Fiesta Bowl "Wishes for Teachers" program. 

As part of the festivities, Amanda was invited to march in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade on January 3rd and was honored on the field during the Rate Bowl bowl game.

The Impact: Empowering Our Classrooms 

The "Wishes for Teachers" program, run by the Fiesta Sports Foundation, hit a major milestone this year for its 10th anniversary: 

• Record Giving: A total of $1.5 million was granted to educators across Arizona. 
• The Winners: 540 teachers were selected, each receiving a $2,500 grant. 
• The Wish: Amanda’s grant will go toward STEAM learning sets, providing her students with new tools to encourage collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.