Rotary club recognizes two Chandler teachers

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes recently congratulated and presented awards to two Chandler Unified School District teachers of the month.

According to RCSL education chair Gary Kay, the award selection is based on a teacher’s total years of service in the field of education, examples of how the teacher goes above the normal requirements and enhances student education; the respect shown for the teacher by her/his peers, students, and parents; and the teacher’s involvement in extracurricular activities and service in the community.

A $500 check is awarded to the honored teacher — $200 from the RCSL, $200 from Earnhardt Automotive Center and $100 from Trust Bank.

Miroslawa (Mirka) Stechly, World Languages Program - Spanish Department chair at CUSD’s Hamilton High School, was named RCSL’s February 2024 Teacher of the Month.

Stechly has more than 25 years of teaching experience and has taught at Hamilton for 11 years. She teaches AP Spanish at all levels, is an Honors Spanish Society sponsor and teaches French classes.

Per Hamilton administrator Richard Baniszewski, Stechly speaks more than five languages, has strong people skills and nurtures students and fellow teachers in an understanding way.

Chris Nguyen, a music teacher at CUSD Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School, was named March 2024 Teacher of the Month.

He has 15 years of teaching experience.

Per fellow teacher Kathleen Villaorduna, Nguyen is a talented and dedicated music teacher who teaches all grade levels, knows, and cares for all the students.

Students know him well as he has become the heart and the soul of Hartford Elementary.

Nguyen leads the student government’s (more than 30 students) charitable and social activities, leads field trips; leads holiday programs, teaches guitar and has initiated the school’s first track team.

He is involved with the Valley’s Musical Instrument Museum and community college band productions.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic.  Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org .