Rich Mayorga
2003 Arizona Teacher of the Year
Mr. Mayorga has been teaching high school students History and Government for twenty years. He currently teaches at Sunnyside High School in Tucson, Arizona.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"I am a facilitator of education for our students. We are a team that desires to win in the educational arena. Success will happen with a solid effort and a belief in oneself."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"Students assist in running and presenting material. We vote on extra study sessions and practice test sessions (weekends), as well as types of material presentation styles."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"Now many of our students are thinking and acting on the idea of college from the time they are freshmen. Our graduates now have the highest rate of attending college and graduation from college is the history of our school!"

What's the most critical issue facing educators?
"Respect. This comes to every single angle of education: students, teachers, administration, tax payers, staff and especially the community."

What do you think can be done to solve this issue?
"Success, advertisement and doing what we know works will assist in developing the potential of every individual child."

One thought to inspire teachers to excel
"Teachers build a child’s concept for a lifetime. A smile can change a life as easily as a mean word."

One lesson every student should learn
"The positive development of self is the primary goal of education."

Favorite Teaching Tool:
“AlphaSmart Keyboards, overhead projector, I-books”

Favorite Web site:
www.pbs.org – PSB Educational Resources
www.historychannel.com – History Channel
www.nationalgeographic.com – National Geographic
www.mapquest.com – Online Mapping