Flagstaff art teacher recognized for outstanding achievement
We escaped the Phoenix heat for a day and traveled up to Flagstaff for our first Teacher Appreciation award up north, celebrating Mrs. Bottke, the art teacher at Puente de Hozho Elementary.
We surprised Mrs. Bottke during her first class of the day with a special presentation in her classroom, as students and the principal cheered her on. After sharing a few of the kind sentiments shared in her nomination, we presented her with a well-deserved check and a commemorative plaque to remember her outstanding achievements!
Puente de Hozho is a multilingual school in the heart of Flagstaff, Arizona. Students spend their days learning in English, Spanish, or Dine, the Navajo language. In her spare time, Mrs. Bottke continues to expand her language skills to better serve her students. In addition to her work in the classroom, Mrs. Bottke oversees the school garden, cultivating native plants as well as ones that hold significance in the Navajo culture.
Those aren’t the only ways she goes above and beyond. Her kindness and intentionality reach fellow teachers, parents, and peers alike, with her nomination sharing how she “goes above and beyond to make sure all her students, student teachers, parents and fellow teachers feel welcomed and heard.”
Congratulations to Mrs. Bottke and Puente de Hozho Elementary for the exciting achievement! We are honored to continue recognizing excellent educators for their commitment to making an impact in their community in such meaningful ways, and we can’t wait for the next one.
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