GLENDALE, Ariz. – Peoria Unified will honor 41 top employees during an annual employee recognition event on Monday, May 6 at Arizona Broadway Theatre, presented by the Peoria Education Foundation.

For the past 38 years, Peoria Unified has recognized the top one percent of all certified and classified employees. This recognition event is known as “Pride of Peoria,” and allows employees to nominate their peers through a letter-writing campaign. A committee comprised of former Pride of Peoria winners review dozens of nominations and votes to select each year’s winners.

The 38 Pride of Peoria honorees were selected for their outstanding service and contributions to their schools and the district. These employees come from different sites, represent different career lengths and work in a variety of positions.

2024 Pride of Peoria recipients:

To highlight Peoria Unified’s new employees, or those new to their role, the district includes a special award called the “Rookie of the Year.” To be eligible for Rookie of the Year, a candidate must be in their first or second year in their current position with the district. The Rookie of the Year awards are given to one teacher, one support staff member, and one administrator. Three Rookie of the Year awards were also presented during the award recognition.

Peoria Unified reveals the Pride of Peoria and Rookie of the Year recipients during Prize Patrol, which takes place each year just after Spring Break. During Prize Patrol, the winners are surprised on their campuses and are each given a booklet with copies of the letters their colleagues wrote on their behalf. All of the surprise recognitions are filmed and then shared on the district website and social media pages during the spring semester, leading up to the Pride of Peoria event on May 6. All Prize Patrol videos can be seen on www.peoriaunified.org/prideofpeoria.

Serving more than 35,000 students in 43 unique public schools across the northwest valley, the Peoria Unified School District educates tomorrow's leaders. For the past 130 years, Peoria Unified has been an Arizona public school district of choice, where students can receive a high-quality education rooted in the values that their families share. Peoria Unified meets the needs of all pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students through its variety of programs including S.T.E.A.M., arts education, special education, gifted education, career and technical education, athletics and more. To continue its long history of success, the district maintains its focus on four key components of its strategic plan: Student Success, Safety and Well-Being, Stewardship of Community Resources and Community Connection. The Peoria Unified School District continuously pursues its vision of “Every student, every day, prepared to shape tomorrow.”

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