Farmington High earns $10,000 grant, Hastings named West Region Teacher of Year

A surprise pep rally at Farmington High School turned into a major payoff for one of the school’s most connected staff members: Rochelle Hastings, the district’s Work Experience and Work-Based Learning teacher, was named the 2026 Chick-fil-A Leader Academy West Region Teacher of the Year, and the school received a $10,000 grant.

The recognition came on April 10 and included a gift package valued at more than $1,000 for Hastings, who Farmington Municipal Schools said is one of six winners nationwide. For Farmington, the award is more than a ceremonial nod. It brings outside money into programs that sit at the center of student life, from leadership activities to career-readiness opportunities that often depend on limited school resources and staff time.

Hastings’ role reaches well beyond one classroom. Farmington Municipal Schools said she works with Student Senate, Business Professionals of America and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, helping students practice leadership, teamwork and responsibility. Student Senate plans Homecoming, Spirit Weeks, pep rallies and assemblies, Prom and service projects. BPA gives students chances to take part in service projects and compete in business-related fields at the regional, state and national levels. FCCLA also remains active at Farmington High School.

That makes the grant especially practical for students already involved in those programs. The money can support the kind of work that shapes school culture but is often hardest to fund through regular budgets, including leadership development, student activities and career-focused projects. At Farmington High, the immediate beneficiaries are the students who rely on those organizations for experience, confidence and a pathway into larger responsibilities.

The recognition also reflects a leadership pipeline that has been building for years, not just for one surprise announcement. Farmington Municipal Schools previously recognized Hastings in connection with BPA, FCCLA and Student Senate in 2022, and Student Senate has since earned its 10th Gold Student Council of the Year Award while maintaining Platinum status for eight straight years. That record shows the school’s student leadership work is already established and visible in day-to-day life.

Chick-fil-A Leader Academy describes itself as a national high school leadership program sponsored by local Chick-fil-A operators and focused on making impact through action. The program began in 2013, and its model centers on students identifying a real community need and building an Impact Project around it. At Farmington High, that national structure now translates into local dollars, a recognized teacher and a stronger student leadership network inside San Juan County.