Hannah Martinez named 2026 Yuma County Teacher of the Year at banquet

Hundreds of educators filled the Yuma Civic Center Thursday evening as Hannah Martinez of Palmcroft Elementary School was named the 2026 Yuma County Teacher of the Year, the top honor in the county’s 39th annual celebration of teaching.

Martinez, a 3rd grade teacher, stood out in a field of 12 finalists chosen through a review that began with principal nominations and continued through essays, videos and interviews. That process put the focus on classroom impact rather than a single moment, and it underscored how much the county’s teaching award depends on the daily work families rarely see.

Standing before the crowd, Martinez said, “to know a kid’s name is a privilege.” She also urged the audience to invest in public education and in teachers, a message that landed in a room full of educators who know how much patience, consistency and trust the job requires.

The Primary category, where Martinez competed, also included Claudia Alvarez of C.W. McGraw Elementary School and Martha Vasquez of Pecan Grove Elementary School. The county’s four award categories, Primary, Intermediate or Special Area, Middle School or Junior High, and High School, each produced three finalists, giving the celebration a broad view of teaching across Yuma County.

Each category winner received a trophy along with prizes that included a voucher for three credit hours from Northern Arizona University-Yuma, a $100 Staples gift card, a $500 Elite MedSpa + Wellness gift card and a 12-month membership to 4th Ave Gym. The Education Foundation of Yuma County and the Yuma Rotary Club described the event as the biggest night in local education, and the foundation said the evening also included induction of the newest Estelle Dingus Hall of Fame honoree.

Martinez takes over the county’s headline teaching honor from Neomi Pharmes of Crane Middle School, Yuma County’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. The foundation said its 2025-26 mini-grant cycle also distributed more than $12,000 to 14 educators across the county, a reminder that its work reaches beyond one night of recognition and into classrooms throughout Yuma County.