San Luis Middle School teacher named Arizona Teacher of the Year

Arilene Gaxiola’s eighth-grade math classroom at San Luis Middle School has become the center of a statewide education story, after Teachers of Tomorrow named her Arizona Teacher of the Year and advanced her into a national competition with a $5,000 grand prize at stake. In San Luis, where schools serve one of Yuma County’s most closely watched student populations, the recognition points to a classroom approach that is winning attention because it is aimed at results.

Teachers of Tomorrow said Gaxiola was selected as Arizona’s honoree through its 2026 Teacher of the Year program, in which each state finalist was nominated by a principal or field supervisor. Each finalist received a $500 award, and the national winner is set to receive the larger cash prize, plus one year of free professional development through SimpleK12. Voting was open through April 27, and the national winner is to be announced during Teacher Appreciation Week 2026.

What makes Gaxiola stand out is not only the award, but what she is doing inside the classroom. The story around her recognition centers on a teaching style that tries to make students feel safe, respected and willing to take risks. Her math lessons are described as practical and hands-on, with an emphasis on connecting eighth-grade algebra and other core skills to real life, a focus that matters in a subject families often see as a gateway to high school success, college readiness and future jobs.

That approach matters in San Luis because many of Gaxiola’s students are English language learners or newcomers, and many come from families where parents work long hours in the fields. San Luis is a border community next to San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico, and the student body in Gadsden Elementary School District #32 is overwhelmingly Hispanic. District-level data show Gadsden served roughly 5,170 to 5,181 students in the 2024-25 school year, with San Luis Middle School serving about 613 to 620 students and a student-teacher ratio around 28 to 1.

Superintendent Lizette Esparza said Gaxiola reflects the strong work happening across the district and leads with heart. For San Luis, the recognition does more than celebrate one teacher: it puts a local classroom model in the spotlight at a time when schools are being asked to do more than ever for students who need both high expectations and support.