Teacher of the Year
Michelle Ravnikar
Lake Havasu Unified School District

Michelle Ravnikar is a business teacher at Lake Havasu High School. She accepts challenges from all levels of our educational system and is frequently asked to perform small miracles for the district superintendent as well as her colleagues in the rooms across the hall. Yet in spite of these extra demands requested of her, she thoughtfully places her students and their learning as her primary focus and presents lessons with enthusiasm.

Technology Specialist of the Year
Valerie Quarto
Cochise/Santa Cruz County Technology Integration Specialist

Valerie Quarto is a Technology Integration Specialist working for the Statewide Instructional Technology Project serving Cochise and Santa Cruz Counties. Valerie is affecting sustained shifts towards more constructivist models of teaching by teaming with teachers and administrators and modeling the development of lesson plans incorporating technology.

Technology Coordinator of the Year
Lisa Long
Tucson Unified School District

Lisa Long has always asked the question, “How will this decision affect students?” She directed an office of Integration Specialists to work in schools with children and enabled the administrators in the district to embrace technology as a tool that enhances student achievement. Lisa always gives credit to her staff for the success of programs when she is the driving force behind them and provides the vision.

Technology Support Person of the Year
Dave Carter
Flagstaff Unified School District

Dave Carter 's primary responsibility is web server maintenance and administration. Dave is always ready to assist school web masters with innovative design and content for our sites. He is never “too busy” to help and will readily upload material that site web masters are having difficulty getting on their sites.

Librarian of the Year
Jan Budak
Tucson Unified School District

Jan Budak has dedicated her professional teaching career to increasing student achievement, instilling in children a sense of wonder, and equipping students with the skills and the sense of self-efficacy to believe that they can learn anything. Her calm demeanor and encouraging manner make students and staff comfortable taking risks in front of her.

Rookie of the Year
Chris Wright
Dysart Unified School District

Chris Wright of Willow Canyon High School is a first year science teacher who is endlessly seeking ways through technology to enhance his student’s educational outcomes. Every student in Mr. Wright’s classroom has not only the opportunity to learn to but also excel.

Administrator of the Year
Laurie Jeffers
Flagstaff Unified School District

Serving as a professional educator for over 20 years as a classroom teacher and elementary school administrator, Laurie Jeffers understands the importance of technology as an integral tool for the education of our students and she recognizes what our schools must provide to prepare our children for the future.

Friends of Educational Technology
Cathy Poplin
Arizona Department of Education

Cathy Poplin is truly a friend of educational technology! She is a tireless promoter who is positive and is always moving education forward, statewide and nationwide. She has worked in every level of education in Arizona. Cathy is a strong mentor who encourages colleagues to explore new options for technology integration.

AzTEA Service-Leadership
Dr. Alice Christie
ASU at the West Campus

Dr. Alice Christie positively impacts faculty, university students, K12 teachers and students. Alice is a true agent of change encouraging every educator to incorporate the most appropriate technology to enrich their classes. She designed ASU West's Master of Education Degree with an Educational Technology Concentration for Elementary and Secondary Teachers. Alice is an educational celebrity having been selected by Michael Crow (ASU) as the President's Professor. As AzTEA's 2006 highest honor in our hall of fame it is with great honor we award Dr. Alice Christie the AzTEA Innovation Leadership Award.