Arizona Teacher Uses $2,500 Award to Give Student Christmas

When special education teacher Kelly Nelson won a $2,500 teaching award last August, she knew exactly what her students needed most.

Nelson teaches at Kyrene Aprende Middle School in Chandler, Arizona. She was named the August 2025 winner of the Pay Tribute to a Teacher award by KTAR News 92.3 FM and Your Valley Toyota Dealers.

Instead of spending the money on typical classroom supplies, Nelson made a heartwarming choice. She identified one student who needed extra support during the holidays and provided them with an entire Christmas celebration.

"We got clothes and shoes and toys and food and just everything so that the kid could have a really nice Christmas," Nelson shared during Teacher Appreciation Week. The gesture gave one family a holiday season they might not have had otherwise.

The rest of the award money went toward refilling her classroom's prize box, which is part of a positive behavior support system. Students earn prizes for good choices and helpful actions throughout the school day.

"The stuffies have been our No. 1 seller," Nelson laughed. "We even differentiate between large stuffie, medium stuffie, little stuffie, so those got expensive this year because they were the hot thing!"

The Ripple Effect

Nelson's impact extends beyond her classroom walls. In the nine months since winning the award, she became a National Board-Certified Teacher, a prestigious credential that requires two years of intensive work.

"It's a very rigorous process where you really have to analyze your teaching and all of your practices," she explained. The certification process involves four separate components and demands deep reflection on every aspect of teaching.

National Board Certification represents the highest level of professional achievement in teaching. Only about 3% of teachers nationwide have earned this distinction.

Nelson's story reminds us that great teachers see the whole child, not just the student in their classroom.