Congratulations to Patricia Messner, the 2025 Arizona Rural Teacher of the Year!

This year’s Arizona Rural Teacher of the Year is Patricia Messner from Pearce School District. The award was presented by ARSA President Sean Rickert, 2024 Teacher of the Year Jennifer Van Rooy, Dr. Ramona Mellott, and the Northern Arizona University Faculty at the 30th Annual ARSA Conference in Flagstaff, AZ.

Patricia Messner has been a Language Arts Teacher grades 5th through 8th since 2017 in the Pearce School District. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University.

Patricia has great rapport with all of the students. She fill students’ cups with encouragement in a subject that is complicated and taxing for many students. She creates a classroom where students can grow and spread their wings and become stronger communicators, writers, artists, leaders, friends, co-workers, and so much more.

Patricia is a dedicated teacher who will check into Google Classroom even when she is sick at home. She stays after school and tutors students in diagramming and labeling, writing, reading, practicing for the spelling bee and so much more.

"I love being a rural teacher in Arizona because of the many opportunities to connect with our students in small class sizes where learning can be the priority and meaningful," writes Messner. "The connections and relationships that are developed can create not only academically prepared students but also emotionally intelligent ones. Lastly, the beautiful, breathtaking landscapes that surround our school give our community moments to stop, stay present, and take it all in."

Congratulations to Patricia Messner for becoming an Arizona Rural Teacher of the Year!