McDowell Mountain Elementary School teacher Wendy Bozzi has been named the Four Peaks Rotary Club Teacher of the Month.

Input from local principals helps the Four Peaks Rotary Club recognize teachers on a monthly basis throughout the school year. In addition to the recognition, the club provides a $250 check for the teachers’ use.

The Four Peaks Rotary Club Teacher of the Month has the respect of students, parents, and peers; brings out the best in each student regardless of individual academic ability; and is actively involved in providing and promoting high quality educational opportunities for students in Fountain Hills schools.

McDowell Mountain Principal Valerie Dehombreux recently shared with the Rotary Club why Bozzi was being recognized for this month’s honor. She said Bozzi is an amazing special education teacher who works with kindergarten through third grade special needs students at MMES.

“No matter the grade or ability level of her students, Mrs. Bozzi is passionate about her job and dedicated to meeting her students’ needs,” Dehombreux said. “Mrs. Bozzi is often the first person a student sees at MMES due to her morning bus duty. She greets students with a smile and is attentive if any of them appear to be upset or not ready for the school day. Then Mrs. Bozzi works with groups of special needs students throughout the day, providing them with engaging instruction in order to meet the goals of their individualized education programs (IEPs).

“She is perseverant in trying a variety of strategies to reach her students and adjusts instruction whenever needed.”

Dehombreux explained that Bozzi has served as a formal team leader but, even without this title, other special education teachers and grade level teachers often seek her out for advice.

“Mrs. Bozzi’s active participation goes beyond the classroom,” Dehombreux added. “Her calm, thoughtful demeanor has been invaluable in her role as a Nonviolent Crisis Intervention trainer for the district. She is always willing to help staff with any student who is in distress. In addition, as a volunteer for Liberty Wildlife, Mrs. Bozzi has worked with the counselor and arranged presentations and organized projects such as paper towel collections to help LW’s animals.

“Mrs. Bozzi also provided a special education perspective to our district-wide curriculum team, served on the special education program self-monitoring team, and has been an outstanding resource on our school Character Counts and Safety Committees. [She] truly makes a significant difference in the lives and educations of McDowell Mountain students.”

Four Peaks Rotary Club is a volunteer service organization whose motto is “Service above Self.” For information, visit fourpeaksrotary.org. The group meets the second and fourth Thursday of every month at 7 a.m., at Fountain View Village.