The first-grade teacher at Encanto Elementary School in central Phoenix, Michelle Doherty honored with the 2017 Arizona Teacher of the Year award. The award is considered to be the highest individual honor for teachers in the state.

The award was presented by the Arizona Educational Foundation to Doherty at a banquet out of a pool that included four other finalists from across the state.

Doherty fought back tears during the ceremony and thanked her parents, her colleagues, and family for their years of support. She has taught all of her career 23 years in the Osborn Elementary School District.

Doherty said of her students whom she called her "babies", “You’ve taught me, loved me, respected me and challenged me to become the best teacher that I can be." "You have been my best little teachers the past 23 years.”

Patricia Tate, superintendent of the Osborn Elementary School District, said after the announcement, that, "Michelle is just incredibly deserving of this honor," "She will honor teachers by her service. She does it every day in her classroom with her children. Osborn School District is blessed to have her."

Doherty said, "It’s amazing, I can't believe it. I’m overwhelmed, but I'm excited. I’m ready for this next year and this next journey of my life."

Four other teachers honored as finalists for the annual distinction are Chrissy DeBono from Cottonwood Elementary School, Lori Lyford from Chandler High School, Jena Phillips from Bogle Junior High School and Maria Plata from Kyrene del Norte School.

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Nandini