MADERA - The Business and Education Committee of the Madera Chamber of Commerce are excited to announce that they will host their annual Salute to Education Reception and Awards Ceremony at the Madera District Fair on opening night, September 7, 2023. Admission to the fair on Thursday night is free to all ages, courtesy of Valley Children's Healthcare.
Over thirty-five educators from Madera schools will receive the Distinguished Teacher of the Year award for their outstanding efforts displayed during the 2022-23 school year.
Teachers are nominated and chosen by the school site peers based on their exceptional, skillful, creative, and dedicated teaching. Award winners must also display elevated care, respect, and kindness to students, parents, and co-workers.
“I look forward to celebrating and recognizing all the outstanding work and commitment these outstanding teachers are honored for. It is important that we acknowledge and thank them for their work in developing our future workforce.”, stated Joe Doyland, Chairman of the Chamber’s Business and Education Committee.
Madera Chamber CEO Debi Bray commented, “We are very appreciative that the Madera Fair provides us with the opportunity to host Salute to Education during the fair. Teachers are an integral part of our community, and the fair is the perfect community venue to share what exceptional talent and dedication these teachers are being honored for.”
In addition to the Distinguished Teacher of the Year awards, the Madera Unified Teachers’ Association will present its Friends of Education Award. This award is given to individuals and businesses who have been devoted to students, teachers, and school site staff by contributing their time and resources at a local school site.
Another event highlight will be the presentation of the World Champion Madtown Robotics FRC 1323 team during the reception. In the spring of 2023, FRC Team 1323 went undefeated in the World FIRST Robotics Competition to become World Champions. The winning team comprised students from Torres High School, Madera High School, and one student from Sherman Thomas Charter School.
The event will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a private reception for the award recipients, their guests, and educational leadership. The program will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Patio Stage at the Madera Fairgrounds. While guests will be in the reception area, the staging to honor the Distinguished Teachers of the Year has been designed so that anyone wishing to watch the program can do so. Madera Fair Manager Tom Mitchell said about hosting the festivities for the second year in a row, “It is our pleasure to host the Salute to Education, Distinguished Teachers of the Year on the Patio Stage at the Madera Fair. Our community educators are blue ribbon heroes in our book!”
The Madera Fair kicks off on Thursday, September 7th, and runs until Sunday, September 10th. Advance tickets and carnival wristbands are available on the website of the fair (www.MaderaFair.com) at reduced prices until September 6th. Hours of free entertainment are scheduled for both the Headliners and the 20/30 Stage, plus all the fair acts playing multiple times a night throughout the grounds. So do not miss it!
