New Wheels for a Top Teacher
Findlay Toyota Helps Honor Flagstaff-Area Educator with a Camry
Sept/Oct 2015
Teacher of the Year
Whitney Tapia and her fourth-grade students give Findlay Toyota an A+. The dealership provides the car for a year as part of Tapia’s honor as Coconino County (Ariz.) Teacher of the Year.
Whitney Tapia and her fourth-grade students give Findlay Toyota an A+. The dealership provides the car for a year as part of Tapia’s honor as Coconino County (Ariz.) Teacher of the Year.
When the school district that includes Flagstaff, Ariz., began a program to honor its “Teacher of the Year” in 2013, Findlay Toyota saw an opportunity to help support educators in the local community.
The annual tradition continued when Whitney Tapia, a fourth-grade teacher at Knoles Elementary School in Flagstaff, won a year’s lease on a new Camry when she was named 2015 Coconino County Teacher of the Year.
“Each year we give them the car and we put a big wrap on it that says ‘Teacher of the Year,’” says Mark Monthofer, marketing and fleet director at Findlay Toyota.
“A lot of us here, including the owner, including me, we all have kids in this community,” he adds. “It’s a small community and we feel like the teachers don’t get enough recognition, they don’t get paid enough, so we wanted to do something extra for the person who was selected for this special recognition.”
“I was so excited and really surprised,” says Tapia, who has been a teacher for nine years. “It’s awesome to have that validation.”
The annual tradition continued when Whitney Tapia, a fourth-grade teacher at Knoles Elementary School in Flagstaff, won a year’s lease on a new Camry when she was named 2015 Coconino County Teacher of the Year.
“Each year we give them the car and we put a big wrap on it that says ‘Teacher of the Year,’” says Mark Monthofer, marketing and fleet director at Findlay Toyota.
“A lot of us here, including the owner, including me, we all have kids in this community,” he adds. “It’s a small community and we feel like the teachers don’t get enough recognition, they don’t get paid enough, so we wanted to do something extra for the person who was selected for this special recognition.”
“I was so excited and really surprised,” says Tapia, who has been a teacher for nine years. “It’s awesome to have that validation.”
