VIDEO: Bringing passion and rigor to the classroom in Peoria
Cox named Hometown Hero in the Educator category
Courtesy Peoria Unified
Peoria Unified teacher Megan Cox has been named a Hometown Hero in the Educator category.
Posted
How to Nominate
Know somebody in Peoria who should be recognized as a Hometown Hero? Here is how to do it.
Email: Send your nomination to aznews@iniusa.org, or fill out this nomination form yourvalley.net/hh-nomination/index.html.
After that: the nomination will be reviewed, and monthly winners will be selected based on their community contributions. Nominations should include name, email address and phone number along with the category of nomination, some details about the person being nominated and their accomplishments.
She attended elementary school and graduated from high school in the district. After getting her teaching degree she came back to the district and has taught eighth-grade at Coyote Hills Elementary School since 2016.
She says she has been working at PUSD her entire teaching career and has loved every minute of it.
Cox consistently produces high achieving math students, and since her first year of teaching, her students have made some of the highest growth and proficiency scores in the district.
She brings passion and rigor to the classroom and it shows in her students.
“I push my students to be critical thinkers and to always put their best effort forward,” she said. “I try to develop young mathematicians, but more importantly, decent and kind young adults.”
For her service to the Peoria Unified community, Cox has been named a Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the educator category.
The Hometown Heroes Awards are a celebration of individuals who live or teach in the city, and Peoria businesses for their achievements and distinguished contributions to the community and beyond.
Cox will be honored at an awards luncheon this month. The third annual Hometown Heroes luncheon will honor those nominated in 2023.
In partnership with the city of Peoria, Cox has been interviewed by the city and aired on Channel 11.
Coyote Hills Elementary School Principal Julie Abbott said Cox is truly an asset to the Peoria Unified community.
Abbott said Cox’s character, leadership and commitment to the success of her math students make her an exceptional teacher on campus, and she is a substantial part of why Coyote Hills is a great place for kids.
Her impact on our community is without question, Abbott said.
“For Megan, the formula is simple: know your students, have high expectations, teach, reteach, and review,” Abbott said. “Prior to the school year, Megan has already looked at the data for her incoming students. With that information, she creates a plan that she implements on the first day of school. Megan teaches at a rigorous pace expecting all students to learn at high levels. She continually progress monitors, sets learning goals with students, and spirals her lessons throughout the school year. Learning is not an option in her classroom and upon completion of her class, Mrs. Cox’s students are exceedingly prepared for high school algebra.”
Philip Haldiman is a third generation Arizona native with brief residencies on the east and west coasts.
He has bachelor’s degrees in Theater and Journalism at Arizona State University, and is an award winning journalist with more than 15 years worth of experience in reporting and editing.
Most recently, he took first place for investigative reporting and third place for best sustained coverage or series at the 2023 Arizona Newspapers Association awards.
In his free time, he produces an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
By 
