When it comes to school districts, students naturally come first, especially with Poston Butte High School teacher Paul Hatch.

A familiar face of the Florence Unified School District, Hatch teaches Spanish at the high school. And that’s not all he does. Unbeknownst to some of his colleagues, his dedication to his profession is something that permeates far beyond the classroom walls.

On Nov. 6, Hatch received a “Medallion of Merit” from Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher for being a champion for the students from Chihuahua, Mexico, and a valued advocate for all students.

More than two decades ago, Hatch was the principal at the Academia Juarez in Chihuahua, Mexico and he quickly recognized the educational challenges students faced. He immediately wanted to help. He invited the president and vice president of Eastern Arizona College to tour the school campus in Mexico and brainstormed ways in which they could partner and provide scholarships to students who desired to further their education in the U.S.

“We developed a great partnership with Eastern Arizona College, and they offered to give us 10 Mexico Presidential Scholarships each year,” Hatch said. “We organized a faculty council to select the student recipients. One of the recipients, Gisel Osuna, went on to be named Mrs. Mexico after graduating from Eastern Arizona College. Another student, Octavio Pulido, is now a news anchor for Televisa, a Spanish television network. I have seen firsthand the success of our efforts and that makes it all worthwhile.”

Hatch left Academia Juarez in 2006, but he continues to help students of Hispanic heritage achieve their dreams of continuing their education. He has also helped place students from Superior and Hayden at Eastern Arizona College on both athletic and educational scholarships.

Since starting at Poston Butte High School, Hatch has been taking students on campus tours of Eastern Arizona College.

“EAC is a great school that cares for kids and provides a true and strong academic base for students,” Hatch said. “My two sons and daughter-in-law attended EAC. They have the top nursing school in Arizona there.”

It was during a tour on Nov. 6 that his longtime friend and associate, Gary Sorensen, Ph.D., presented Hatch with the “Medallion of Merit” as Poston Butte students looked on.

“As a senior administrator working in community college admissions and student life for many years, I have rarely encountered an administrator and teacher who has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving students like Paul Hatch,” Sorensen said. “He not only instructs his students – he knows them. Paul has always taken the time and effort to understand the skills and abilities of his students, as well as their challenges. Then he does not stop looking for ways to help them find opportunities that will facilitate their success. Paul is and always has been a champion for students and his colleagues. I am honored to call him my friend.”

In October, FUSD celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month which helped the district realize that recognition of the various cultures within our communities can serve as a gateway to promoting cross-cultural understanding and deeper understanding of traditions, customs and values, as well as the challenges diverse cultures face.

Additionally, learning about one’s culture enables students to develop essential values such as empathy, respect and global citizenship.

Hatch clearly understands these values as he continues to address societal issues from a global perspective. His leadership example helps prepare all students to be responsible, compassionate and informed citizens of the future.

“The impact of your efforts and influence in the joint partnership with Eastern Arizona College,” Sorenson told Hatch, “is probably most representative by the hundreds of students from the Academia Juarez who have benefited from the Mexico Presidential Scholarships which were put into place largely because of your tireless work on their behalf.”

Rita Ann Ezzai Reznick is the director of public relations for the Florence Unified School District.