♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," DETAILS ON A COURT RULING THAT A MUGSHOT SITE RUN BY THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREPARE WOMEN FOR SUCCESS AFTER THEY LEAVE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

>>> AND A CONVERSATION WITH ARIZONA'S 2024 TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

AS WE RECORD TONIGHT'S SHOW, WE'RE A COUPLE OF HOURS AWAY FROM THE FIRST, AND POSSIBLY ONLY PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BETWEEN VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

BOTH CANDIDATES FACE A CHALLENGE TONIGHT.

>> FOR HARRIS, SHE'S DONE BUT ONE INTERVIEW SINCE SHE'S BECOME A CANDIDATE, SO SHE HAS TO BE READY TO WALK OUT ON THAT STAGE UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND FACE ATTACKS AND BE INTERVIEWED BY MODERATORS, AND BE READY TO HANDLE ALL OF THAT AND THINK QUICKLY ON HER FEET.

FOR DONALD TRUMP, IT'S A MATTER OF CAN HE REMAINED DISCIPLINED AND GO AFTER KAMALA HARRIS AT A POLICY LEVEL RATHER THAN A PERSONAL LEVEL?

TED: AND A PROGRAMMING NORTH, YOU CAN WATCH PBS COVERAGE OF THE DEBATE STARTING AT 6:00 P.M.

RIGHT HERE ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE TIM WALZ IS IN ARIZONA TODAY, HIS FIRST SOLO VISIT TO THE STATE.

WALZ SPENT THE DAY AROUND THE PHOENIX AREA INCLUDING A STOP AT SNAKES AND LATTES CAFE IN DOWNTOWN TEMPE.

SPEECH IS SCHEDULED RIGHT ABOUT NOW PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

OF NOTE, DONALD TRUMP WILL BE CAMPAIGNING IN TUCSON THURSDAY AS WILL KAMALA HARRIS' HUSBAND FIRST GENTLEMAN DOUG EMHOFF.

>>> A SPENDING BILL THAT WILL PREVENT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND EXTEND FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH MARCH 2028.

THE PLAN IS GETTING BLOWBACK FROM FELLOW REPUBLICANS WHO SAY IT DOESN'T DO ENOUGH TO CUT SPENDING.

>> OUR REPUBLICAN BASE WILL KNOW THEY'RE BEING LIED TO AND TIRED OF BEING LIED TO, AND WE HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP ON NOVEMBER 5, THE WORST THING THAT REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE CAN DO IS CREATE A FAKE FIGHT THAT THE BASE KNOWS THEY'RE LYING ABOUT AND FRUSTRATE OUR VOTERS GOING INTO NOVEMBER 5.

THAT'S HOW YOU LOSE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON AN ELECTION.

TED: JOHNSON TRIED TO ATTRACT HARD-RIGHT REPUBLICANS BY REQUIRING A PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT BEING REQUIRED TO VOTE.

AND AN ECONOMIC NOTE, MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME INCREASED TO $80,610, AN INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR EVEN AFTER ACCOUNTS FOR INFLATION.

THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT ANNUAL INCREASE IN INFLATION ADJUSTED INCOME SINCE 2019.

>>> THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED LAST WEEK THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ACTED UNCONSTITUTIONALLY IN POSTING THE MUGSHOTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

POSTING SUCH PHOTOS AMOUNTS TO PUNISHMENT BEFORE AND AN ADJUDICATION OF GUILT.

JOINING US IS STEPHEN MONTOYA PARTNER OF MONTOYA LUCERO AND PASTOR.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: GIVE US A BROAD DEFINITION AND WE'LL DIVE IN FROM THERE?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS A SURPRISING RULING.

IT WAS APPLYING SUBTLE LAW.

THE 8th AMENDMENT PROHIBITS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT.

THE ARCHETYPE OF CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT WOULD BE TO PUNISH SOMEONE BEFORE ADJUDICATED GUILTY.

IT CAN BE PUBLIC SHAMING, AN ANCIENT FORM OF PUNISHMENT.

THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THIS CASE, UNFORTUNATELY.

UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FORMER SHERIFF OF MARICOPA COUNTY, JOSEPH ARPAIO, MUGSHOTS OF EVERYONE ARRESTED WERE PUT ON A WEBSITE AND KEPT THERE FOR THREE DAYS, AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC, AVAILABLE FOR OTHER ENTITIES TO COPY AND DISPERSE HOWEVER THEY PLEASED.

MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, IN FACT THOUSANDS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE NEVER FORMALLY CHARGED WITH A CRIME.

NEVER CONVICTED OF A CRIME.

SOME OF THEM WERE COMPLETELY EXONERATED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES BEFORE THEY WERE EVEN CHARGED.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, THEY WERE PUBLISHED.

THEIR MUGSHOTS WERE PUBLISHED AS CRIMINALS AND THEY WERE HUMILIATED.

IT HURT THEIR FAMILY LIVES, PUBLIC LIVES, IT HURT THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIVES.

AND THE NINTH CIRCUIT CONCLUDED YESTERDAY UNANIMOUSLY THAT VIOLATED THE 8th AMENDMENT PROHIBITION OF CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT AS APPLIED BY THE STATES BY MEANS OF THE 14th AMENDMENT.

TED: SO DUE PROCESS AT PLAY HERE, THE IDEA OF PUBLIC EXPOSURE AND HUMILIATION BEFORE BEING FOUND GUILTY OF ANYTHING, THIS MADE IT TO THE APPEALS COURT BECAUSE A JUDGE RULED IT WASN'T SUCH A BAD IDEA.

WHAT WAS THE REASONING THERE?

>> THE REASONING HAS SOME, SOME TRACTION.

PUBLIC RECORDS ARE ADMISSIBLE OR ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC UNDER THE ARIZONA PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS.

SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHO WAS ARRESTED, THAT'S A PUBLIC RECORD.

YOU CAN GO LOOK.

THEIR MUGSHOT IS PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.

SO THE THEORY WAS WELL, IF IT'S PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD AND PUBLIC RECORDS ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE, WHY NOT PUBLISH IT ON THE INTERNET?

THAT WAS THE THEORY, AT LEAST.

TED: SO IS THERE A WAY TO ENCOURAGE TRANSPARENCY IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, I KNOW JUSTICE SYSTEM, WITHOUT GOING SO FAR AS TO PUT THE FACES OUT IN PUBLIC ON THE INTERNET?

>> THE COURT CONCLUDED AFFIRMATIVELY TO THAT QUESTION, YES, AND HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT.

HEY, IF A REPORTER OR PRIVATE CITIZEN WANTS TO GO TO THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND LOOK AT THE MUGSHOTS AND LOOK AT THE RECORD, THEY CAN.

BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PUT IT ON THE INTERNET, AND NOT GOING TO RELEASE IT TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

TED: SO NOT TO RELEASE IT -- >> AND TO THE WORLD.

TED: LET'S SAY EVERYONE WANTNESS TO WHO THE PERSON WAS, IT'S A BIG STORY IN PHOENIX AND WANT TO SEE WHAT THE PERSON LOOKS LIKE.

DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE A RIGHT TO NO OR THE COURTS SAY NO, NOT UNTIL ADJUDICATEED?

>> NO, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW IF THEY GO LOOK AT THE RECORDS THEMSELVES.

HOWEVER, THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO PUBLISH THEIR PICTURES AND THEIR DATE OF BIRTHS, HEIGHT, THEIR HAIR COLOR, EYE COLOR TO THE WORLD, TO THE PEOPLE IN THE RUSSIA, CHINA, TIMBUKTU, ALL OVER THE WORLD.

TED: DO THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DISTRIBUTE THAT INFORMATION TO THE MEDIA?

>> NOT THE MUGSHOTS.

NO.

I WOULD SAY THE PRESS HAS A RIGHT TO REVIEW IT BUT NOT COPY AND DISSEMINATE IT.

BUT THAT'S A QUESTION THAT HAS TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER DAY.

TED: ANOTHER CASE.

IS THERE ANY PRECEDENT FOR THIS KIND OF THING?

>> YEAH, THERE WAS A CASE DECIDED IN 2014 CALLED DEMORY V. ARPAIO, REMEMBER, SHERIFF ARPAIO USED TO HAVE WEBCAMS IN THE JAILS.

TED: YES.

>> THAT WOULD FILM PEOPLE WHO WERE UNDER ARREST BUT COULD STILL BE INNOCENT.

IN FACT, SOME OF THEM WERE ABSOLUTELY INNOCENT.

SOME WERE FALSELY ARRESTED BY ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITIES, BUT YET THEIR PICTURES WERE PUBLISHED ON TV AND ON THE INTERNET THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND THE NINTH CIRCUIT SAID THAT CONSTITUTED CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT, IN VIOLATION OF THE 8th AMENDMENT AS APPLIED TO THE STATES THROUGH THE 14th AMENDMENT.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND AND THIS CASE IN PARTICULAR, IS THIS OVER, BALL GAME, AND HOW FAR COULD IT CONTINUE TO GO?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S NOT OVER BECAUSE THE CLAIMANT, THE PLAINTIFF, WANTS MONEY DAMAGES BECAUSE HE SUFFERED.

I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO GET IT, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY BECAUSE I THINK THE DOCTRINE OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY IS GOING TO IMMUNIZE THE COUNTY AND THE OTHER DEFENDANTS BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS RULE THAT THE NINTH CIRCUIT RECOGNIZED WAS, QUOTE, CLEARLY ESTABLISHED.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A MATTER OF CONTROVERSY, AND I ALWAYS SAY, I PRACTICE IN THIS AREA OF LAW, THAT QUALIFIED IMMUNITY IS QUALIFIED IN THEORY BUT ABSOLUTE IN FACT.

MOST TIMES THE DEFENSE OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY PREVAILS.

TED: INTERESTING.

MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NOW NOT DOING THIS ANYMORE, I THINK THE GILA COUNTY NOT DOING IT, YUMA COUNTY, COCHISE COUNTY NOT DOING IT.

>> I CHECKED THIS MORNING AND IT'S NOT.

TED: ARE OTHER COUNTIES IN ARIZONA PUBLISHING THE MUGSHOTS?

>> IF THEY ARE, IT'S NOT GOING TO PERSIST VERY LONG BECAUSE IT'S CLEARLY ESTABLISHED NOW AND THEY'LL BE SUED.

I THINK NOT.

>> THE LAST QUESTION, PUBLIC EXPOSURE, HUMILIATION, OF PRETRIAL DETAINEES.

GOT THAT.

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED OF ANYTHING, AND YOU ARE MAKING FUN OF THESE FOLKS.

HOW FAR DOES PUBLIC SHAMING AND HUMILIATION GO IN TERMS OF PUNISHMENT BEFORE IT HITS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL, FOR SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN CONVICTED?

>> I THINK IT GOES AS FAR AS SPITE CAN TAKE IT.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A CONSTITUTIONAL LIMIT ON THAT BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE'S CONVICTED OF RAPE, CHILD MOLESTATION, MURDER, A LOT OF SHAME IS GOING TO GO WITH THAT AND IT'S GOING TO PERSIST AS LONG AS PUBLIC MEMORY PERSISTS.

TED: THE SHAME OF THE ACT GOES ALONG WITH THAT, ADDITIONAL SHAME PERPETRATED BY A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, ONCE YOU ARE CONVICTED IT'S -- >> ONCE YOU'RE CONVICTED, THAT WOULD BE A LOSER OF A CASE.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, INTERESTING.

STEPHEN MONTOYA, MONTERO, LUCERO AND PASTOR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I FIND THESE THINGS FASCINATING.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

.

TED: THE AROUET FOUNDATION HELPS WOMEN ACHIEVE SUCCESS AND AVOID RECIDIVISM ONCE THEY ARE RELEASED FROM CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

JOINING US IS ALLISON RAPPING AND SARAH LIGUORI, PARTNERED WITH THE FOUNDATION SINCE 2021.

ALLISON, GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF AROUET?

>> SUPPORTS WOMEN AND FAMILIES COMING OUT OF ARIZONA'S JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE SERVE OVER 400 WOMEN A YEAR AND SERVE THEM BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE RE-ENTRY SUPPORT.

WHAT MAKES US, YOU NIQUE IS EVERY WOMAN GETS THEIR OWN PERSONALIZED ACTION PLAN, WE WORK WITH THEM ON FINANCIAL SUPPORTS, ECONOMIC SUPPORTS, WORKFORCE SUPPORTS, HEALTH NAVIGATION, REINTEGRATION WITH FAMILIES.

PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES SO THAT EACH WOMAN HAS THE THINGS THEY NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY RE-ENTER BACK INTO SOCIETY.

TED: AND REPRESENTATIVE, HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN ALL THIS?

>> I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATION AT THE CAPITOL WITH AROUET.

THEY CAME IN 2022 FOR STORYTELLING EVENT AND FELT CONNECTED TO NOT ONLY THE POSITIVE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION BUT A DEEPLY PERSONAL LEVEL IN MEETING WITH THE WOMEN AND TALKING WITH THE WOMEN AND UNDERSTANDING THEY ARE SMART, KIND, HARD WORKING WOMEN TRYING TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES PAST THE MISTAKES.

>> YOU ARE LIKE THE LAST REPRESENTATIVE STILL THERE, IS THAT TRUE?

>> YES.

TED: THAT SHOWED COMMITMENT, DID IT NOT?

>> THAT WAS SUCH A REMARKABLE DAY BECAUSE REPRESENTATIVE LIGUORI STAYED, BUT SO DID A NUMBER OF OTHER REPRESENTATIVES.

WE HAD WOMEN WHO HAD NEVER SPOKEN TO A POLICYMAKER BEFORE SHARING PERSONAL STORIES, AND THEY ALL WALKED OUT SO ENTHUSIASTIC AND EXCITED.

TED: AS FAR AS THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED, THE COACHING THAT IS PROVIDED.

WHAT'S OFFERED?

>> WE OFFER EMPLOYMENT COACHING, EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, HEALTH NAVIGATION AND SUPPORT, FINANCIAL COACHING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND HOLISTIC WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

SO WHATEVER THE WOMAN NEEDS, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE IT TO THEM IN A HOLISTIC WAY.

MOST WOMEN STAY INVOLVED WITH US FOR OVER A YEAR, BUT WE'RE A COMMUNITY, A MOVEMENT, SO PEOPLE STAY WITH US FOR YEARS, THEY START WITH US FOR FINANCIAL COACHING, BUT FIVE YEARS LATER, ARE WITH US FOR HOUSE BUYING COACHING OR COACHING TO PUT A CHILD THROUGH COLLEGE.

TED: AS FAR AS PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK AND FOLKS THAT WANT TO HELP.

WHAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIPS ARE OUT THERE?

>> I WOULD SAY AROUET HAS DONE A FABULOUS JOB AT CREATING PARTNERSHIPS, YOU CAN SEE IT AS A TESTAMENT TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON POLICE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT BUT ALSO IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY BECOMING INVOLVED LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

DIFFERENT NONPROFITS.

FOUNDERS.

ALLISON, YOU CAN GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK TOO?

>> PRIMARY FUNDERS JPMORGAN CHASE, BANNER HEALTH, MERCY CARE.

ONE OF THE EXCITING PARTNERSHIPS IS JPMORGAN CHASE MADE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE UNITED WAY, AND THE VALLEY OF THE SUN UNITED WAY IS STARTING A WORKFORCE COLLABORATION, GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT AND ACADEMIA TOGETHER, FOR US TO THINK HOLISTICALLY ABOUT HOW WE SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR THE STATE.

TED: AS FAR AS SOLVING THIS PROBLEM FOR THE STATE AND WHAT GOES ON AT THE CAPITOL, IS IT GETTING TRACTION?

ARE FOLKS STARTING TO GET IT DOWN THERE?

>> I WOULD SAY YES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ISSUES ARE THE BIPARTISAN ISSUES.

WE MIGHT NOT ALWAYS ALIGN ON THE WHY WE'RE DOING THE WORK BUT WITH MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE, THE WHAT AND THE HOW IS MAJOR ALIGNMENT AND WE'RE WORKING ON POLICY FOR NEXT SESSION AS WELL.

TED: I WOULD IMAGINE RESULTS PLAY A BIG FACTOR THERE.

RECIDIVISM RATES, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> IN ARIZONA 38 TO 40% RECIDIVISM.

RECIDIVISM IS WHEN SOMEONE GOES BACK TO PRISON AFTER RELEASE.

WE'RE SEEING 38 TO 40% GO BACK WITHIN THREE YEARS.

AT AROUET, OUR RATE HAVE 2%, I TRULY BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE WE PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT, WE HELP PEOPLE GET THE CONFIDENCE BACK, HELP THEM GET THEIR CHILDREN BACK, WE HELP THEM GET VIABLE JOBS AND GET THEM TO GET THEIR CHILDREN BACK AND BREAK THE CYCLE OF INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY.

IT IS UNBELIEVABLY SUCCESSFUL.

TED: AND MUST BE UNBELIEVABLY REWARDING TO SEE THE STORIES?

>> CORRECT.

AS A MOM OF TWO, I SEE A LOT OF THE MOMS WITH KIDS THEMSELVES.

HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THE MAZE OF SYSTEMS AND WORK WITH THEM ON THE GROUND AND SEE THE POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION ON THE GROUND AND KNOW YOU ARE UPLIFTING AND SUPPORTING THEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, IT'S UPLIFTING AND IMPACTFUL.

TED: THERE IS A SYMPOSIUM IN OCTOBER?

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT?

>> WE'RE HAVING THIRD ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM TO HELP THE EMPLOYER, BUSINESS COMMUNITY LEARN HOW TO HIRE, RETAIN AND ATTRACT FAIR CHANCE.

SO RIGHT NOW IN ARIZONA, WE HAVE A REAL LABOR SHORTAGE.

WE HAVE A LABOR SHORTAGE IN MANUFACTURING, IN CONSTRUCTION AND HOSPITALITY.

THIS IS A TALENTED, QUALIFIED BASE OF PEOPLE WHO COULD EASILY FULFILL THOSE JOBS, SO WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE AS A MATCHMAKER BETWEEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND INCREDIBLE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

>> HAVE YOU HAD SYMPOSIUMS LIKE THIS BEFORE?

>> THIS IS OUR THIRD AND WE ARE ALMOST SOLD OUT.

TED: HOW IS THE ENTHUSIASM IN THE PAST?

>> I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE ENTHUSIASM.

WE SOLD OUT LAST YEAR, WE HAVE TWO OR THREE TABLES LEFT IF SOMEBODY IS INTERESTED BUT ALLOWS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, HEAR FROM EXPERTS AND COME UP WITH REAL SOLUTIONS.

>> REAL QUICKLY, WHERE CAN YOU GO FOR INFORMATION?

>> OUR WEBSITE, AROUET EMPOWERS.ORG AND A FREE HANDBOOK HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN FAIR CHANCE.

TED: GOOD INFORMATION AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: THE ARIZONA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION WILL SOON NAME 2025 TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

TONIGHT WE HEAR FROM THE 2024 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, EFRAIN CASILLAS, COORDINATOR OF MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR THE TOLLESON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PUBLIC SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER FOR TWO DECADES.

WE SIT DOWN WITH THE CELEBRATED MUSIC TEACHER AFFECTING LIVES OF HIS STUDENTS ONE NOTE AT A TIME.

CONGRATULATIONS, SIR?

>> THANK YOU.

TED: YEAH, WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THIS?

>> I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED A WINNER AT THAT POINT.

IT WAS -- IT JUST HAD BEEN AN HONOR TO BEEN NAMED THE 2024 TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

TED: NOW YOU'VE BEEN A PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER FOR HOW LONG?

>> 24 YEARS.

TED: WOW!

WHAT GOT YOU INTO TEACHING?

>> I LOVE MUSIC.

WITH THE LOVE OF MUSIC IN HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY, I ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, AND EVERYTHING STARTED IN THE CHURCH, AND I USED TO SIT NEXT TO THE MUSICIANS.

TED: YES.

>> AND THEN THE LOVE FOR MUSIC, I WAS NOT THAT GREAT IN MATH AND ENGLISH CLASSES BUT REALLY GOOD IN MUSIC, AND I USED TO LOOK AT A PIECE OF MUSIC AND HEAR HOW IT SOUNDS BY READING IT, AND THE SCHOOL THAT I WAS GOING TO, THE PUBLIC SCHEDULE WAS GOING TO, THEY HAD A GREAT PROGRAM FOR MUSIC, AND WHEN I GRADUATED, I SAID, WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE THIS LOVE OF MUSIC WITH MY STUDENTS -- WITH STUDENTS, I WENT TO SCHOOL TO STUDY MUSIC.

TED: WAS THERE A TEACHER, NOT NECESSARILY A MUSIC TEACHER, BUT A TEACHER THAT INSPIRED YOU?

>> THERE WAS A TEACHER THAT INSPIRED ME.

IT WAS PENA, THE MUSIC TEACHER FROM PUERTO RICO, AND I LOOK UP TO HIM, AND SAY I WANT TO BE LIKE HIM.

TED: YEAH, AND LIKE HIM, LIKE YOU, THERE ARE GOOD TEACHERS AND REALLY GOOD TEACHERS.

WHAT MAKES A REALLY GOOD TEACHER -- WHAT MAKES A REALLY GOOD MUSIC TEACHER?

>> DEDICATION AND HAVING A HEART FOR YOUR STUDENT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU ARE NOT ONLY TEACHING MUSIC ARE YOU ARE TEACHING SKILLS THAT THE STUDENTS TAKE AND THEY'RE GOING TO USE THE SKILLS AND THE FUTURE, SOME PEOPLE WANT TO TEACH MUSIC, AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND YOU ARE NOT ONLY TEACHING MUSIC, YOU ARE TEACHING SKILLS THEY WILL TAKE, AND FROM MUSIC, THEY WILL TAKE IT AND USE IT FOR WHATEVER THEY'RE WORKING ON, THEIR FUTURE, OR WHATEVER THEY DECIDE TO.

TED: IT'S MORE THAN MUSIC.

DID IT TAKE A WHILE TO LEARN THAT OR COULD YOU FIGURE THAT FROM THE GET-GO?

>> WHEN I FIRST STARTED AS A TEACHER, BRAND NEW FROM COLLEGE, AND MY FIRST YEAR, I NOTICED THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE THE WAY I LEARN IN SCHOOL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WORKING FOR ME, AND FOR MY STUDENTS, AND I STARTED LOOKING AT THE CULTURE AND THEIR BACKGROUND AND FROM WHERE THEIR STUDENTS WERE AND I STARTED REFINING ALL THE LESSONS THAT I HAD TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH THE KIDS AND BE ABLE TO REFINE SOMETIMES THE MUSIC SO THEY COULD PLAY, AND THEY COULD FEEL SUCCESSFUL.

SO IT WAS JUST A PROCESS TOO.

TED: SURE.

>> MYSELF AS A TEACHER, LEARNING TOGETHER WITH THE STUDENTS.

TED: WELL, WAS IT DIFFICULT BECAUSE FOR SOME TEACHERS IT'S MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY.

I'M GOING TO STICK TO DOING WHAT I'M DOING, NO MATTER WHAT.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE WILLING TO ADJUST?

>> I WAS WILLING TO ADJUST.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO ME.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM PUERTO RICO AND WE PLAY LATIN-STYLE SALSA, JAZZ, MERINGUE, AND I NOTICED CULTURE MORE MEXICAN AND DECIDED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY MARIACHI AND TAUGHT MYSELF AND STARTED WORKING IN A MARIACHI PROGRAM, SO MY STUDENTS IS A WAY TO GET THEM INTO THE PROGRAM.

ONCE YOU GET THE STUDENTS INTO THE PROGRAM, THEY WANT TO WORK, AND THEIR PARENTS FEEL REALLY PROUD OF THEM, THE GRANDPARENTS, SO THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO RELATE, AND THEN TAKING IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, PLAYING AROUND THE TOWN AND PLAYING ALL AROUND PHOENIX.

>> THAT MUST BE FANTASTIC TO TAKE SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS WITH HISTORY AND HERITAGE AND TEACH IT AND GET IT IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND FIRST MARIACHI BAND IN THE DISTRICT?

YOU CREATED THAT?

>> I CREATED THAT.

THE FIRST MARCHING BAND.

THE FIRST JAZZ BAND.

TED: NOW YOUR BANDS HAVE BEEN IN THE FIESTA BOWL PARADE?

>> YEAH, WE'VE BEEN FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR WE'RE NOT IN THE FIESTA BOWL.

BUT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE'VE BEEN IN THE FIESTA BOWL FOR FOUR YEARS YOU.

>> PERFORMED AT DISNEYLAND, ALL OVER THE PLACE HERE AND YOU SAID YOU ARE FROM PUERTO RICO.

WHAT GOT YOU FROM PUERTO RICO TO ARIZONA?

>> I USED TO LIVE IN CONNECTICUT, I WENT TO SCHOOL AT WESTERN CONNECTICUT UNIVERSITY.

TED: OKAY.

>> AND I DECIDED TO MOVE TO HERE, I WAS READING A BOOK AND THE AUTHOR WAS FROM HERE, DISCOVERING THE MIND OF THE WOMAN, AND I CAME TO TAKE COUNSELING.

TED: HOLY SMOKES!

THAT'S QUITE A STORY!

I WASN'T EXPECTING IT TO GO DOWN THAT AVENUE, BUT WE'RE THERE, AND YOU'RE THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

>> YEAH.

TED: THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL HERE.

ADVICE, YOUNG TEACHERS ARE GOING TO START ASKING, PROBABLY ALREADY DO, ASKING FOR ADVICE, WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

>> I TELL THEM IT'S A GREAT JOB SXRUSHGS AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITH YOUR HEART.

I TREAT MY KIDS LIKE THEY'RE MY OWN KIDS.

ONCE YOU TRUST THE KIDS AND YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, THE KIDS WORK HARD FOR YOU.

THAT'S BEEN MY MOTTO FOR MANY YEARS, JUST BEING RESPECTFUL TO ALL OF THE KIDS THAT I HAVE, AND CARING FOR THEM.

BECAUSE SOME OF THE KIDS DON'T HAVE A DAD AT HOME, DON'T HAVE A MOM.

THEY COME IN WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROBLEMS TO THE SCHOOL.

IT'S NOT ONLY WHAT YOU TEACHING THE SUBJECT, IT'S MANY THINGS THAT GO ALONG BEING A TEACHER AND WORKING HARD.

TED: THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND CONGRATULATIONS, SOUNDS LIKE A REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR YOU AND I CAN SEE WHY THE KIDS ARE ATTRACTED TO YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.