![\"Alisa](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EXDJGBKRAVEJJEZKGEMYCSGC54.JPG\")
Alisa Johnson calls her classroom \u201cJohnsonville\u201d and focuses on building community among her students.(Arizona’s Family)Award includes financial recognition<\/p>\nPHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 Alisa Johnson, a third and fourth-grade gifted teacher at Desert Cove Elementary School in Phoenix, has been named the first Silver Apple Award winner of 2026.<\/p>\n
Johnson has been teaching gifted students for 15 years and was surprised when Arizona\u2019s Family visited her class to award her with the Silver Apple Award.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love information. I love learning. And I have always been able to, I feel like, been able to connect with kids,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
Building community in the classroom<\/p>\n
Johnson calls her classroom \u201cJohnsonville\u201d and focuses on building community among her students.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor these guys, you are the 16th generation of Johnsonville. We call ourselves Johnsonville, and so, helping them help me build this community,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
The teacher emphasizes community, content and conversation as keys to her teaching success.<\/p>\n
Student nomination leads to recognition<\/p>\n
Fourth grader Liberty Sharpe nominated Johnson for the Silver Apple Award.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving Ms. Johnson this year again is the best. I used to be so bored at school, but she makes learning an adventure,\u201d Sharpe said during the surprise presentation.<\/p>\n
Liberty\u2019s mother, Karen Mensing, said her daughter comes home excited about learning.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiberty comes home from school buzzing with excitement. You know, just can\u2019t wait to tell me the cool things she\u2019s learned,\u201d Mensing said.<\/p>\n
Alisa Johnson calls her classroom \u201cJohnsonville\u201d and focuses on building community among her students.(Arizona’s Family)Award includes financial recognition<\/p>\n
Desert Financial presented Johnson with a $1,000 check as part of the Silver Apple Award recognition.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn behalf of Desert Financial, I am so proud to present this check for $1,000 to Alisa Johnson. Eighty-five years ago, Desert Financial was formed by 15 school teachers and continuing to support the educational community in Arizona is so important. Thank you for what you do for your students,\u201d a Desert Financial representative said.<\/p>\n
Johnson credits her students for her success as an educator.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order to be a great teacher, you need to have great kids. So, I always feel very privileged that in all the years that I\u2019ve been teaching gifted kids, I have been privileged to have really great, smart, curious kids,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
Johnson drives at least 45 minutes each way to reach Desert Cove Elementary every school day. She said her students, the gifted program and the school make the commute worthwhile.<\/p>\n
Nominate a teacher or educator for Silver Apple award here.<\/a><\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n