Desert Wind Middle School teacher Davina Lyons was just named one of 10 national recipients of the 2025 Teacher Leader Impact Award. This award recognizes educators who demonstrate dedication to “collaborative professional development, lifelong learning and the continuous improvement of teaching practices.”

It also comes with a cash prize.

From a pool of hundreds of applicants, Lyons was selected for her “comprehensive approach to educational leadership as showcased through multiple impactful initiatives,” said Christine Lynch with KEH Communications, detailing the award.

To receive this most recent laurel, Lyons’s key accomplishment was her “Team Resilience” initiative, which engages students in applying their studies to real-world contexts.

Outside of the classroom, Lyons launched Rising Resilience, a platform aimed at helping educators, parents and students strengthen their resilience skills, extending her impact beyond traditional educational spaces.

“I’m incredibly honored to receive the 2025 Teacher Leader Impact Award. This recognition affirms the heart I put into leading with purpose and uplifting both students and colleagues,” Lyons said in a news release yesterday about the award. “Every day, I aim to inspire resilience, growth and connection in the classroom and beyond — and this award is a beautiful reminder that the work we do as educators truly matters.”

Along with bragging rights, Lyons received a $100 gift card, some Edthena branded swag and a subscription to the Edthena AI Coach, a platform that “provides personalized, on-demand professional development and reflective coaching for educators.”

Lyons joined the Maricopa Unified School District in 2023, coming from Sacaton Elementary via Mesa Schools where she taught English, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Lyons was picked from a “competitive national review process,” said Lynch, conducted by a panel from Edthena. The panelists evaluated nominations and 10 were ultimately chosen.

Lyons is the only Arizona educator selected for the award.

This article was updated to more accurately describe the Edthena AI Coach.