Honoring Excellence: AAGT Gifted Educator of the Year

We are proud to recognize Dr. Karen Hudson as the AAGT Gifted Educator of the Year. Dr. Hudson has dedicated the past 50 years to serving the Paradise Valley School District as a teacher, facilitator, mentor, and advocate for gifted students and their families. Her unwavering passion and commitment to gifted education have profoundly impacted the Arizona educational system, and she continues to build her enduring legacy of excellence and advocacy.

As a true exemplary educator, Dr. Hudson leads by example, consistently demonstrating her extensive knowledge of best practices in gifted education. She possesses a unique ability to quickly assess classroom dynamics and identify the academic and social-emotional needs of diverse learners. This remarkable skill makes her an invaluable asset to colleagues, students, and parents.

Dr. Hudson’s work with our most vulnerable learners, the twice-exceptional population, is particularly noteworthy. Over the past two decades, she has been instrumental in developing and strengthening the PV Twice Exceptional Program. Her gifted expertise is widely recognized, and she is frequently sought out by teachers and administrators for guidance and support for our gifted learners.

Dr. Hudson’s contributions to education have not gone unnoticed. She is the recipient of the prestigious Arizona Award for Teaching Excellence from the AEA Foundation and one of only 48 public school teachers nationwide to receive the 2025 Travelers Awards for Teaching Excellence awarded by the NEA. While these accolades are a testament to her exceptional abilities, they do not fully capture the essence of Hudson’s impact.

She approaches her work with middle school twice-exceptional learners with unparalleled care, compassion, and skill.

Dr. Hudson is a nationally board-certified teacher who prioritizes mentoring her colleagues to strengthen their understanding of gifted learners. Equally, she is a trusted counselor to families navigating the unique challenges of raising gifted and, specifically, twice-exceptional children.

Dr. Hudson seamlessly integrates these roles with passion, expertise, and a profound love of learning. Her dedication to her students, her colleagues, and the profession is truly inspiring.

Congratulations to Dr. Karen Hudson as the Arizona Gifted Teacher of the Year!