MADERA -The Business and Education Committee of the Madera Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that it will host their annual Salute to Education Reception and Awards Ceremony at the Madera District Fair on opening night, September 4, 2025. Admission to the fair on Thursday night is free for all ages, courtesy of Valley Children's Healthcare.
Over thirty-five educators from Madera schools will receive the Distinguished Teacher of the Year award for their outstanding efforts during the 2024-25 school year.
Teachers are nominated and chosen by the school site peers based on their exceptional, skillful, creative, and dedicated teaching. Award winners must also display elevated care, respect, and kindness to students, parents, and co-workers.
“I look forward to celebrating and recognizing all the outstanding work and commitment these outstanding teachers are honored for. It is important that we acknowledge and thank them for their work in developing our future workforce.”, stated Joe Doyland, Chairman of the Chamber’s Business and Education Committee.
Madera Chamber CEO Debi Bray commented, “We are very appreciative that the Madera Fair provides us with the opportunity to host Salute to Education during the fair. Teachers are an integral part of our community, and the fair is the perfect community venue to share what exceptional talent and dedication these teachers are being honored for.”
In addition to the Distinguished Teacher of the Year awards, the Madera Unified Teachers’ Association will present its Friends of Education Award. This award is presented to individuals and businesses that are dedicated to supporting students, teachers, and school site staff by donating their time and resources to a local school site.
The event will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a private reception for the award recipients, their guests, and educational leadership, followed by the presentation of their 2056 World Champion Rings to the MadTown Robotics Team. The program will begin at 5:45 p.m. at the Patio Stage at the Madera Fairgrounds. While guests are in the reception area, the staging to honor the Distinguished Teachers of the Year has been designed to allow anyone wishing to watch the program to do so.
Madera Fair CEO Barbara Leach said about hosting the festivities for the fourth straight year, “Madera Fair is proud to be the venue hosting the Madera Chamber and EECU’s Salute to Education event, recognizing Madera Unified’s Distinguished Teachers of the Year. Salute to Education is a special way to highlight the education heroes in our community, and there’s no finer place to do it than at the annual fair—Madera’s largest gathering.”
The Madera Fair kicks off on Thursday, September 4th, and runs until Sunday, September 7th. Advance tickets and carnival wristbands are available on the fair website (www.MaderaFair.com) and at Rancho San Miguel Supermarket at reduced prices until September 4th. Hours of free entertainment are scheduled for both the Headliners and the 20/30 Stage, plus all the fair acts playing multiple times a night throughout the grounds. So do not miss it!