Each service comes with a gift of remembrance. Capture the essence of the holidays with these special treatments. 4 8 0 . 8 5 0 . 4 0 6 5 • S C O T T S D A L E • T A L K I N G S T I C K R E S O R T . C O M Page 16 December 2015 would tell me about her experiences with families and kids and how much she missed it. I really look up to her...and once I started some of my college classes, the school I went to kept putting us into different classrooms to work with kids and I loved it.” LeBlanc said she truly enjoys her students and added, “They make me laugh a lot and make every day not feel like work. It’s like coming in and being with my little school family.” When asked about how she deals with the academic demands on her first-graders, she said, “They all come in reading at different levels and that’s one of the things we talk about; that God made us a certain way and some of us just get it right away and for others, it takes a little bit, but we’ll get there.” When asked how growing up in a large extended family has impacted her perspective and teaching, LeBlanc stated, “You see how different each [family member is] and how their gifts contribute to this big happy family. People have weaknesses and strengths in other areas. It’s all for the greater good. It helps me to be more accepting of everybody’s strengths and limitations. They’re all necessary.” By Christina Surrano Teacher Emma LeBlanc seeks to inspire drive for self-improvement as well as self- acceptance in her first-grade students. This is Miss LeBlanc’s fifth year teaching at St. Thomas the Apostle, a school she was serendipitously introduced to while visiting from Michigan. She became familiar with the school’s reputation when she attended church services there one Sunday, while visiting a former college roommate. She met with the school’s principal and moved to Arizona that summer. Ann Marie Sunderhaus, and her two sons, Frank and Kevin, nominated Miss LeBlanc for the Arcadia News Teachers We Love award. Frank is now in third grade, but remembers his first-grade teacher with affection. “[Miss LeBlanc] has always been Frank’s favorite [teacher] and it was so sweet to see how excited Frank was when Kevin [found out she’d be his teacher],” said Ann Marie. “They enjoy learning. They tell me about funny things that happen in class. They talk about friendships. I know that’s all fostered by the presence of the teacher. I think it’s her persona of being sweet, kind and accepting.” During life before teaching, LeBlanc benefitted from watching many children grow up. She is one of about 150 first cousins. Her father was one of 17 children. Ann Marie shared some of the tempered and patient encouragement LeBlanc offers to the parents. “She always says, ‘I understand that there’s a lot going on at home. There is stuff outside of school, but just do your very best and help them do their very best, and make sure you guide them and work with them.’” Miss LeBlanc’s inspiration to teach began with stories from her mother who had taught first grade for seven years before having children of her own. LeBlanc shared, “She Frank’s favorite teacher TEACHERS WE LOVE The December 2015 Teacher of the Month, Emma LeBlanc and her first grade class. Teachers chosen for the Arcadia News Teachers We Love Award receive an Arcadia News tote, a $125.00 gift certificate from Salon Sandoval, a $100.00 gift certificate for Postino Wine Cafe and an invitation to an end of the year luncheon for the year’s winners. To nominate the teacher you love, go to arcadianews.com or page 25.

REAL ESTATE CORNER Tucker Blalock YOUR ARCADIA AND BILTMORE REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST T his year has been great for me professionally as well as personally. I will be finishing 2015 north of $21,000,000 in sales volume which by ARMLS stats puts me in the #1 position for any real estate agent under 30 years old in Arizona. I’m continuously humbled by the support that I have received throughout the Arcadia community during the year, including my neighbor MaryAnn who told me that my biceps looked good in my last ad ;) This year also brought the first birthday for my son Cash along with many fun memories that my wife and I will not forget. Without their support of my incredibly lopsided work/life balance I would not be where I am today. My team, The Suits, has grown to six members and we are looking to expand our reach. While we have been known as the #1 team in the Biltmore for the past two years, my goal is to earn more business from my neighbors here in Arcadia. Born and raised in the ‘hood, I have a passion for Arcadia that runs deep. I encourage all of you to introduce yourself to me while out in the community. Whether it’s at The Village, Safeway, or jogging down the canal, please say “Hey!” I’m bullish on the housing market going into 2016 as mortgage rates remain around 4%. This is especially true in the Arcadia and Biltmore areas as residents of Scottsdale continue to return to “Central.” The rush back to the Camelback Corridor has been a product of our incredible entertainment and restaurant choices. Thank Sam Fox (Fox Concepts), Bob Lynn (LGO Hospitality), and a slew of other small business owners for increasing your home values :) While I see the market staying strong, I would encourage Arcadia Proper residents with a “tweener” to think about selling now before your home becomes a teardown. A tweener is a home that is a little too nice to teardown, but not up to today’s standards for most buyers. Today’s buyer in the Arcadia market is looking for a newer product with higher ceilings, open floor plan, and modern color schemes. They probably aren’t looking for a home that needs $100-200k worth of remodel. The cute, older ranch homes with 8.5' ceilings just aren’t as desired anymore. Selling to a developer for teardown value in the next couple of years will leave you with less money in your pocket. Unfortunately, that is what our market has come to as more homes are demolished to make room for newer products. There is also a lot of opportunity for residents who are looking to downsize in the next year. I would encourage my clients to take advantage of Arcadia prices and move over to the Biltmore at a sizable discount. While most houses in Arcadia are trading at an average of around $350/sq.ft., you can buy a very nice lock n’ leave in the Biltmore for $270/sq.ft. Please do not hesitate to call me at 602-ARCADIA anytime to chat about the market or the neighborhood. I look forward to doing business in the near future and hope your family has a great holiday season! Tucker Blalock Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate 602-ARCADIA PAID ADVERTISEMENT Page 17 December 2015 By Alexandra Whitten Arcadian Jenn Jepson is striving to make Arizona a better place to live, work and play by assisting nonprofits through the 2016 Fiesta Bowl Committee. Jepson attended elementary and middle school in the area, and graduated from Arcadia High School. After spending a year in Washington for college, she came back to Arizona and enrolled in the Walter Cron kite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “I’m always drawn back,” said Jepson. “I love the area. I never wanted to leave.” Jepson said her love for Arcadia stems from the small-town vibe and strong sense of community, which resides within a big city. Jepson gave examples of how area residents want to make their community look and be its best, such as the annual Fourth of July parade and the decorations along Arcadia streets during the holidays. “People put a lot of effort and energy into making it a phenomenal place to live,” said Jepson. After spending eight years with Phoenix International Raceway and eventually becoming the senior communications manager, Jepson sought a new challenge. That challenge became the Fiesta Bowl Committee, where she has been for just over a year. Jepson enjoys the ties the Fiesta Bowl has to the community. Not only does she get to work with the sports side of Phoenix, she’s now also involved with the nonprofits that strive to make a difference within the state of Arizona. Jepson plans to give just as much effort and energy back to the local community and Arizona through her work for the Fiesta Bowl She hopes the annual timeline she’s put into place - which cycles through community service hours and donations - will have an impact on the community. This season the committee will grant $1.5 million to Arizona nonprofits. This year alone they partnered with the Fighter Country Partnership, Be Kind People Project, and HopeKids in Arizona. The Fiesta Bowl Committee contribution of service hours and community service comes from their staff and the Yellow Jackets Committee. The Yellow Jackets Committee has special requirements such as fundraising requirements and service hour requirements. In addition to their committee they have over three thousand volunteers. “What I love about the power of the Fiesta Bowl is not only do we give back to Arizona nonprofits, but we give the Arizona community a reason to come together,” Jepson said in regards to how the community creates experiences that cause families to come out and have a good time, bringing them closer together. Jepson said that every time somebody purchases a ticket to the Fiesta Bowl, they’re helping us fund a grant, put school supplies in the hands of children who can’t afford it, or bring dinner to children and their families who didn’t think it was possible to have a holiday dinner this year. Fiesta Bowl’s nonprofit goals BEHIND THE BUSINESS The Fiesta Bowl mascot, Spirit, visits schools and events as part of the ongoing fundraising efforts. Jenn Jepson