Bonnie Hickman

Position: Teacher

Patterson Elementary School

Bonnie Hickman is a 30-year public school educator in the Gilbert District (28 with 6th graders). She has a BA in Liberal Studies and her MEd is in “Curriculum and Instruction” from the University of Illinois- Champaign. She attended the James Madison Legacy Project teacher training for “We the People” in the summer of 2017 and the knowledge she gained there has changed her teaching focus. Previously, she has had her students involved in interviewing Veterans for the Library of Congress; Veterans History Project along with community action projects.

Bonnie’s students participated in the We the People State Showcase in January 2018. Four months later, she and 12 of her 6th grade students were on their way to Washington, D.C, to compete in the Invitational for “We the People.” Upon returning, she submitted papers to run for the House of Representatives in Arizona. The unsuccessful bid was a blessing in disguise as she was/is not ready to leave her classroom just yet. 

In 2019, she led her class through “Project Citizen” in which her students decided that something needed to be done about the lack of guidelines and the danger electric scooters pose in communities. Her 6th graders contacted all 90 Arizona legislators, made appointments and met with 13 of them during the “Distracted Driving Summit” in January of 2019. The class was successful in helping get a law written by Senator Pace passed, defining what e-scooters are and guidance for their use. Her classes also have published several comic books sponsored by the Governor’s Board of Highway Safety for “Red Means Stop.”

Her students' trip to Washington DC for We the People was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID. However, most recently her class attended the three day "Takeover of the AZ Legislature" sponsored by Youth and Government through the YMCA in December 2021.  

Bonnie has enjoyed leading other Arizona teachers through the We the People curriculum during the 2021 summer institute and has attended Mock Trial Trainings. Being allowed to attend the "Moot Court" Supreme Court training (called Civic Leadership Institute) for four days during the summer of 2022 gave her more resources that she loves to share with other educators.  

Bonnie hopes to connect to more Arizona educators who are passionate about educating our next generation of civic leaders.