Educator, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Pima K-8, Scottsdale High School

Graduated: 1975

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“Great teachers, models and mentors.”

PE Teacher

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Hohokam Elementary School, Ingleside Middle School, Supi Middle School, Arcadia High School

Graduated: 1992

Math Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Pima Elementary School, Supai Middle School, Coronado High School

Graduated: 1995

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“Mr. Landry (Math) and Jon Gomez (Band) insisted on quality every single day.”

3rd Grade Teacher at Cherokee Elementary School, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cocopah Middle School, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 2004

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"SUSD provided me with a quality education that prepared me to excel in college. They allowed me the freedom to explore my interests and, as a result, I found a great group of friends."

HR Staffing Coordinator, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cherokee K-8, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 1990

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"My career is the perfect example. I am in my 30th year."

Arcadia High School, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Coronado High School

Graduated: 1988

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“Taught and coached for 20 years at my alma mater, Coronado High School. Currently in my 5th year teaching at Arcadia High School. SUSD taught me to remember where I came from and to give back, it taught me that it is the journey not the destination that matters, it taught me nobody does it alone but take personal responsibility, it taught me to conquer my fears, do hard things, learn from mistakes, always strive to get better, and, most importantly, public schools matter!”

Special Education Teacher

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cocopah K-8, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 1986

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"Provided a well-rounded education."

Choir Teacher, SUSD 

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Pueblo Elementary School, Mohave Middle School, Saguaro Mountain High School

Graduated: 2011

Self-employed

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Kiva Elementary School, Mohave Middle School

Graduated: 1992

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“Being part of a strong community of peers, parents, teachers and staff who always made learning fun and Scottsdale a wonderful place to be a kid.”

Administrative Assistant, Kingman Unified School District

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Tavan Elementary School, Mohave Middle School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 2014

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"The multiple options we had for classes allowed me to explore better career choices."

CFO, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Hohokam Elementary School, Supai Middle School, Coronado High School

Graduated: 1995

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"I learned the value of education and a strong community."

Title I Coordinator, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Hohokam Elementary School, Supai Middle School, Coronado High School

Graduated: 1992

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"SUSD has always been 'home'. Not only did it provide an excellent education, with amazing and inspiring teachers, it inspired me. My first paying job at age 15 was as a summer custodian in the district. After serving 2 summers, I was hired as a regular custodian, working for 6 years at Tonalea Elementary, then being promoted to Plant Manager at Ingleside Middle School, all while supporting my post-secondary and graduate education at ASU. Years later, when I had the opportunity to return to SUSD as a teacher, I jumped at the opportunity to serve at Supai, my own middle school, and have never looked back."

Interdisciplinary Educator, Self-employed

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Kiva Elementary School, Cocopah Middle School, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 2009

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“Today, I am a self-employed educator of all STEM subjects, Spanish, & ACT for students of all levels in secondary school & college. Beyond the academics, it has been the maintained, special connections with my SUSD teachers that have supported me to become what I am. A Kiva teacher's family provided babysitting for me and my sister, and learned some extra things while they did. I kept in touch will all my Kiva teachers while they remained there through my high school years. I remain in touch with my high school teachers as I have provided support for them in and out of the classroom. One in particular catalyzed my whole career: Richard Peterson, retired Chaparral Honors/AP Chemistry teacher. The first groups of students I tutored were from his class while I, too, was a student. 15-years later, I am doing the same thing and loving it. Teachers have the ability to impact students' lives more than just academically.”

Administrative Support Coordinator, Hohokam Elementary School, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Coronado High School

Graduated: 1980

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“Coronado High School was in its prime during the late ‘70s - they had a lot of extracurricular activities to offer, great staff, and a large student body. I had come from a small town, so these things all helped me prepare for college. I attended SCC and graduated from ASU.”

Elementary Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Laguna Elementary School, Mountainside Middle School, Desert Mountain High School

Graduated: 2009

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“By providing me with excellent teachers who supported and cared for me. SUSD also had exemplary extracurricular programs before/during/after school that helped me feel like a part of my school community, as well as gave me a sense of ownership over my own educational experience.”

P.E. Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Tonto Elementary School, Pima Elementary School, Coronado High School

Graduated: 1997

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"SUSD provided me with social and academic tools to succeed."

Stay at home Mom/Recent Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Kiva Elementary School, Mountainside Middle School, Desert Mountain High School

Graduated: 2005

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"Helped prepare me for college both academically and socially. Taught me to love my community, because I didn’t go far after graduation!"

CEO, First Things First

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cherokee Elementary School, Cocopah Middle School, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 1991

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“Education, commitment to community, and amazing friends and mentors.”

MTSS Specialist, Osborn Middle School

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Mountainside Middle School, Desert Mountain High School

Graduated: 2011

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“I had many amazing teachers who inspired me and served as examples of the type of teacher I wanted to be when I graduated. My first job in education after college was also in SUSD, at Laguna Elementary School!”

Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Illinois, Chicago

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Mountainside Middle School, Desert Mountain High School

Graduated: 2013

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“The IB program at DMHS prepared me to synthesize and analyze materials in a way which prepared me well for college courses. Additionally, the art, music, and dance classes at SUSD helped build the foundation of my eventual work in both performing and producing work for numerous theaters and galleries, including performing at the Kennedy Center in D.C. Notably, the opportunity to take French I at DMHS while completing 8th grade at MMS helped me see the value in figuring out my goals and then pursuing them independently, a skill which was massively helpful in leading a self-directed educational experience in pursuit of my BA, MA, and PhD degrees.”

Security/Coach, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Piute Elementary School, Mohave Middle School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 1975

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"The teachers I had: Jackie Drinkwater in the 4th grade was such a kind teacher, and Mr. Johnson, Mr. Smith at Saguaro, Ms. Ruffin for Biology, so many great teachers and Mrs. Smith Home Ec, I could go on and on. Ms. Hammer, P.E., my driver’s ed teacher, which I think we still should have, as well as Home Ec."

Teacher, Mesa Unified School District

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Coronado High School

Graduated: 1966

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

" Enjoyed extra-curricular activities, especially journalism. Worked on the Explorer and Trail."

First Grade Teacher, Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary School

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Hohokam Elementary School, Pima Middle School, Coronado High School

Graduated: 1989

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"The teachers taught me how to be successful and the love of teaching. They taught me to help shape the minds of our future."

Assistant Vice President, Government and Community Engagement, ASU

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cochise K-8, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 1990

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“Growing up in Scottsdale, we had the privilege of attending some of the best schools in the state. Not only were the teachers excellent, we had a community of support. Teachers and parents, hand in hand, working hard to provide a solid foundation for us to grow. That foundation, along with hard work and determination, has allowed me to have a career that I love. I am now in a position with one of the premiere universities in the country to partner and collaborate with our communities all over the state to enhance our educational opportunities, giving the next generation a strong foundation to build on and find their own success.”

Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cherokee Elementary School, Cocopah Middle School, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 2008

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“My teachers inspired me and helped me discover my love of learning. They encouraged me every step of the way, supported me, and showed me that teaching can make a lifelong impact on students.”

Retired Teacher,Tonalea, Loloma, Pueblo, and Chaparral, SUSD ; Retired Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, Chaparral, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Arcadia High School

Graduated: 1963

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"Arcadia High School gave me the educational foundation to pursue a teaching career and the athletic environment to become a high school basketball coach."

Third Grade Teacher, Tonalea K8, SUSD 

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Pima Elementary School, Mohave Middle School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 2008

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"SUSD showed me that a community is extremely important. It is what led me into education. I wanted to give back to a community that did so much for me. My teachers in SUSD always pushed me to 'do better' and to persevere. I find that to be a quality I try to instill in my students."

Instructional Support Specialist, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Hopi K-8, Arcadia High School

Graduated: 1977

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“SUSD prepared me for success by instilling a lifelong love for learning and a strong sense of community.”

Literacy Support Specialist,Tonalea K8, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Paiute Elementary School, Scottsdale High School

Graduated: 1977

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"I learned to love school."

Fourth Grade Teacher, Cherokee Elementary, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cherokee Elementary School

Graduated: 2008

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"SUSD prepared me for success by providing me with the best educational experience possible. I loved it so much that I came back to teach at the same school where my passion for education was instilled in me. I now teach where I went to elementary school myself! My love for education came from the environment at Cherokee that I was raised in, and I hope to use this same environment to give children a similar experience as they grow up."

Website Specialist, Phoenix Elementary School District #1

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Zuni Elementary School, Desert Canyon Middle School, Desert Mountain High School

Graduated: 2005

5th Grade Teacher at Cochise Elementary, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Zuni Elementary School, Desert Canyon Middle School, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 2003

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“The neighborhood we were raised in was filled with wonderful middle-class families. We were proud to go to the local school because it was filled with qualified teachers who were dedicated to their students and communities. I became a 5th grade teacher because of my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Gomes, from Zuni Elementary School. She was wonderful.”

Special Education Teacher, Mesa Public Schools

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Navajo Elementary School, Mohave Middle School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 2013

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"My hearing teacher, Ms. Lisa Sanders, motivated me to go far! She has been with me since I was three years old!"

Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Hohokam Elementary School, Supai Middle School, Coronado High School

Graduated: 2006

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"Building relationships and helping me achieve scholarships."

Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cochise Elementary School, Cocopah Middle School, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 2011

Retired Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Loloma K8, Scottsdale High School

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"With wonderful teachers and experiences, I was prepared to attend Arizona State University and then become a teacher at Navajo Elementary School in the SUSD. I taught at Navajo for 8 years, then had 5 children who attended Navajo for 25 years, followed by two grandchildren who went to Navajo for 13 years. I volunteered for most of those years and now, 55 years later, I am still volunteering at Navajo. Navajo is a special place to me."

Salesforce Project Manager, BASIS Charter Schools Inc

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cheyenne Traditional School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 2012

Teacher

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cochise Elementary School, Cocopah Middle School, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 1996

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"By providing me with amazing teachers who believed in me.  SUSD also showed me how a community can be a family."

English Language Arts Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Kaibab (Echo Canyon) K8, Scottsdale High School

Graduated: 1974

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"A very special teacher at Scottsdale High School taught me how to truly write. Other teachers recognized and encouraged my creativity."

President, Arizona Christian University

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Pima K-8, Scottsdale High School

Graduated: 1981

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"Outstanding and dedicated teachers who took a personal interest in students."

Thunderbird Branch Director, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Saguaro High School

Graduated: 2004

Kindergarten Teacher, Hopi Elementary, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Hopi Elementary School, Ingleside Middle School, Arcadia High School

Graduated: 1993

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"The teachers’ interest in me academically and personally made me want to do the same for children. The sense of community in this district made me want to raise my child here, as well as work here."

Curriculum Coordinator, Secondary Mathematics, Oklahoma City Public Schools

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Supai Elementary School, Coronado High School

Graduated: 1987

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"I taught many characteristics that I have developed since I have left high school: hard work, dedication, passion, focus, persistence, and compassion, to name a few. I was a three-sport athlete, and appreciate the lessons I learned that carry over from the sport to the classroom and into life."

Admin Support Tech/Registrar, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Mohave K8, Pueblo K8, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 1980

How did SUSD prepare you for success?                                                             

“Caring teachers and expectations from them and family prepared me for life and to be able to prepare my own children on how important an education is.”

Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Pima Elementary School, Mohave Middle School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 2015

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“SUSD fostered my value for academic success. Thanks to the teachers, who I am now grateful to call my co-workers, I maintained a passion for learning. Looking to cultivate that same passion in others, I turned to education. I now work as a teacher at the same elementary school I attended, Pima Traditional.”

Teacher

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Pueblo Elementary School, Anasazi Elementary School, Mohave Middle School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 1995

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"I had wonderful role models and amazing teachers who challenged and pushed me to do my best. Not only did I attend SUSD for most of my own educational years, I also taught at Navajo Elementary and learned and grew tremendously."

Principal, Yavapai Elementary School, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Pueblo Elementary School, Mohave Middle School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 1997

Visual Arts Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cocopah Middle School, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 2008

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"It helped me look forward and understand that what I was learning here would build the foundation for what I wanted to do in the future. Also, the Chaptown community was such a fun positive experience in my life I really wanted to come back and make that experience special for the next generation of students."

Retired Teacher, Volunteer, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Tonto Elementary School, Kiva Elementary School, Cocopah Middle School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 1973

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"My years as a student gave me a good foundation upon which to build/further my education. It was a joy to serve students and families as an elementary school teacher at Tonalea, Aztec, Desert Canyon and Cochise."

Kindergarten teacher, Hohokam Elementary (where I began my schooling), SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Hohokam Elementary School

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“SUSD was a great foundation in grades K-2 for my learning.”

Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Desert Canyon Elementary School, Desert Canyon Middle School, Saguaro/Desert Mountain High Schools

Graduated: 2006

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“The teachers that I had helped prepare me for the realities of life and were always supportive. This helped prepare me to serve eight years in the United States Navy as a Logistics Specialist and also gave me the necessary skills needed to navigate and graduate from college.”

ELD Teacher, Tonalea K8, SUSD 

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Kachina Elementary School, Hopi Elementary School, Tavan Elementary School, Ingleside Middle School, Arcadia High School

Graduated: 1989

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"High expectations for achievement."

Clinical Assistant Professor, Arizona State University

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Laguna Elementary School, Mountainside Middle School, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 1998

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"The SUSD teachers, administration (such as Dr. John Kriekard and Dr. James Lee) and coaches never gave up on me. They saw a young student who strived to achieve her goals, but didn't quite know how to get there. Through confidence building and support inside and outside of the classroom, they found the spark that I needed to meet my ambitions. Now an educator myself, I often think about my village that helped shape me into the person I am today and strive to do the same with my own students!"

Title 1 Specialist, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Saguaro High School

Graduated: 1977

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“Learning a second language from a gifted teacher (Shirley Baker) has proven invaluable. Also, being given experience as a tutor led me to teaching. Our band director was award-winning (J. Durward Morsch) and taught me life lessons about grit.”

Music Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Kaibab Elementary School, Hopi Elementary School, Ingleside Middle School, Arcadia High School

Graduated: 1988

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“My awesome teachers inspired me to become a teacher myself!”

Kindergarten Teacher at Cochise, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Cherokee Elementary School, Cocopah Middle School, Chaparral High School

Graduated: 1995

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“By having amazing teachers, so then I became a teacher!”

Third Grade Teacher, Sunnyside Unified School District

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Pueblo Elementary School, Mohave Middle School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 2011

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"I really owe a lot of my success as a teacher to my time in SUSD. I had amazing teachers from K-12 who helped me find confidence as a reader, mathematician, author, scientist, and musician. I also feel SUSD encourages collaboration among students, to which I also collaborate with my 3rd grade students, their families, and, of course, my colleagues."

Instructional Support Specialist, SUSD

SUSD Schools Attended:

Kiva Elementary School, Mohave Middle School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 2005

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"Going to Kiva gave me a top-notch work ethic. It was a very demanding school. Teachers were amazing and were always there for extra support. As far as behavior expectations, I don’t really think many kids got into too much trouble while there. Everyone respected the rules and expectations that were set forth from our administration. That foundation helped me get through Mohave and Saguaro with a breeze. A couple more things I learned from middle/high school was accountability, self-reliance, and being an all-around person of example. I can proudly say I never engaged in a fight in my days as an SUSD student!"

Curriculum Developer, Grand Canyon Education/Grand Canyon University

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Pima K-8, Coronado High School

Graduated: 1990

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"SUSD helped prepare me by giving me a strong foundation in many subjects. I value the core curriculum that I received as well as electives like dance, driver's education, chorus, etc."

Teacher, AZ Virtual Academy

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Yavapai Elementary School, Supai Middle School, Coronado High School

Graduated: 2002

Para Professional, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Navajo Elementary School, Saguaro High School

Graduated: 2001

Teacher, SUSD

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Kachina Elementary School, Ingleside School, Arcadia High School

Graduated: 1982

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

“It made me want to become a teacher!”

Consultant

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Loloma K8, Scottsdale High School

Graduated: 1960

How did SUSD prepare you for success?

"Mrs. Kahl gave me a love of learning."

Senior Research Systems Specialist, Phoenix Union High School District

Industry: Education

SUSD Schools Attended:

Paiute Elementary School, Scottsdale High School

Graduated: 1982

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