Our Staff
Our educators and support team are truly passionate about teaching and helping children grow and flourish. We want every child to succeed and welcome your input. Please feel free to email your child’s teacher at the address provided below, or call 623-707-2100 and leave a message if you wish to discuss any questions or concerns. Regular hours for our teachers are from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Administration & Office
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Reyes RosemaryRosemary Reyes TOSA Send message »
Education
BA Elementary Education\
MA Early Childhood Education/Educational AdministrationExperience
My 22 years of teaching include -first, second, and third grades.
Reading Coach and Reading Interventionist
1 Teacher on special assignmentWhy I Teach
I teach because I want to make a difference in the lives of children. I enjoy working with children and being a positive role model so they can become great leaders. I also love making connections with children and their families and watching them learn and grow throughout the year.
Kindergarten
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Berumen RosaRosa Berumen Send message »
Education
I have been working in reading interventions for four years at Western Valley.Experience
I have been working in education for eight years.ÂWhy I Teach
I teach because no other job gives me the challenges, joys, headaches, love, creativity, and inspiration like teaching does.
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Slayton MadisonMadison Slayton Send message »
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education - University of Wisconsin - La CrosseExperience
Two yearsWhy I Teach
I teach because I love the lightbulb moments I see every day in the classroom and getting to help shape the future to be filled with kind, smart, and loving humans.
First Grade
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Bartel JenniferJennifer Bartel Send message »
Education
BA Early Childhood EducationExperience
Six years in preschool, four years in kindergarten, and five years in 1st gradeWhy I Teach
I teach because I want to make a difference in the lives of others. I can make an impact in the world by providing education, consistency, and positivity for each child I am blessed to teach. I love making a personal and positive connection with the families at our school. We can work together to give them a quality education from cradle to career.
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Phillips CourtneyCourtney Phillips Send message »
Education
Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood EducationExperience
15 YearsWhy I Teach
I became a teacher to make a difference in the lives of young children. I love seeing the progress my students make each year. I want to help my students find their passion and love for learning.
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Rivera VilmarisVilmaris Rivera Send message »
Education
MA Curriculum and Instruction emphasis in ReadingExperience
25 yearsWhy I Teach
I come from a family of public servants including teachers, social workers, environmentalists, nurses, and military. This foundation inspired me to become a teacher. As a teacher, I have the opportunity to teach children and adults and guide them to develop their imagination and responsibility and inspire them to become lifelong learners and future leaders. I encourage my students to work to reach and fulfill their full potential in everything they do. By making learning fun, I prepare, influence, and motivate my students. My greatest joy is to witness my student's successes.
Second Grade
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Reeser JessicaJessica Reeser 2nd Grade ELD Send message »
Education
After graduating High School in 2001, I attended St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and obtained my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. I also obtained a Masters's in Elementary Education with a Leadership emphasis from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. In addition, I am SEI and Gifted Endorsed. ÂExperience
15 years experience.Why I Teach
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I had so many great teachers that made a great impact in my life, and I wanted to be able to make great impacts for others too! I think that each year brings new challenges, and getting to meet and have so many special new students in my life each year makes me smile. The two greatest impacts in teaching for me so far are the amazing feelings you get when a student starts to recognize their own growth or a former student comes back and tells their story of how I helped make a difference for them.Â
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Smith CourtneyCourtney Smith Send message »
Education
Dual Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education from NAUExperience
Two years in Montessori, seven years in public educationWhy I Teach
I teach because I know the future of our society depends on developing children who are able to become capable and compassionate members of their community. There is so much value found in school that goes beyond academics, and I love to watch students grow each year in those areas as well.
Third Grade
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Amaro AlexisAlexis Amaro Send message »
Education
I have my Bachelor's in Education from Grand Canyon University.Experience
This is my fourth year teaching and my first year in the district.Why I Teach
The reason why I teach is to provide a safe environment where a student can learn, make mistakes, ask questions, and discover the passion to learn. Every student is different, and I hope to inspire each and every one of them. There is nothing better than seeing students find their ah-ha moment in which they find their own gift, their growth in their academics and behavior. When they are able to help someone else and feel the pride of what they can do.
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Gomez AshleyAshley Gomez Send message »
Education
I'm currently attending ASU to receive a dual certificate (BA) in Elementary Education and Special Education.Experience
Three years in the field of education.Why I Teach
The reason I teach is because I would love to continue to make a difference not only in my community but also impact in a positive way every child that I have the opportunity to teach in my classroom.
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Montiel MarleneMarlene Montiel Send message »
Education
MA Early Childhood EducationExperience
Four years teachingWhy I Teach
I love to provide children the opportunity to discover the power of learning. To motivate a child to want to learn opens the world to them. I love teaching, and knowing that I can empower a future leader to be the best they can be is my daily joy. All of the children in my classroom know they are valued, respected and loved. Teaching is my passion!
Fourth Grade
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Mason CraigCraig Mason Send message »
Education
BA Design Technology - BSU, BA Elementary Education - MSU, MA Elementary Education – ASUExperience
I've been teaching elementary students since 2004. I've taught first, second, third, and fourth grade.Why I Teach
Learning is a lifelong pursuit for each one of us, regardless of our age. Educating myself and others is a joyful and satisfying way to navigate life. I am motivated by the knowledge that those I teach today will lead tomorrow. It is my duty to help form today's students into successful community contributors of tomorrow.
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Montiel YazminYazmin Montiel Send message »
Education
MA Elementary Education - Arizona State UniversityExperience
Two yearsWhy I Teach
I teach because today's children are tomorrow's leaders. I want every single child who steps into my classroom to feel empowered to achieve their dreams. I have high expectations for all of my students so that they know that there is at least one person who believes in them. I teach to make my students happy and successful.
Fifth Grade
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Munoz MarionMarion Munoz 5th-Grade General Ed. and ELD Send message »
Education
Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona UniversityExperience
17 yearsWhy I Teach
I teach because I want to make a difference in children's lives today, and for their future.
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O'Neil ErinErin O'Neil Send message »
Education
I studied at University of Wisconsin La Crosse.Experience
I have been in education for four years now.ÂWhy I Teach
I teach for many reasons. My main reason is to continue to make a difference in the world. Not only in the lives of the students but in our society. I want students in my classroom to feel loved, appreciated, and heard.
Special Area Teachers
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Gifford ConnorConnor Gifford Art Send message »
Education
MA Education - Northern Arizona UniversityExperience
11 years teaching experienceWhy I Teach
I am passionate about teaching visual art because I enjoy helping my students learn about and create art. I believe everyone can successfully learn art-making skills and art appreciation. My goal is to help all of my students find their creative spark while experiencing successful art making. I hope they leave my class with a lifelong interest and understanding of visual art and its place in our world.
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Herrera EloyEloy Herrera K-5, Music Send message »
Education
Bachelor's degree in development and management of the arts and intern in master's in educationExperience
I have been teaching for 25 years.Why I Teach
I love sharing my knowledge with others to positively change their lives.
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McGonigle CliffCliff McGonigle Physical Education Send message »
Education
MA, BAExperience
36 years teachingWhy I Teach
I teach because teaching keeps me physically and mentally active. It's also a great opportunity to have a positive impact on students, in the present and into the future, by organizing and creating fun educational experiences for students that keep them fit in body and mind for a lifetime.
Special Education
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Bird MarkMark Bird Resource Send message »
Education
MA Special Education - University of PhoenixExperience
15 yearsWhy I Teach
I teach to help those students who are struggling. My own kids have had some sort of special education ranging from speech to self-contained. I enjoy seeing the look in the eyes of a student who is able to finally understand a mathematical concept or able to read more words than when they started.
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Hankins MelissaMelissa Hankins K–5 Special Education Send message »
Education
BS Elementary EducationExperience
This is my fifth year at Western Valley Elementary and my fifth year teaching.Why I Teach
Teaching is a calling. As a lifelong learner, I love learning in general. I love sharing my love of learning with students and hope that they will love learning as well. The best moments of teaching are seeing a child understand a concept for the first time. Seeing that "light bulb" go off is incredibly rewarding.
Support Staff
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Flores-Tapia DoloresDolores Flores-Tapia Reading Interventionist Send message »
Education
MA Education Curriculum & Instruction: Reading emphasis Elementary EducationExperience
20 yearsWhy I Teach
As a social worker, I saw the need for a strong foundation in literacy and healthy family dynamics. That's when I decided to be a part of the solution for students and families. These experiences led me toward a career in education. As a teacher, I make a difference in children, teaching valuable skills they will use for the rest of their lives.
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Kester PetraPetra Kester Mentor Teacher (District-wide) Send message »
Education
BS Elementary Education; BS Special Education; MA Curriculum and Instruction; ESL Endorsement; Early Childhood EndorsementExperience
I am currently in my 29th year in public education. I spent 12 years as a classroom teacher in preschool through second grade. This is my 17th year as a full-release mentor teacher. In this position, I travel to the elementary schools in our district and work with first and second-year teachers.Why I Teach
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. Some of my earliest memories are of me teaching school to my stuffed animals! I have a passion for helping children learn skills to become lifelong learners, and I know every single child has the capacity for success, given the right tools. This isn't a job for me. It is a career that I am blessed to have woven throughout all aspects of my life. My identity is being a teacher, and to watch students blossom and grow throughout each year is a wonderful gift to be a part of! In my current position, I am fortunate to collaborate with, and help grow the newest members of our profession. Every child deserves a great teacher! No exceptions!
