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 Rosemary
    Rosemary Reyes TOSA Send message »

    Education
    BA Elementary Education\
    MA Early Childhood Education/Educational Administration

    Experience
    My 22 years of teaching include -first, second, and third grades.
    Reading Coach and Reading Interventionist
    1 Teacher on special assignment

    Why 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.


    Rosemary Reyes

Kindergarten

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  • Beruman Rosa
    Rosa Beruman 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. 

    Why I Teach
    I teach because no other job gives me the challenges, joys, headaches, love, creativity, and inspiration like teaching does.


    Rosa Beruman
  • Slayton Madison
    Madison Slayton Send message »

    Education
    Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education - University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

    Experience
    Two years

    Why 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.


    Madison Slayton

First Grade

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  • Bartel Jennifer
    Jennifer Bartel Send message »

    Education
    BA Early Childhood Education

    Experience
    Six years in preschool, four years in kindergarten, and five years in 1st grade

    Why 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.


    Jennifer Bartel
  • Phillips Courtney
    Courtney Phillips Send message »

    Education
    Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education

    Experience
    15 Years

    Why 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.


    Courtney Phillips
  • Rivera Vilmaris
    Vilmaris Rivera Send message »

    Education
    MA Curriculum and Instruction emphasis in Reading

    Experience
    25 years

    Why 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.


    Vilma Rivera

Second Grade

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  • Reeser Jessica
    Jessica 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.  

    Experience
    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. 


    Jessica Reeser
  • Smith Courtney
    Courtney Smith Send message »

    Education
    Dual Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education from NAU

    Experience
    Two years in Montessori, seven years in public education

    Why 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.


    Courtney Smith

Third Grade

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  • Amaro Alexis
    Alexis 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.


    Alexis Amaro
  • Gomez Ashley
    Ashley 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.


    Ashley Gomez
  • Montiel Marlene
    Marlene Montiel Send message »

    Education
    MA Early Childhood Education

    Experience
    Four years teaching

    Why 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!


    Marlene Montiel

Fourth Grade

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  • Mason Craig
    Craig Mason Send message »

    Education
    BA Design Technology - BSU, BA Elementary Education - MSU, MA Elementary Education – ASU

    Experience
    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.


    Craig Mason
  • Montiel Yazmin
    Yazmin Montiel Send message »

    Education
    MA Elementary Education - Arizona State University

    Experience
    Two years

    Why 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.


    Yazmin Montiel

Fifth Grade

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  • Munoz Marion
    Marion 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 University

    Experience
    17 years

    Why I Teach
    I teach because I want to make a difference in children's lives today, and for their future.


    Marion Munoz
  • O'Neil Erin
    Erin O'Neil Send message »

    Education
    I studied at University of Wisconsin La Crosse.

    Experience
    I have been in education for four years now. 

    Why 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.


    Erin O'Neil

Special Area Teachers

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  • Gifford Connor
    Connor Gifford Art Send message »

    Education
    MA Education - Northern Arizona University

    Experience
    11 years teaching experience

    Why 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.


    Connor Gifford
  • Herrera Eloy
    Eloy Herrera K-5, Music Send message »

    Education
    Bachelor's degree in development and management of the arts and intern in master's in education

    Experience
    I have been teaching for 25 years.

    Why I Teach
    I love sharing my knowledge with others to positively change their lives.


    Eloy Herrera
  • McGonigle Cliff
    Cliff McGonigle Physical Education Send message »

    Education
    MA, BA

    Experience
    36 years teaching

    Why 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.


    Cliff McGonigle

Special Education

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  • Bird Mark
    Mark Bird Resource Send message »

    Education
    MA Special Education - University of Phoenix

    Experience
    15 years

    Why 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.


    Mark Bird
  • Castillo Xiomara
    Xiomara Castillo 3-5 Specialized Program Send message »

    Education
    Dual B.S. Elementary/Special Education at GCU 

    Experience
    Six years teaching experience: 2nd grade (three years), special education k–2 (two years), special education 3–5 (current year) 

    Why I Teach
    I teach for many reasons, my current reason is the need for caring and patient adults in our students' lives. Students currently need supportive adults after recovering from unique school years that no one has experienced before. I teach my specialized program as it's an honor to be near such amazing students who have unique and powerful viewpoints of our everyday lives.


    Xiomara Castillo
  • Hankins Melissa
    Melissa Hankins K–5 Special Education Send message »

    Education
    BS Elementary Education

    Experience
    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.


    Melissa Hankins

Support Staff

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  • Flores-Tapia Dolores
    Dolores Flores-Tapia Reading Interventionist Send message »

    Education
    MA Education Curriculum & Instruction: Reading emphasis Elementary Education

    Experience
    20 years

    Why 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.


    Dolores Flores-Tapia
  • Kester Petra
    Petra Kester Mentor Teacher (District-wide) Send message »

    Education
    BS Elementary Education; BS Special Education; MA Curriculum and Instruction; ESL Endorsement; Early Childhood Endorsement

    Experience
    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!


    Petra Gonzalez