Kindergarten Mrs. Benzi Kindergarten Mrs. Compton Ms. Collins Ms. Grow Ms. Haskell Mrs. VerNooy My name is Kathy Benzi. I was born and raised here in Tucson and have two boys in the district. Teaching is not only my choice in life but my passion. Each child who enters my classroom will find a safe, nurturing, and loving environment. It is my desire to provide the opportunity for them to obtain the knowledge they need for success in their future years of learning. My name is Teresa Compton and I am looking forward to my 4th year at Senita Valley. My involvement with SVE began as a parent back in 2008, when it first opened. I was drawn to the strong school/family partnership that was evident in all of my interactions. That strong connection with families is something that I foster within my own classroom as well. My classroom is a nurturing environment where all children are supported and encouraged to do their personal best each day in order to reach their full potential. I am humbled and honored to be able to partner with families in this exciting journey. My name is Taylor Collins. This will be my second year teaching 1st grade at Senita Valley. I graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelors in Elementary Education. I completed my student teaching here and was hired to teach 1st grade at the end of last school year. I grew up with the philosophy that school is your job. I have always believed in the classroom is where we learn so many life lessons and I do my best to convey that in my teaching. I strongly encourage parent involvement in the classroom and know that I cannot teach my students by myself. We work as a team in 1st grade and I look forward to working with each of you! My name is Shaylyn Grow and I am a 1st grade teacher at Senita Valley. I graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Elementary Education. This is my 2nd year teaching in the Vail School District. I grew up in the Vail District from kindergarden to high school. My experience in the Vail Schools was such a positive one filled with passionate teachers who truly inspired their students. My goal is to continue Vail s mission in providing parents with a safe and nurturing environment where their children can grow and be inspired. I strive to provide an enriching and learning environment for students be able to thrive in. I aim to provide students with ample opportunities of cooperative and hands-on learning experiences. I want the classroom to be a community of learners where parents are welcomed and included in their child s education. I look forward to working with all Senita Valley families next year! Hello! I m Maddie Haskell and I am so excited to be joining Senita Valley this year! After graduating from Western Michigan University in December 2013, I moved to Tucson the following January to teach pre-kindergarten. Since I ve moved to Arizona, I ve fallen in love with the culture, heat, and sky. I strongly believe learning is a journey and everyone is capable of succeeding. Parent communication is one of my top priorities and I strive to connect with each family. I aspire to create a supportive and encouraging atmosphere in my classroom-not just from me, but from all peers. I m looking forward to a great year and meeting all my new students and their families. My name is Sherri VerNooy. I graduated from Louisiana State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with an endorsement in early childhood. We moved to Clovis, New Mexico shortly after and I obtained a certificate in NM to teach K-8. I taught kindergarten for 6 ½ years in the Clovis Municipal Schools. When we received orders to move to Abilene, TX, I made the decision to stay home with our daughter, Rachel. We moved to Tucson in 2013 and after being here a year, I decided to return to the classroom. My goal is to make sure that each student has a solid foundation and to expand on their learning on an individual level. I have high expectations for my students work and behavior in order to maintain a structured classroom where every student is successful.
Mrs. Badger Mrs. Hunt Mrs. Jones Mrs. Swoger Mrs. Webb Second grade is super!! My name is Kelly Badger and I have been teaching for 9 years. I decided to become a teacher because I am passionate about preparing our children for the future in order to be successful in the working world. I bring a lot of energy to my class. I am excited about learning and I want the students to be excited also. I strive to create a positive, caring atmosphere where students are encouraged to take risks in a safe and comfortable environment. Each student is an individual and is treated that way. I hold students to high expectations for behavior and academics to bring out their very best. Let's have a super second grade year! Hello! My name is Amanda Hunt and I am fortunate enough to be a Tucson native. I am married with three children, Ethan in 2nd grade, Austin in 3rd grade, and Aubrey is 3 years old. I graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2012 and have been teaching second grade for the last three years. Previous to my teaching I spent several years as a parapro in the Sunnyside School District. In my classroom, I strive for growth in all aspects of learning. Whether it be education or personal growth, these can be accomplished through structure and encouragement. I believe people, by their nature, are inquisitive. My goal as an educator is to encourage and foster ways of seeking answers, as it is in this way that we advance as learners. Hi! My name is Mrs. Jones. I was born and raised here in Tucson and I graduated cum laude from the University of Arizona. That is where I received my bachelor s degree in Elementary Education. I later added an endorsement in Early Childhood Education. I married my high school sweet heart and have 3 amazing little boys Chase, Sean, and Blake. For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to be a teacher. I believe that every child needs a secure and caring learning environment in which they can grow intellectually, socially, and physically. My hope as a teacher is for children to love learning. I try to accomplish this by making learning fun with hands-on activities and cooperative learning. My name is Katie Swoger. I am a Tucson native, married with two children in the Vail School District. I have taught second, third, fourth, and fifth, as well as, a specialty area teacher. I have a Bachelors in Elementary Education and a Masters in Educational Leadership. I believe that a child needs to feel secure, loved, happy, and supported to be successful. It is my job as their teacher to show them what they are capable of, enrich the student, and make an everlasting, positive impression on the importance of education. Expectations in my classroom are high and I run a structured classroom with a focus on independence in all areas of academics and responsibility as a student. Hello! My name is Claudette Webb and I am married with three children and have lived in southern Arizona my entire life. All of my children Isabella, Isaiah, and Thomas Jr. attend schools in the Vail School District. I have spent the last three years teaching 6 th grade at Rincon Vista Middle School where I taught language arts, social studies, science, and coached soccer. Before teaching at Rincon Vista, I helped open Senita Valley as the attendance clerk. I m blessed to be returning to Senita Valley as a 2 nd grade teacher and look forward to seeing familiar faces and continuing to build positive relationships with students, their families and the mustang community. I consider myself a life long learner and am currently earning my post-graduate degree from Northern Arizona University. I am also passionate about reading and look forward to sharing this passion with my students. My goal as an educator is to cultivate a safe learning environment where diversity is celebrated and student centered learning is the top priority
Mrs. Frayser Mrs. Rose Ms. Scharer Ms. Timpani 3rd/4th Grade (Multi-age) Ms. Garrison No Requests My name is Lauri Frayser. Next year, I will celebrate twenty five years as a teacher. With the exception of this past year as the Senita Valley Elementary science teacher, I have been a third grade teacher. I love all that third graders bring to the classroom and enjoy watching the awakening that happens during this critical year. From the time I was five, I can remember wanting to become a teacher. As a child, I would spend hours playing school. (I had the most well educated dolls and stuffed animals around!). So, I started school in Kindergarten, and I have had a first day of school every year since that day. Passing my love of school and learning on to my students is my passion. I believe that education is key to the future success of our children. Each day, I want students to be excited to walk through the door of our classroom and start asking, What are we doing today?. My approach is to teach the whole child and use all of my resources to deliver the best possible education for each, individual child. I like to use as many hands-on activities as possible; as well as provide a variety of opportunities for children to make connections to real life situations. I m looking forward to returning to the third grade classroom and am excited for the new year! Hello! My name is Jacqueline Rose and I will be teaching 3 rd grade this year. I m a graduate of both the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. I m lucky enough to say that this will be my 7 th year teaching! I have previously taught kindergarten and second grade but I am very excited to be teaching third grade this year. As parents and guardians, I understand that you are the most important teachers in your child s life. It is with this understanding that I appreciate the role that you and I each play in helping your child achieve the goals set forth for him or her. I have very high expectations for myself as a teacher and my students. I want this to be an enjoyable and productive year for us all. I am looking forward to getting to know you and your child as well as working together to help your child succeed! My name is Sydney Scharer and this will be my second year teaching at Senita Valley. This will be my first year teaching third grade, but my previous experiences during my time at the University of Arizona were all with the intermediate grade levels. My goal is for the classroom to not be mine, but to be ours. I strive for a community where all students feel included and comfortable taking risks, parents feel welcomed and appreciated, and that we work as a team to help students succeed to their fullest extent in every possible way. I look forward to working with you and watching your student grow together. My name is Lisa Timpani. I have wanted to become a teacher for longer than I can remember. I want to motivate and encourage students to love learning. I believe in a strong foundation. We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then, is not an act, but a habit, as stated by Aristotle. We, as teachers, must instill the habits that will assist our students in becoming positive assets to the community. The foundation in a house is what keeps it standing; likewise, a cracked foundation can destroy the structure. Children need a baseboard to spring from. As an educator, I want to be part of building that foundation and giving them that support they need to strive for success. I want to inspire the leaders of tomorrow. The children of today will be the adults of tomorrow. If we set up our children for success today, we are touching the future and thereby setting up the future for success. My name is Chris Garrison. I have taught Kindergarten, third, fifth, and middle school math and science. I have a Bachelors in Elementary Education and a Masters in Educational Leadership. I believe that all children can learn if they are loved and feel a sense of belonging. It is my job as their teacher to show them what they are capable of by enriching their learning daily, building their self confidence, and feelings of success. I run a structured classroom and set high expectations for all students. I believe in teaching my students to be independent in all areas and hope to foster a life-long love for learning.
Mrs. Hale Hi! My name is Sarah Hale and I am from the small town of Benson, Arizona. I am happily married to my best friend Ryan and we have one furry, four-legged child named Dixon. I attended Northern Arizona University and graduated from there in 2013. For the past 2 years, I have been teaching a 3 rd, 4 th, and 5 th grade multi-age class. While I m not teaching, I am out enjoying the beautiful desert we live in. I am always excited to be working with children, and providing them with knowledge and skills upon which they can build productive lives. Mrs. Nourse My name is Alicia Nourse. I graduated with a degree in bilingual education from the UofA, and will graduate in December with a masters in educational leadership from NAU. I have a high regard for education because it is something that cannot be taken away. It can also open the doors to many futures. Because I strongly believe in education, I have a firm belief in keeping rigor and expectations high for my students. A challenge is only a challenge if you do not try. Students will be working hard in my class, creating, understanding, questioning and thinking. Parents are encouraged to email, stop by or call. I believe in the power of communication and keep an open door and open line with all my families. Mrs. Robertson My name is Mya Robertson. An education of the mind and heart. A slogan I have carried with me since deciding I wanted to someday work with children in a school setting. It is my goal to educate students in a way that makes them enjoy learning and coming to school everyday. I want my classroom to be welcoming to all that walk in and I want all my students to know how important education is for them, as well as, how much I care about them personally. The mind should constantly be challenged and infused with new information and the heart of a child should feel cared for and loved by their teacher. The collaboration of these two provide immense capabilities. Mrs. Vuturo My name is Kimberly Vuturo. I am an experienced teacher and this is my 20th year in the elementary classroom. I am a Wildcat! I was trained at the University of Arizona and later returned to earn a Master s studying learning disabilities. During my career, I have been fortunate to serve as a kindergarten, first, third, fourth and fifth grade teacher. I enjoy the 4th grade because of the focus on Arizona s past and the curious nature of 4th grade minds. I believe all kids can learn and achieve especially when everyone works together in a cooperative classroom. I am bilingual, growing up my parents were missionaries in Guatemala for more than a decade. There they started a school, where my mom was a teacher. She continued to teach when I moved to Tucson and watching her work with children inspired me to become a teacher. I am committed to Senita Valley s success, as this is where my own children go to school and the neighborhood where my family lives. Each day, I am inspired by my students and I continue to teach because I love to listen to children s ideas. Their enthusiasm for life and learning keeps me young at heart. Throughout my career as a teacher, I have seen myself as a facilitator in their quest for knowledge! I look forward to working with your child this year!
Mrs. Bock My name is Leslie Bock. I have been a teacher for over thirty years. I have taught third through eighth grade, but most of my years have been with fifth and sixth graders. This will be my fourteenth year in Vail and my seventh year at Senita. I have three children and seven grandchildren. For me, teaching has always been a calling. I enjoy challenging the minds of young students, especially with writing. My emphasis in class is to prepare fifth graders for middle school. I value every child as an individual and expect personal responsibility and a student's best effort in everything he or she does. Through hard work, students gain selfconfidence and an eagerness to achieve their dreams. Mr. Emory Hello, I m Matt Emory. I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and am a graduate of the U of A. I am a HUGE Wildcats fan and enjoy cheering for the Arizona D-Backs. I taught fifth grade while earning my Master s degree in Educational Leadership. I am excited to be back in the classroom after serving as an assistant principal for the last three years. Our classroom will be a positive environment while students are challenged to reach their full potential. I vary my teaching methods to keep learning interesting and fun. I will do everything I can to ensure my students become well-rounded individuals with a love of learning. I am excited to be a part of the Senita Valley community! Mrs. Estrada My name is Allison Estrada and I have been living in Tucson for the past year, but I have been teaching for 8 years. I moved here from California where I taught fourth grade at a charter school. Prior to that, I taught in Virginia where I was a Master STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teacher for 3 years and before that a fifth grade teacher for 3 years. I love teaching in the Vail district, especially at Senita Valley Elementary where we teach our students the importance of responsibility and education. I believe in creating a safe environment for learning where the whole child is educated. I have high expectations for all of my students and encourage them to do their best every day. Students have an innate nature to learn and as a teacher I see myself as kindling to a flame that is already within students. I am also a life-long learner, and I find that I learn from my students every day. My goal is to create a nurturing climate in which students are motivated and love to learn. Mrs. Rowley My name is Emily Rowley. I am from Wyoming and have been teaching for 8 years. I taught adult education in the prison system for 5 years. I am married and have three beautiful children. My family and I moved to Tucson a little over a year ago. I wanted to get back into teaching children and applied for teaching positions at various schools. I have worked one year at Senita Valley and have greatly enjoyed it. I made the decision to become a teacher because I had a teacher that made a positive influence in my life. I want to make a positive influence in my student s lives and help them be successful in the classroom and in life. I believe in differentiating instruction, using different ways to teach (visual, auditory, hands-on). Using different methods ensures that all students have an opportunity to learn the material they are learning. I also feel it is important to be flexible and make changes as needed. I am looking forward to another year at Senita Valley!