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Western Valley Middle School
Preparing all students to thrive in an ever-changing global community!
Six girls at the school dance

Our Staff

Our educators and support team are passionate about what we do. We want every Wildcat to succeed and welcome your involvement to make that happen. Please feel free to reach out to our staff if you wish to discuss any questions or concerns.

Administration

Andrew Tippins
Principal
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Biography

About Andrew Tippins

Education

BS Elementary Education Minnesota State University-Mankato; MA Educational Leadership and Policy Studies University of Texas-Arlington.

Experience

Thirteen years in Education, six in administration, and seven years as a sixth and seventh-grade math teacher.

Why I Teach

The positive relationships that are built, helping students understand concepts and being a caring adult that students know will be there each day.

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Kerrie Davis
Assistant Principal
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Biography

About Kerrie Davis

Education

MA in Education Administration with certificates in Principalship, English as a Second Language, and Psychology from ASU and NAU.

Experience

Twenty-six years in education, with 17 of those years teaching all subjects to intermediate grades and the others teacher mentoring, academic coaching, and being a school administrator.

Why I Teach

I work with students and educators to make sure every child has the skills and knowledge to have choices in life that will bring them joy and success.

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Amelia Sanchez
Student Advisor
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Biography

About Amelia Sanchez

Education

BS Elementary Education, Grand Canyon University

Experience

Ten years in Education. I taught sixth grade ELA for four years and have worked with middle school students for nine years.

Why I Teach

This is what I love to do. This is my passion. I enjoy building and establishing positive relationships with our students and guiding them to achieve their goals.

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Sixth Grade

Patrick Acopio
Math
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Biography

About Patrick Acopio

Education

Bachelor in Elementary Education Major in Mathematics, Eastern Samar State University, Philippines

Experience

Twenty years in Education. I taught computer education for basic education for eight years and elementary school for 12 years.

Why I Teach

Teaching, for me, is a vocation, and this is my passion. This is my way to touch many people's lives.

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Crystal Cerda
Science
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Biography

About Crystal Cerda

Education

AA Associate of Arts

Experience

This is my 11th year in education and my fifth year teaching. My first year of teaching was in fifth grade. My other four years have been in sixth-grade science.

Why I Teach

Teaching is such a rewarding experience. I truly enjoy getting to know the children and helping them thrive. Teaching allows me to positively influence a child's way of thinking and make a difference in their lives. I enjoy hearing all their ideas and watching their minds work. I take pride in knowing I am helping to change the future. As a teacher, I hope to inspire my students to dream big, work hard, and never give up.

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Denise Gill
Science
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Biography

About Denise Gill

Education

BS Elementary Education Northern Arizona University MA International Diverse Education with an ELD Endorsement 

Experience

I have taught second through sixth grade for the last 36 years.

Why I Teach

It is important to me to be a positive role model for young people. I love teaching and my students. I want them to be lifelong learners and for them to be the best person they can be. Your education is something no one can take away from you. I want them to follow their dream and be happy.

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Megan Nasser
Math
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Biography

About Megan Nasser

Education

B.S. in Sociology with a Minor in Math - Northern Arizona University

Experience

Four years in education. I have spent the last four years teaching sixth-grade math at Western Valley Middle School.

Why I Teach

I teach because I love teaching children how school can be applied to real life. I love helping children realize their full potential. I believe education is one of the most important things, and knowledge is something that no one can ever take away from you. Some students just need an adult in their lives to listen to them and help them advocate to get their needs met.

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Diane Roth
ELA
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Biography

About Diane Roth

Education

BA Business Education Wartburg College; MA.ed Curriculum and Technology; SEI endorsed; English Certified

Experience

I have taught for 22 years. Two of those years were in Administration, five years were in Special Education.

Why I Teach

I am here to teach English and guide students through their middle years, which can be tough. They all need extra adults in their lives, and I try to give students confidence in what they know going forward. I love the interaction with the students and try to help give them the academic support and emotional support that they may need. 

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Yvette Villaverde
ELA Teacher
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Biography

About Yvette Villaverde

Education

Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership; Minor in Youth & Community Development

Master of Education- December 2022

Experience


Why I Teach


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Seventh Grade

Justin Carmickle
7th ELA
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Biography

About Justin Carmickle

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Rosi Jimenez
Science
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Biography

About Rosi Jimenez

Education

BS in Business Administration- CENEVAL Mexico City /   CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to speakers of other languages - Cambridge University Press and Assessment /  Post-Graduate Teacher Certification at SCC, Scottsdale, AZ. + SEI Endorsement and Highly qualified to teach science in middle school.

Experience

Eight years in Education, this will be my fourth year teaching science. Previously I taught English and German for one year, and before that, I was part of the administration at a K–12 school for three years. Before this, I worked as a business administrator for 23 years for different companies in Mexico, Germany, and the U.S.

Why I Teach

I teach science because I love how science is connected to every aspect of our lives, including mathematics, and I want to help all my students at this age better understand how easy and fun science can be. I want to inspire as many students as possible to pursue a college degree and believe that education is power.

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Deanna Leighton
Social Studies
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Biography

About Deanna Leighton

Education

M.Ed. - Northern Arizona University

Experience

14 years in education

Why I Teach

It is a privilege to teach history to help students understand how society and the world came to be and how they can positively contribute to it.

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Gilberto-Gabay Ordonez
English Language Development (ELD)
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Biography

About Gilberto-Gabay Ordonez

Education

Bachelor in Foreign Languages, Colegio Froebel, Mexico. Certified in Structured English Immersion.

Experience

Six years teaching. Every level, but elementary.

Why I Teach

Teaching is a great opportunity for you to bond with great people, probably our leaders of tomorrow. It becomes a privilege as well to become an important part of someone else's life. The road is easier with education.

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Holly Petschaur
Math
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Biography

About Holly Petschaur

Education

BS in Education, MA in Education

Experience

This is my seventh year at WVMS, 30+ years in education.

Why I Teach

I love sharing ideas and helping people! I also love kids, so this career is perfect. Everyone has potential, and getting kids to realize and achieve theirs is amazing!

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Bonnie Totzke
ELA
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Biography

About Bonnie Totzke

Welcome Flyer for Bonnie Totzke

Education

Bachelor of Science - Major Sociology/Minor Education - Concordia University & Sped/Remedial Reading - Indiana University NW

Experience

Thirty-first year of teaching - having taught kindergarten, grades 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9

Why I Teach

I teach because education is a lifelong process, and I want to instill that 'love for learning' into my students' hearts & minds. Being proficient in reading and writing is crucial in whatever careers the students may pursue. Having the students come to that realization, plus seeing them succeed & build their self-esteem/self-worth, makes the teaching profession, in my opinion, the most important & satisfying profession in our society. That's why I teach!

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Matthew Wellner
Math
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Biography

About Matthew Wellner

Education

B.A. in Elementary Education, Arizona State University, Mary Lou Fulton Teacher's College. Summa Cum Laude.

Experience

Second year teaching and second year here at Western Valley. Middle School Math.

Why I Teach

I teach because I believe that each generation should be greater than the last. Everyone's future will someday be in the hands of the students we have today. We should aspire to make sure those hands are molded well.

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Eighth Grade

Jacqueline Gardner
Social Studies
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Biography

About Jacqueline Gardner

Education

B.S. Child, Youth, and Family Studies with a minor in Sociology, University of Nebraska (Lincoln, NE); M.A. in Elementary Education, College of Saint Mary (Omaha, NE)

Experience

I have been in education for 12 years. For two years, I was a paraeducator. The last ten years, I have been a classroom teacher. I've taught third, fourth, seventh, and eighth grades.

Why I Teach

I teach to help build educational skills to help students achieve their future dreams. I love helping students find their talents, become better students, and citizens once they leave me at the end of the school year. I also love building positive relationships with families and helping their children blossom into positive young adults.

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Annette Little
Science
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Biography

About Annette Little

Education

BA Education, Highly Qualified in math and science

Experience

I have been in education for more than 25 years. I started full-time teaching in 1981. I have taught 6th to 8th in Isaac School District, 3rd to 12th at Southwest Christian School, 1st to 6th in Peoria School District, subbed for Phoenix Union High School District, and 6th grade Washington Elementary.

Why I Teach

I have always wanted to be a teacher. I started school in first grade. The minute I walked in the classroom, I decided I would grow up to be a teacher. Mrs. Hanson, my first-grade teacher, was an excellent teacher and kept my dream alive. I worked throughout my school career to reach that goal. It's simple, I love to teach.

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Dieago Minnis
ELA
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Biography

About Dieago Minnis

Education


Experience


Why I Teach


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Marla Travis
Math
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Biography

About Marla Travis

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology-Whitworth University, Spokane, WA; Master of Education in Special Education- Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

Experience

Forty-one years in education. I taught in Washington state for five years before moving to Arizona. My experience ranges from first grade to tenth grade English. I have spent the last 20 years here at Western Valley Middle School teaching sixth and eighth-grade math.

Why I Teach

I teach because I truly believe I am helping to shape the future of my students. There is nothing like the feeling I get when I see students understand a concept that I am teaching. When that light bulb comes on, and a student "gets" what I am teaching, it is so gratifying.

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Educational Resource Teachers

Sharon Metz
ED Self-Contained
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Biography

About Sharon Metz

Education

BAE in Elementary Education with a Special Education Minor from ASU. 2 year MA in Special Education from GCU; Reading and ELL Endorsement from Chapman College. SEI -(Structured English Emersion)-District PD

Experience

Twenty years teaching special education, 13 years in resource, and seven years in self-contained.

Why I Teach

I teach because children need help learning from a professional that has had the education and experience to do so adequately. Our students today will be the building blocks for tomorrow, and we need to pass down our knowledge of the current academics used in schools to make them the best they can be. Your students will someday thank you for all the work you have done to make their school experience successful.

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Jody Nasser
8th Resource
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Biography

About Jody Nasser

Education

Bachelor of Social Work from ASU and a teaching certificate from Rio Salado.

Experience

Nineteen Years of teaching, including kindergarten through sixth, special education self-contained, special education resource.

Why I Teach

I teach because I want to see children be successful. I want to be part of their education and social-emotional growth. Children are our future. They need guidance along the path to becoming successful independent adults.

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Exploratory

Julie Borunda
Mentor
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Biography

About Julie Borunda

Education

BA Education, MA Curriculum and Instruction

Experience

Twenty years of experience in education. This is my 19th year at Fowler as a teacher and a mentor.

Why I Teach

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher. When I was a kid, I would play school in my playroom with my friends. We'd take turns being a student and a teacher. Teaching and helping others are part of my life's mission. I love seeing that light bulb moment when a concept comes alive for students! Through learning, we can learn about ourselves and the world around us. I teach to help students find their voice. I teach to inspire students to become the best version of themselves. I teach to empower others to make this world a better place.

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Alberto Camacho
Physical Education
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Biography

About Alberto Camacho

Education

Bachelor of Science, Arizona State University

Experience

Seven years of experience in middle school in mathematics, social studies, and physical education.

Why I Teach

As a teacher, I love to see students grow and become responsible adults that will teach and enlighten the next generation. As soon as I started to notice the small impact I generated,  I fell in love with the process and struggle that it takes for a teacher to connect with his/her students. I always want to be that teacher that the students can go back and think who was that teacher that made an impact on my life?

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Jenita Landrum
Art
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Biography

About Jenita Landrum

Education

Bachelors of Arts - Studio - ASU Bachelors of Fine Arts - Drawing  Masters of Fine Arts - Painting The Ohio State University

Experience

Twenty-seven years of teaching middle, high school, community college, and university, teaching painting, drawing, ceramic, design, color art history, Introduction to Art

Why I Teach

I love teaching art to any age. I hope that students get turned on by the art experience. I hope that they become art buyers, artists, or just art lovers.

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Rick Rose
Intro to Computers
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Biography

About Rick Rose

Education

BA Sociology - Columbia Christian College, MA Education, Social Sciences - University of Portland

Experience

6th to 8th grades, Fowler SD WVMS, 2017 to present; 7th to 8th grades, Selah SD, Middle School - 12 years

Why I Teach

Teaching is a profession that brings out creativity and determination to improve my skills as well as those of the students in my classes. I teach because I enjoy working with middle school students. I appreciate working in the teaching environment and the focus on mastery of specific skills. Teaching requires a positive attitude daily, and you must be on your A-game at all times. Those of us who teach are here for the students; however, being paid helps pay the bills!

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Frank Sharbono
Technology
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Biography

About Frank Sharbono

Education

AAS Computer Aided Drafting, BAS Computer Aided Manufacturing, MAS Education Media Technology, MAS Computer Information Systems

Experience

My work experience prior to teaching is fairly extensive, from paper routes (child and adult), washing dishes, U.S. Army, construction, grocery inventory, grocery produce display, stock clerk, bobtail truck delivery driver, trash truck driver, skip loader driver, cement truck driver, furniture repair/delivery/inventory/stocking with floor display/design, and several years as a circuit board manufacturing engineer, teaching middle school since 2004.

Why I Teach

In my twenties, I started thinking about the how and why of everything, and eventually, I realized that, for the most part, the only reason I didn't know something was simply because I hadn't been taught. Why can that person disassemble and reassemble an engine, and I can't? They were taught, and I wasn't. Sometime later, reflecting, I started to see what I could have done, what I could have been. I then promised myself that my students would get the chances I missed.

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Stephen Torrez
Music/Band
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Biography

About Stephen Torrez

Education

Western New Mexico University

Experience

17 years

Why I Teach

"This is why I teach music not because I expect you to major in music, not because I expect you to play or sing all your life, not so you can relax, not so you can have fun, but so you will be human, so you will recognize beauty, so you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world, so you will have something to cling to, so you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good. In short, more life." ~ author unknown

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Fredrick Vance
Physical Education
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Biography

About Fredrick Vance

Education

BS P.E. K–12 Bowling Green State University

Experience

Thirty-eight years in Education (15 years in Elementary, 23 years 6–8 P.E.)

Why I Teach

To help students grow physically and mentally. Furthermore; provide the most rewarding experience for each student to develop a healthy lifestyle for life.

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Support Staff

Jonasita Baxter
Instructional Assistant
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Biography

About Jonasita Baxter

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Irma Camargo
Instructional Assistant
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Biography

About Irma Camargo

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Timothy Canneady
Librarian
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Biography

About Timothy Canneady

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Esmeralda Diaz
Instructional Assistant
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Biography

About Esmeralda Diaz

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Edith Eubank
Counselor
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Biography

About Edith Eubank

Education

BA in Spec. Edu-MaDonna University, Livonia, MI MA in Early Childhood / MA in Counseling Spring Arbor Univ, MI

Experience

Thirty-five years in education which includes early childhood, teaching art, admin, and counseling

Why I Teach

I enjoy seeing students discover things about themselves that they did not know they were capable of doing. I like being the coach who helps students cross that finish line of their educational journey.

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Kelly Garcia
Cafeteria Manager
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Biography

About Kelly Garcia

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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William Gonzales
Math Interventionist
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Biography

About William Gonzales

Education

BA Elementary Education

Experience

Five years

Why I Teach

I teach for two reasons. First is for the satisfaction that I help society improve to reach a better future. I believe that our future is the kids, and that we should give everything to make them succeed and become better than us. Secondly is that I enjoy the thrill of challenging students to go above and beyond their capabilities. It is awesome to have students come back and tell me what they have accomplished in life. 

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Cindy Hunt
Reading Interventionist
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Biography

About Cindy Hunt

Education

B.S. Brigham Young University, M.Ed. ASU; Endorsements K–12 in Computer Science, Reading, and SEI (Structured English Immersion)

Experience

This is my 30th year of teaching. I've taught grades two through eight and middle school reading intervention. This is my 12th year as the Reading Interventionist at Western Valley Middle School.

Why I Teach

I teach because I love it, and I believe in all people. We have a responsibility to teach our children what they need to know to be the most successful in later life. I want them to have plenty of choices for what they do for their work or career when they are older and the ability to keep on learning for their entire lives.

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Melanie Jones
Nurse
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Biography

About Melanie Jones

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Vincent Moreno
Counselor
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Biography

About Vincent Moreno

Education

B.S. Organizational Studies - ASU   Master Administration - NAU  Master Education School Counselor - NAU

Experience

This is my second year as a school counselor. This is my second career. I retired from the City of Phoenix Water Service Department after 22 years. Left as a Water Asset Manager.


Why I Teach

I like to let my action speaks louder than words. If you want to see change, you have to be part of that change. I want students to be successful in their life after they have finished their school years. I have seen too many employees fail because they were missing something that they did not learn during their educational years. I like to teach students how to overcome obstacles that are part of life. Every student has the potential to be successful. I enjoy supporting and guiding my students.


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Jasmine Rojas
Nurse
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Biography

About Jasmine Rojas

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Sally Ruiz
Attendance Clerk
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Biography

About Sally Ruiz

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Martha Siquerios
Instructional Assistant
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Biography

About Martha Siquerios

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Brenda Torres
Secretary
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Biography

About Brenda Torres

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Yulma Wallace
Instructional Assistant
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Biography

About Yulma Wallace

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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