The PEAK
Employee Newsletter - August 16th, 2023
Dear Team FUSD,
I am grateful for each of your efforts to make the start of the 2023-2024 a great one for our students and each other. As I visited all schools during this first week, I noted the time spent connecting students with one another, communicating expectations and practicing procedures, describing upcoming learning opportunities, and assessing students' previous knowledge. This investment of time now will create the conditions for FUSD's students "Seeds of Greatness" to flourish throughout this school year.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Penca
Superintendent
Tadd Ragan, Coconino High School Principal
Mr. Ragan served as the Assistant Principal at Coconino High School after previously serving in a similar role at Sinagua Middle School. Tadd holds a master's degree in educational leadership and a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies Education from Northern Arizona University. Mr. Ragan was selected as a Rodel Aspiring Principal and participated in the NISL Beat the Odds Leadership Academy, and has been part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) implementation teams at Sinagua Middle School and Coconino High School. Tadd is a transformational leader whose focus is on creating a school culture which fosters staff collaboration and high expectations for student success. As Principal, he will guide and support staff in creating innovative and engaging instruction, and inform decisions with data and input from stakeholders. Mr. Ragan will continue to demonstrate his Panther Pride, and support the school's initiatives of IB, Professional Learning Communities, and Restorative Practices.
Ninon Wilson, Coconino High School Assistant Principal
Ninon has a Bachelor's in Psychology with a post-degree certification in elementary education from the University of Missouri, and a Master's in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Nino has served for the last 16 years as the proud principal of DeMiguel Elementary School here in FUSD. Ninon graduated from the NISL program in 2022 and is trained in Cognitive Coaching, Adaptive Schools, Professional Learning Communities (PLC), and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Ninon is passionate about ensuring all students are successful in their education, and is excited to continue her work with FUSD in a new leadership role supporting students and staff at CHS.
Bob Kuhn, Coconino High School Interim Assistant Principal
Mr. Kuhn has returned to FUSD from retirement after his long career in education. Bob Kuhn served as the Assistant Superintendent of Operations for the Flagstaff Unified School District from 2007-2022. Prior to serving as Assistant Superintendent, Bob had many years of experience as a middle school principal, high school principal, assistant principal, energy/construction manager, and teacher. Bob has a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Supervision from Northern Arizona University (NAU), along with a Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certificate and a Master's in Educational Leadership from NAU. We look forward to the experience and knowledge Bob will provide to ensure Coconino High School students' academic, social, and cultural success.
Chris Koenker, Sinagua Middle School Principal
Mr. Koenker previously served as the principal at Summit High School from 2013-2023, which last Fall received an A rating for its students’ success and staff support in an alternative school setting. Before serving as the Summit High School Principal, Chris was an assistant principal at Sinagua Middle School for two years, and a teacher at Mount Elden Middle School. His experiences, humility, and ability to cultivate a thriving school culture focused on students’ needs and success will all be assets to both his and the Sinagua community’s success.
Trisha Eberlein, Summit High School Principal
Since July 2020, Trisha has served as an Assistant Principal at Flagstaff High School. Her prior experience includes teaching and instructional specialist roles at Knoles Elementary, and as a Program Coordinator and Counselor at Northland Preparatory Academy. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and master's degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Trisha is passionate about connecting students and families with trauma-informed and community supports, and the use of restorative practices to cultivate inclusive learning environments.
Ginni Biggs, DeMiguel Elementary School Principal
Mrs. Biggs previously served as the principal of Thomas Elementary School for 5 years. During this time, she has successfully cultivated a collaborative staff culture focused on instructional excellence and innovation. Prior to serving at Thomas Elementary, Ginni held instructional specialist and teaching positions at Killip, Kinsey, and Leupp elementary schools. Mrs. Biggs’ educational credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Western Michigan University and Master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education from Northern Arizona University and Educational Leadership from Western Governors University. This will be Ginni's 25th year in education.
Katrina Collins-Hernandez, Thomas Elementary School Principal
Mrs. Collins-Hernandez received her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Spanish Language from Northern Arizona University, and a master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of Phoenix. Katrina has been employed with Flagstaff Unified School District since 2007, working as a first-grade teacher and then as the instructional specialist at Kinsey Inquiry and Discovery School since 2018. She has also served as a professor at NAU teaching Early Childhood Psychology. As a Flagstaff native and FUSD graduate, she has focused on building a career in education that gives back to her community, and is honored to continue this work as the new principal at Thomas Elementary.
Frank Alvillar Jr., Flagstaff High School Teacher on Assignment
Frank Alvillar Jr. has taught a variety of class at Flagstaff High School (FHS) since 2017 including AP US Government, US History, Economics, and PLATO. Additionally, Frank has been a wrestling coach at Flagstaff High School since 2019. Prior to joining the team at FHS, Frank taught Social Studies and World History at Baboquivari Unified School District for several years. Frank received his Bachelor of Science Degree in History and a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University. As Teacher on Assignment, Mr. Alvillar will be in charge of safety, discipline, and restorative practices at Flagstaff High School.
Jessica Reeder, DeMiguel Elementary School & Knoles Elementary School Teacher on Assignment
Mrs. Reeder has been employed with the Flagstaff Unified School District since 2012. She has worked at Puente de Hózhó, Leupp, and Thomas as an interventionist, classroom teacher, and instructional specialist. Before joining FUSD, Jessica taught second grade at Crane School District in Yuma. Jessica received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Kennesaw State University in Early Childhood Education, a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Western Governor's University, and a specialist degree in K-12 Mild-Moderate Special Education from Pima Community College. Jessica looks forward to getting to know and supporting staff, students, and families at Knoles and DeMiguel Elementary schools.
25 Years of Service
- Amy Begay, First Grade Teacher - Puente de Hózhó Elementary School
- Gabriel Gallegos, Custodian - Flagstaff High School
- Carrie Jenkins, Sixth Grade Teacher - Sinagua Middle School
- Michael Jenkins, Resource Teacher - Flagstaff High School
- Ben Kunkel, Social Studies Teacher - Mount Elden Middle School
- Tina Largo, Bus Driver - Transportation Services
- Cindy Noble, Director of Bilingual Education - District Office
- Jennifer Parker, Librarian - Coconino High School
- Kim Quisido, Instructional Specialist - Thomas Elementary
- Lorraine Red Day, Bilingual Immersion Aide - Puente de Hózhó Elementary School
- Shelly Stearns, Social Studies Teacher - Flagstaff High School
- Richard Treadway, Math Teacher - Mount Elden Middle School
- Madelyn Trillo, Records Clerk - District Office
- Gail Van Ooteghem, First Grade Teacher - Cromer Elementary School
- Teresa Wilson, English Teacher - Coconino High School
- Lori Wright, Social Studies Teacher - Coconino High School
30 Years of Service
- Rochelle Bronson, Restorative Practice Coordinator - District Office
- Frank Garcia, Director of Educational Enrichment - District Office
- Terry Hosteenez, Data Clerk - Native American Education Support Program
- Donald Penny, Physical Education Teacher - Mount Elden Middle School
35 Years of Service
- Carrie Cromer, Human Resources Analyst - District Office
- Beth Haglin, PE Teacher - Flagstaff High School
- Debbie Kelsey, Data Integration Specialist - District Office
40 Years of Service
- Carol Barker, Administrative Assistant - Leupp Elementary School
- Barb Campbell, Sixth Grade Teacher - Sinagua Middle School
- Carol Sharp, Special Education - Sinagua Middle School
45 Years of Service
- David Johnston, Vocational Education - Coconino High School
50 Years of Service
- Betty Smith, Sex Education - District-Wide
According to the Arizona Educational Foundation, the AEF annual Teacher of the Year award is Arizona's highest honor bestowed upon public school teachers. The annual Teacher of the Year program is the premier event of the Arizona Educational Foundation, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to spotlighting and championing the exceptional work of public schools.
Out of hundreds of nominations, fifteen candidates have been identified to move on to a qualifying round. The qualifying round will then determine ten candidates to be invited to the final interview round. When the process is complete, five teachers will be named “Ambassadors for Excellence” and finalists for the Arizona Teacher of the Year Award, five will be named “Semifinalists," and five will be given an “Honorable Mention.” All fifteen candidates will be recognized at the Arizona Teacher of the Year Awards on October 14th, 2023. At the event, the teacher receiving top honors will be announced as the Arizona Teacher of the Year.
Good luck, Kathleen!
Kate Haynes
Knoles Elementary School Special Education Pre-K Teacher, Kate Haynes, has been nominated for the Four Peaks for Teachers, 2023 Teacher of the Year Award! Her tireless efforts to ensure her students have the best learning opportunities make her stand out. From applying for grants to updating playground equipment, Kate leaves no stone unturned. "The best part of my journey has been building foundations for joyful learning with amazing students and families," says Kate.
Cast your vote for Kate by liking and commenting on this post!
Sarah Gurley
Sarah Gurley, a special education teacher at Flagstaff High School, has also been nominated for the Four Peaks for Teachers, 2023 Teacher of the Year Award! Sarah's love for her students, along with her efforts to make education exciting for each one of them, sets her apart. "Watching students, especially those with special needs, grow and persevere is incredibly rewarding," says Sarah.
Cast your vote for Sarah by liking and commenting on this post!
Employee calendars for the 2023-2024 school year are available here.
Please review the calendars to find which days are work days for you this school year.
The Learning, Technology, & Innovation department is committed to working in collaboration with all departments and schools to provide, promote, and monitor high-quality professional learning that increases the effectiveness & capacity of instructional and non-instructional personnel throughout our District, in order to foster a culture of excellence for all students.
All certified, classified, licensed professional, ancillary, and administrative staff in FUSD are eligible to submit qualified and completed professional learning to be considered for compensation in the subsequent school year.
Certified, Ancillary, Licensed Professionals & Administration
- 12 seat hours of approved outside professional learning = 1 credit = $50. (Example: 6 approved hours = $25 added to salary in the subsequent year).
- University course work from an accredited university/college is payable at $50 per credit (completion of a 3-credit university course nets the staff member $150). Compensation requests for all courses completed towards a degree should be submitted as they are completed, not once the degree is earned. You must upload official transcripts into Frontline following the submission steps outlined below.
- Salary advancement currently has a maximum of 133 earned credits, not to exceed the maximum of your pay grade, if applicable.
- Completion of a Master’s Degree during the eligible time period of January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 may be eligible for a flat $800 in compensation added to a person’s salary.
- Certified staff - To receive the $800 compensation for the completed Master’s Degree, send your official university transcripts directly to Human Resources at hr@fusd1.org, to be verified separately. You will see this on your HR worksheet once verification is complete. All degree program submittals after January 31, 2024 are invalid.
- Ancillary, Licensed Professionals, and Administration staff - May receive $800 compensation for the completed Master’s Degree, if the MA is not required for your position, by sending your official university transcripts directly to Human Resources at hr@fusd1.org, to be verified separately. You will see this on your HR worksheet once verification is complete. All degree program submittals after January 31, 2024 are invalid.
Classified Staff
- 1 seat hour of approved outside professional learning = 1 cent per hour (Example: 6 approved hours = $0.06/hr added to salary in the subsequent year).
- University course work, from an accredited university/college, is payable at $0.12/hr per credit (completion of a 3-credit university course nets the staff member $0.36/hr). You must upload official transcripts into Frontline under the Credit Request process outlined below.
- Classified staff may not exceed the maximum hourly rate for their job grade, therefore, all earned hours may not be applied.
Employees may request salary advancement compensation to be considered for addition to their 2024-2025 contract for eligible professional learning completed (with accompanying required documentation) from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
For more information on professional development and salary advancement, please visit the FUSD website here. (NOTE: You will need to sign into the website to view this page. Your log in credentials should be the same as your FUSD computer log in.)
Resilience Month 2023
This month is NAPEBT Resilience Month. View the calendar here to find resilience and stress reduction opportunities.
Resilience Tools:
- Stress Stop Resources: MyStressTools
- Jorgensen Brooks Resources: Login (advantageengagement.com)
- CCC&Y Resources: Learning Webinars | A voice for kids | CCC&Y (coconinokids.org)
FREE Prostate Cancer Screenings
When: 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023
Where: City of Flagstaff—Library
300 W. Aspen Avenue Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (Unit behind library on Birch Ave.)
15 Minutes Could Save Your Life! Prostate Cancer Screening Includes:
- PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Blood Draw
- DRE (Digital Rectal Exam)
- Testicular Exam
- Board Certified Urologist Consultation
Appointments are required. Call 480-964-3013 or 1-800-828-6139 to schedule your appointment today.
For more information, click here.
