Clint Ambos
This will be my 14th year teaching, 4th year at EDUPRIZE. I earned my bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College, in New York. I have taught all over the valley, working with students from 7th grade up to 12th grade. In years past, I have worked closely with Special Olympics and Unified Sports. I also enjoy coaching baseball and softball. I look forward to another successful year here at EDUPRIZE.
Tino Asghar
Born and raised in India I moved to the United States in December of 2001 and for the past 16 years I have been a math teacher. I have found it to be the most rewarding career of my life. My passion for teaching started at a young age. My mother was an English teacher, and seeing the impact she was able to make in the lives of young people really inspired me. As a young man I pursued a career in engineering. I focused on new engineering methods and technologies. I made the control rooms of power plans operational. I also taught the knowledge I had gained of technology to my technicians and junior engineers. This mentorship reminded me how much I loved to teach and helped to shape my future career. When I arrived in the United States all of the engineering companies that I wanted to try and work with were going out of business which made it very difficult to find an engineering job. I remembered my passion for teaching and at that point I made it a goal to pursue my dream job. My first assignment was at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix as an Adjunct Professor for one year. From there I began looking into a career as a High School math teacher. In 2005 I began working at Phoenix Union High School District, I worked there for 5 years and from that point on I knew my calling was to be a teacher. Outside of the classroom I enjoy playing tennis and cricket which began in my youth growing up in India. I played tennis and cricket at the college level in India. I also have an interest in restoring antique vehicles. I have restored a 1927 Austin and 1937 Morris Eight. From my childhood I spoke some Hindi and fluent English. My parents also spoke Urdu which they spoke at home, and I picked up on. I also picked up Persian from my travels for work. I speak English, Hindi and Persian fluently with some Urdu. I am looking forward to beginning my career with EDUPRIZE Schools-Gilbert Campus and am excited to join the team! Supply list for my Geometry Class of Sophomores: GEOMETRY SUPPLY LIST—BRING YOUR SUPPLIES EVERY DAY!
● protractor. ● compass. ● ruler. ● pencils. ● really good erasers. ● scientific calculator (must have "sin", "cos" and "tan" on it) ● graph and notebook paper. ● #2 Pencils. ● Colored Pencils. ● Pencil Sharpener. ● Pens: Red, Blue, Black. ● Highlighters. ● Markers. Matthew Bapitste-Cerra
I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Michigan State University. I then added two Masters of Education to round out my knowledge of learning and how to teach others. Being a teacher has been a plan of mine for my entire life – I just took a detour through the corporate world before getting here. I was taught a love for learning and sharing that knowledge from a young age.
I spent the last few years teaching 7th grade Science and Mathematics. On our team, I am known to be a bit of a “mad scientist.” Previous years’ students can attest to my willingness to dive into a topic and have them help build something to demonstrate a particular concept or idea. I am looking forward to an exciting time doing the same again this year. I am a fan of old Steam Locomotives, and I have a long running fascination with Far East culture, in particular the Japanese Shogunate and the Chinese Three Kingdoms era. When not at school, I enjoy time with my family and trips to Disneyland and Seaworld, and making videos of all the crazy stuff happening in my garden. My garden has become my safe haven while sheltering at home.
Supplies for Each Student should bring for themselves: - Three-ring binder (1 1/2 inches) (personal use) - Binder transparent sleeves - Binder dividers - Calculator (scientific) - Glue sticks - Markers - Pencils - Protractor - Ruler (centimeters opposite inches) - Scissors - Two bound Notebooks (One Lined, One Graphed, or Both Graph) One for Math, one for science.
Class Donations: - Clorox wipes (do they still exist?) - White Copy paper - Color Copy Paper - Colored pencils/Markers (I think previous students ate mine) - Hot Glue Gun sticks (pencil width ones, not fat) - Paper Towels - Skinny Expo Marker - Regular Expo Markers (Fun colors would be nice, Black is a necessity) - Cardstock (variety of colors) Troy Brown
Hello and Welcome to my classroom! I am Troy Brown and I am excited to lead the way to a great year at EDUPRIZE! Born and raised in Arizona, I graduated from two of our wonderful State Universities with a Bachelor's Degree (NAU) and a Law Degree (ASU). My wife, also an educator at EDUPRIZE, and I have raised two wonderful children, both of whom attended EDUPRIZE for their elementary education and have continued that successful start through their college educations. As a parent, attorney, and educator over the last 24 years, I am looking forward to bringing my patience, politeness, and experience to the classroom this year. Having experienced the EDUPRIZE educational environment, both as a parent and as an educator, I am truly happy to be teaching where there is such strong support for the students and teachers from our wonderful parents and administration. I look forward to working with you to truly advance each student's character and academic abilities this year!
Denise Byers
My name is Denise Byers and this will be my 2nd year at EDUPRIZE. I absolutely love working with students, and I am very excited to teach German, ELA, and social studies this year! I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Communication and I later went on to earn my Master of Education. I am most definitely a lifelong learner! I was born in Germany and lived there until I was in first grade. My mother’s side of the family is all German, so growing up, my siblings and I were lucky enough to get to visit Germany every other summer. I have called Arizona home for the last 30 years and I enjoy living in the valley. Some of my favorite things include my family, books, food, and traveling. Some of the places I have been aside from Germany are Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, England, Scotland, Sweden, Greece, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and Canada. I can truly say that I have loved every place I have been! I firmly believe that you often regret buying “things,” but you rarely ever regret spending money on experiences. It is truly magical to see what this beautiful world has to offer and I love to encourage students to go out and explore! Supply Request List 2020-2021 - Printer Paper (2 Reams per student)
(The following supplies must be brought to class every day) - Organization system for your worksheets and handouts (preferably a 1" binder with dividers or folders) - 1 College Ruled Spiral Notebook - College Ruled Composition Book- (for journaling) - Pencils - Notebook Paper - Pens (black or blue AND an alternative color) - Highlighters - Colored pencils, crayons, or markers - Glue stick - Scissors Nicole Cameron
I am so excited to be part of the 7th grade team again this year. This is my 6th year teaching the ELA/ Social Studies part of the 7th grade cohort. I was born and raised in Arizona, but I longed for a change of scenery so I moved to Utah for several years. I graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Elementary Education. While I loved the beauty of the four seasons in Utah, I sure don’t miss driving in the snow! I have four children ages 20, 17, 15, and 13. Parenting is my favorite adventure! I also love to be outside hiking, riding my bike, camping, or playing sports like softball or volleyball. My biggest passion is reading and I have books absolutely everywhere! Come tell me one of your favorite books and I’ll tell you some of my favorites. I love maps, singing to my students, laughing at good memes, quoting movies, oranges from students’ trees, getting deals on books at Goodwill, and making really bad puns! I USED to say, “Bring me tootsie rolls and I will remember you forever” but my dentist frowns on that now (shhh don’t tell him and bring me some anyway. Kitkats work too). :)
Required Materials for Instruction: Students must bring the following to class EVERYDAY: - One spiral notebook - A composition book - Writing utensils (mechanical or regular pencils) - Ballpoint pens- red, green and black or blue - Organization system for your worksheets and handouts (such folders or plastic accordion folder) - Highlighters - Scissors
Always appreciated: white glue, glue sticks, reams of copy paper (white and color), white board markers, tissues, paper towels, pencils, index cards
Steven Carreon Hi, Steven D. Carreon. Just moved to Mesa, AZ from Prescott Valley, AZ with my fiancé and our tiny dog Rory. I love being outside, playing guitar and piano, exercising, playing Xbox, and listening to music any time of the day. Grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, went to Mount San Antonio College after high school to figure out what to do with my life. I fell in love with math, engineering, and astronomy there. Decided to pursue engineering and transferred to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott in 2015. Graduated in May 2020 with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics). My capstone project was on designing a passive capture device (a shield) to reduce micrometeoroid bands of debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). My team was invited by NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston to test five shield variants in their High Velocity Experimental Impact Lab where we hurled micrometeoroids at about our project at about 7000 meters per second.
I started working as an AVID Tutor at Bradshaw Mountain High in February 2020. Tutoring math and science, and learning to understand how/what students are learning today ignited my passion to share my knowledge and aid in the creation of tomorrow’s scientists, techno-pioneers, engineers, and math-nuts. I feel my decision to serve my community as a professional teacher is the most natural decision I have ever made. Supply List:
● Pencils (with plenty of refillable lead) ● 1-inch, or 2-inch, 3-ring binder to keep notes and assignments organized. Or just a neat folder in your massive 3-ring binders to keep your math work separate. ● A couple packs of paper (college ruled is fine, but I recommend blank computer paper since your work for exams/quizzes will be on blank areas [makes it WAY easier to recall your homework and classwork if they were also on blank paper]. Also blank paper is fun and sparks creativity!) ● Any Texas Instrument or Casio scientific calculator, but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND a TI-36X Pro Scientific Calculator (around $15-$25 on Amazon) ● Colored Pencils (will be helpful as I color code notes during class)
Wish List for Classroom:
● Computer paper ● Tissues ● Hand Sanitizer ● Clorox wipes
Bryan Crane
Mr. Crane hails from the great Pacific Northwest, specifically Oak Harbor, Washington. After coaching competitive swimming for fifteen years in Chandler, Arizona, Mr. Crane started teaching with EDUPRIZE High School. Since 1991, he has been teaching children and adults how to swim for safety, fitness and competition. Coaching was added to the teaching routine starting in 1996. ‘Coach’ Bryan has concurrently taught, coached and managed aquatic facilities for the majority of his working life. In 2017, Mr. Crane decided to challenge himself by pursuing a career in teaching. With a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology from Whitworth University, he earned his Arizona teaching certification in Physical Education with an endorsement in Early Secondary Mathematics. Since 2017, Mr. Crane has embraced the joys and toils of teaching for the fulfillment of helping a student learn and succeed. Mr. Crane credits the raising of his own daughters, years growing up in Sicily, an enriching college experience, and dedication to competitive swimming through college for his well rounded approach to teaching students. His daughters provide real world insight to the wonders of being a parent. Sicily opened his eyes to the multi-cultural character of our world. College taught Mr Crane academic success is founded in your resourcefulness and process rather than in the final outcome, while competitive swimming was an exercise in measured goal setting and accomplishment. Joel Decon
I am excited to have joined the faculty at EDUPRIZE’s top-notch high school. I grew up in Florida exploring sand pine scrubs, swimming in springs, shooting 3’s on the basketball court, and getting sunburnt at the beach. I graduated from the University of North Florida with a BA in English and a minor in psychology. Following this, I received a PhD in linguistics from the University of Florida, where I taught intensive ESL and Introduction to Linguistics. I then moved to Japan to teach and do research at Nagoya University. There I taught academic skills and EFL and research writing courses. Since moving to Arizona, I have worked in adult education for Gilbert Public Schools. Likewise at EDUPRIZE, I look forward to helping students equip themselves for their journeys to and through higher education and challenging students to become ever more creative, independent, and responsible. Supplies -- ELA 10th, 10th honors, & 12th: 1.) A Five-Star, College-Ruled, Spiral Bound Notebook ( ~ 100-page size) 2.) Extra paper (lined & blank); 3.) Pens & pencils; colored pencils / markers Supplies -- ELA 12th IB: 1.) 3-ring binders 2.) notebook 3.) pencil or blue or black pen
4.) colored pencils/pens
5.) post-it notes Ben Denton
I was born and raised here in the Valley, and fell in love with the idea of being a teacher in junior high school. I am fortunate to now have the opportunity to do so here at EDUPRIZE. This is my first year teaching, both here at EDUPRIZE as well as in any formal capacity, and I'm excited to teach high school English. I graduated high school from Heritage Academy in 2014 (just a couple of miles down the road from here!) then from Brigham Young University just this April 2021 with a Bachelor's in English. I've been happily married since 2017, and love spending time with my wife Makayla and two-year-old son, Brigham. We all love reading (yes, even Brigham!), and that would probably be our number one pastime, but we also go for bike rides, hikes, and visits up to Pine whenever we have the time to do so. Needs list: 1 Ream of paper per student 1 Box of Kleenex per student Optional: 1 Dry erase marker/eraser Anthony Forbes
I received my Bachelor of Arts from Southern Illinois University and my Master of Education. The teaching profession has always been an important part of my life. My father was a physical education teacher for 30 years, and his passion for education instilled a foundation for teaching and helping children stay healthy. I served 10 years in the U.S. Army which has provided me with a diverse experience of teaching, learning and working as a team. In addition to teaching physical education, I have taught kindergarten and 1st grade. I have also coached football and track at EDUPRIZE. In my free time, I love to read, play racquetball and spend time with my kids.
Andrew Geiges My name is Andrew Geiges and I am very excited to be starting at EDUPRIZE! I grew up in a very small town in Ohio where I spent most of my time playing baseball, swimming, or playing music. I moved to Arizona to attend the UofA where I majored in Business Administration with a focus on Business Law. After graduation, I started my Master’s degree in Education to follow in my family’s footsteps of becoming a teacher.
I have had the privilege of teaching in Paradise Valley, Arizona, Charlottesville, Virginia, Houston, Texas, and most recently in Tempe, Arizona where I was not only teaching math, but also serving as the head swim coach, math department lead, and Title I coordinator. Through my 17 years of teaching, I have taught 8th grade through seniors, and a wide variety of math courses. Courtney Hale-Taysom
My name is Courtney Hale-Taysom. I am married and have one dog. I was born and raised here in Arizona but spent summers on family road trips. I love being outdoors, hiking and camping and just exploring. This will be my first year in my own classroom, and I am incredibly excited for it to be with the EDUPRIZE family. Science is my favorite subject, and I can’t wait to share it with students. I graduated from ASU spring 2020 with a dual certificate in general education and special education. I am currently finishing my bachelor’s degree in biology also from ASU. Prior to teaching I have taught gardening and nutrition at the elementary level through an after school program. For three summers I worked at Camp Geronimo for the Boy Scouts. Primarily in the corrals, I taught numerous scouts how to ride and care for the horses.
Student Need Daily: - Graph composition notebook (NOT spiral!) - Pencil & Pen - Colored Pencils or/ crayons - Glue - Scissors Wish List: These Items will better help me with classroom instruction - Clorox wipes - Hand sanitizer - Printer paper - Tissues - Paper towels - Stapler / stapler - Tape (scotch or masking) - Duct Tape (helps to reinforce student notebooks) - Sticky Notes - Dry Erase Markers - Highlighters - Crayola Markers
Kara Hollenbeck
Welcome back to school, I’m so excited to get back to teaching & learning! This is my fourth year teaching art here at EDUPRIZE. I received my BA in Art Education at Arizona State University. I have a great passion for drawing, painting, and creating all types of art, as well as teaching students to love and participate in the arts! This year will definitely be different than past years for everyone, and I am striving to make sure all students are safe while continuing to learn and participate in the arts. In my free time, I love to paint & draw (I especially love painting people), read, listen to music, and go on adventures with my husband and our awesome kids. I also enjoy participating in art in the community, like the Chalk-a-Lot competition in the Tempe Festival of the Arts. I enjoy being able to share art with others to make the world a little more beautiful. I’m looking forward to sharing that passion for art with students this upcoming school year! At EDUPRIZE, we are striving to create a safe environment for students and staff. One of our precautionary measures is to minimize or eliminate shared supplies, so the list of required supplies for art will be more in depth this year. I will be providing individual supplies as well, please know that the provided list does not include everything your student will be using in art this year! (I will provide: watercolors, one medium sized paint brush, water container, disposable painting palettes, 2 wood pencils, eraser, drawing/watercolor paper, one glue stick, Ziploc bag to keep supplies in) *Students do not have to have separate supplies for my class than what they will be using in other classes, other than a sketchbook. For example, if they need colored pencils for another class, they can use them for my class as well! Required supplies: - 9x12 spiral bound (bound on the SIDE not top) or hardcover sketchbook - Set of colored pencils (at least 12) - Set of markers - Scissors - Ruler - 2 black sharpies - Hand held pencil sharpener
OPTIONAL Personal Supplies: - Paint brushes (one small, one flat- medium sized will be provided) - Colored Sharpies - Extra glue (sticks or bottle) - Crayons or oil pastels - Compass - Set of drawing pencils
Class supplies wish list: - Ream of paper - Roll of paper towels - Box of tissues - Clorox wipes - Baby wipes - 16-24 oz plastic containers (Yogurt or sour cream, etc) for water while painting (we need lots!)
Patricia Horrell
I am Patricia Horrell, English Teacher, M.Ed. I live in San Tan Valley with my husband and two dogs. I’ve been teaching for over 30 years, and before I launched my teaching career, I worked as a technical writer (well-paying but rather dull employment), freelance journalist (that was fun), and an on-site software instructor (I didn’t like the travel, but the teaching part was great). When my husband and I moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona in ’08, I began my employment with the Florence Unified School District (where I taught for seven years)—I taught IB English 11, AP Language & Composition, English 11, English 9, and English as Second Language.
This is my sixth year at EDUPRIZE--I will be teaching IB/DE English 11, English 9, and Composition. I will also be serving as English Department Chairperson and IB Extended Essay Coordinator.
During those few hours a day when I am not at school, I usually like to do things associated with what I teach—write poetry and fiction, read mysteries and science fiction, and watch movies. When time permits, I also enjoy bargain hunting, walking my dogs, attending festivals with my husband, and (occasionally) gardening (though the plants often do not cooperate with me). Catherine Krahan
My name is Cathy Krahn. I grew up in Wisconsin so, yes, I am a Packer's fan and Cheesehead. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a degree in Special Education K-12. I taught in both elementary and junior high until moving out to Arizona. We moved to Arizona where my husband could work as a paramedic as well as a firefighter. He retired from firefighting and is currently an ER nurse.
We have 4 children who have graduated from Gilbert Schools. My oldest just graduated college with a nursing degree and the 3 others are still in college. I love being outside hiking and walking my four dogs or spending time in my gardens. I also enjoy restoring and refinishing furniture in my spare time.
I have taught 7th and 8th grade Co-taught Science for the past 5 years. I received my certification in middle school Science here in Arizona. I love teaching both Science and math. I am excited to be your child's teacher this coming year.
Supply List
-Composition Notebook -Highlighters: pink, yellow, blue, green -#2 pencils -Red pen -Colored pencils -Handheld pencil sharpener -Large pink eraser -Ruler -Box of Kleenex -Clorox wipes
Leslie Kruft Hello! I’m the photography teacher Leslie Kruft. This is my 3rd year teaching at EDUPRIZE! This year, we are adding an advanced photography class and I am also going to be teaching Yearbook. I am so excited about both classes being added to my schedule!! I am a 4th generation Arizona native, WooHoo!! I went to college in Santa Barbara, California, graduating from Brooks Institute of Photography with a dual major in both Portraiture and Commercial Advertising. I live in Gilbert with my son Jake, our dog Charlie and my son’s bearded dragon Spike. When I was 8, my parents gave me my first camera. I took my first photography class the summer before jr high. Photography was my hobby that I turned into a career. I have shot so many different types of photography since graduating from Brooks 17 years ago! Weddings, magazine spreads, products, car print ads all in Los Angeles. And more recently here in Arizona, seniors, engagement sessions, newborns, children, families, events and even pet photography! In my free time I love making jewelry, refinishing & up-cycling furniture and my most recent adventures are in crafting wooden signs. BUT!! My very favorite thing is being a mom to my one son Jake, who is starting 6th grade at EDUPRIZE this year!
JH Intro to Photography Required Supplies for Each Student - 8GB Flash Drive - required for homework assignments - Please label with student’s name - 8GB Memory Card - required for homework assignments - UHS-I SDHC - Please label with student’s name - Spiral-bound Notebook - 1-Subject WITH POCKET to hold classroom hand-outs - White or Copy Paper - 1 ream - Clorox Wipes or Box of Kleenex - 1 container
Photography 1 Required Supplies for Each Student - 32GB Flash Drive - required for homework assignments - Please label with student’s name - 8GB Memory Card - required for homework assignments - UHS-I SDHC - Please label with student’s name - Spiral-bound Notebook - 1-Subject WITH POCKET to hold classroom hand-outs - White or Copy Paper - 1 ream - Clorox Wipes - 1 container
Photography 2 Required Supplies for Each Student - 32GB Flash Drive - required for homework assignments - Please label with student’s name - 8GB Memory Card - required for homework assignments - UHS-I SDHC - Please label with student’s name - Spiral-bound Notebook - 1-Subject - Pocket Folder with Fasteners for 3 hold punched paper - White or Copy Paper - 1 ream - Clorox Wipes - 1 container
Yearbook & Journalism Required Supplies for Each Student - 32GB Flash Drive - required for homework assignments - Please label with student’s name - 8GB Memory Card - required for homework assignments - UHS-I SDHC - Please label with student’s name - Spiral-bound Notebook - 2-Subject - Pocket Folder with Fasteners for 3 hold punched paper handouts - White or Copy Paper - 1 ream - Clorox Wipes - 1 container
Kelsey Landrum
I am eager to start another year at EHS! My name is Kelsey Landrum, and I was born and raised in Arizona. I attended Northern Arizona University, where I majored in both Secondary History Education and Spanish. In December 2015, I received a Bachelor of Science in Secondary History Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. This is my fifth year at EDUPRIZE, and I am proud to be teaching high school Government, Economics, US History, World History, and IB History (Year One)!
Outside of school, I love reading, exploring the outdoors, listening to music, playing video games, and spending time with my pets. I have one guinea pig named Terrance, a ball python named Bounce, and two leopard geckos named Hiei and Haku.
I hope you all had a wonderful summer, and I look forward to another exciting year!
Government/Economics, World History, IB History and U.S. History In order to be successful in class each student will need the following - Planner/Agenda/electronic calendar app* suggested - College Ruled Composition Notebook or College Ruled Spiral Notebook - Highlighters - Double Pocket Folder - 3x5 Notecards (1 pack) - Pens and Pencils - One ream of copy paper - One ream of lined paper
Wish Lists We are always in need of the following items: - Paper Towels - Hand Sanitizer - Clorox Wipes - Boxes of Tissues - Expo Markers - Whiteboard Erasers - Hand Soap - Colored Printer Paper - Tape - Pencils - Markers, Crayons, and Colored Pencils - Band Aids - Elmer’s White Glue/Glue Sticks Wei Liffick Nihao!
I am excited and proud to become part of EDUPRIZE High School Eagles! This will be my first year teaching at EDUPRIZE. I was born and raised in a small town in South China close to Shanghai. I majored in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language at Tianjin foreign Studies University. I came to the beautiful state of Arizona after graduation and have been a Chinese teacher since then. I had the opportunity to teach Chinese as a second language to varied ages and also general elementary subjects in immersion settings in the target language, Mandarin. I choose teaching as my career because I believe in the strength of education! As I grew up, many teachers had a great impact on me! I look forward to a great year with all of you! I enjoy sunshine and nature. Most of my spare time is spent FISHING in creeks and lakes.
Supply List:
- 1 spiral notebook college ruled - Pair of scissors - Small white board - 1 sex EXPO markers - 1 folder - Pencils - Clorox Wipes - Box of Tissues - Highlighters
Dave Malinowski Mr. Malinowski teaches Engineering. He has a BS in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University, a Masters Degree in Space Systems Management from Webster University and a Masters in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University.
Out of college, he was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force and assigned to Air Force Space Command where he worked in operations with Navigation and Warning Satellites with various detection sensors and capabilities. He also spent time as a Nuclear Launch Officer and as a Project Officer for the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). He deployed for Operations Noble Eagle, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedome and Enduring Freedom while also supporting the Global War on Terrorism, all from various Air & Space Operations Centers.
After a 20 year career of military service, Mr Malinowski completed credentialing as a teacher of Physics and Math with student teaching at Tempe High School. He went on to teach physics and math at Campo Verde H.S. in Gilbert where he co-sponsored a VEX Robotics Club that had two winning state champion teams and an award recognized team at Worlds. Mr Malinowski then accepted the position of Senior Aerospace Science Instructor at Desert Ridge H.S. where he taught Science of Flight, Exploration of Space, & Aviation History over 5 years. While leading the AFJROTC Group, they earned three distinguished unit awards.
Mr. Malinowski was recognized by HQAFJROTC as one of the Instructor of the Year recipients and the Air Force Association (AFA) recognized him for his STEM impact. He founded teams to compete in the STEM Space Challenge, StellarXplorers and STEM Cyber Security Challenge, CyberPatriot. His StellarXplorers team finished #1 in Arizona for 5 consecutive years, were semifinalists twice, regional runner-ups once, and national finalists once.
Some of his CyberPatriot teams also won a variety of awards over the four years they completed. At Eduprize, Mr. Malinowski is excited to be teaching Physics, Principles of Engineering, Gateway to Engineering, Intro to Engineering, and Robotics. Tracy Marshall
My name is Tracy Marshall, and I love teaching ELA here at EDUPRIZE. I am not only an educator, but I’m a mom to two handsome boys; Ryan, 8 and Reagan, 6; as well as three dogs (Bella, Max, and Charlie) and 2 guinea pigs (Spot and Brownie). My husband, children, and I have lived in Gilbert for the past ten years. In my free time I practice my Taekwondo, watch my sons do gymnastics and Taekwondo.
After receiving my Bachelor’s degree in education from Arizona State University, my education continued with a Masters in Education with a focus on curriculum from Ottawa University, and an Autism Certificate from Arizona State University. My career began 20 years ago in the Scottsdale School District, and continued throughout the years holding a variety of positions within the education field in varying states such as New York, Nevada, and here in Arizona. Some teaching experiences consisted of general education teacher, ESL teacher, special education teacher, Director of a center for children with learning disabilities, Assistant principal, curriculum and professional development manager, and child advocate to name a few. I have found myself always missing the classroom and being with the students, which is what brought me back to the classroom at EDUPRIZE last year. As an educator, it is my job to help guide, teach, and assist students in achieving their highest potential.
The following supplies must be brought to class every day: - Printer Paper (2 Reams per student) - Organization system for your worksheets and handouts (preferably a 1" binder with dividers or folders) - 1 College Ruled Spiral Notebook - College Ruled Composition Book- (for journaling) - Pencils - Notebook Paper - Pens (black or blue AND an alternative color) - Highlighters - Colored pencils, crayons, or markers - Glue stick - Scissors
Wish list - extra Printer paper (White and colored) - Expo Markers - Tissues - Clorox Wipes - Paper towels - Ruler - Hand Sanitizer - Construction paper Hana McCain
Hello, I am so excited to begin teaching this year at EDUPRIZE. I have heard so many wonderful things about EDUPRIZE, its teachers, students and parents. I look forward to starting my 19th year of teaching; as well as working with my new colleagues and meeting my students and their parents.
A little about me, I was born and raised in a small town in Wyoming. The town I grew up in was at the southern end of a valley known as Star Valley. I attended elementary, junior high and high school there; and my parents and many of my aunts, uncles and cousins still reside there.
After graduating high school I moved to Salt Lake City to begin my college career. I attended Ensign College (fka LDS Business College) and earned an Associate’s Degree in general education. However, while attending school there I met my husband who was born and raised in Mesa. After we finished our two years in Salt Lake City, we both moved back to Mesa where we were married.
While my husband completed his undergraduate degrees at ASU, I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education at Ottawa University; and completed my student teaching in Mesa Public Schools. After my husband and I completed our undergraduate studies we moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where we both attended graduate school. While my husband earned his law degree I attended Oklahoma State University where I obtained a Master’s Degree in Teaching, Learning and Leadership; with a specialization as a Reading and Literacy Specialist.
I also began my teaching career while in Tulsa. I spent three wonderful years as a Reading Teacher at a middle school in Tulsa Public Schools. Once my husband completed his law degree we moved back to Mesa to be closer to family. I began working in Mesa Public Schools and spent six years teaching junior high as a Reading, Language Arts and as a Reading Interventionist; I also spent four years teaching elementary to 4th – 6th grade English Language Learners. After nine years in Mesa Public Schools I spent five years at a charter school in East Mesa as the Title I Coordinator and Reading Specialist. Most recently I spent one year in the Queen Creek School District as an 8th grade ELA teacher.
I love teaching junior high and have a passion for Reading and Literacy. I look forward to teaching here at EDUPRIZE. I have four children, three daughters and one son, all of which attend Mesa Public Schools. My oldest daughter is in high school, my second daughter attends junior high school, and my youngest two are still in elementary school. I love reading and spending any free time with my family, especially visiting my family in Wyoming and Idaho during the summer months.
List of supplies for 8th grade ELA & Honors ELA
- Spiral notebook - Highlighters (at least 2 different colors) - Pencil & Pens (a variety of colored pens will be acceptable) - Glue stick or scotch tape - 1 pkg colored pencil - Personal, handheld pencil sharpener - Scissors - Lead for mechanicals pencil (if needed)
It is important to stay organized, so please have all of your loose supplies (pencils, pens, etc.) in a pencil pouch that can be put into a 3-ring binder. Rubin McMillan
I have always loved history and learned a lot while growing up in a small mining town here in Arizona. I have received my Bachelors of Arts in Education and a Masters in North American History from Arizona State University. Teaching is myI enjoyed this position because I interacted with people with a wide range of experiences and cultures. I have four children. In my free time, I like to garden, woodwork, hike and second career; I worked in the Semiconductor Industry for 25 years. One of my favorite job roles was that of peer trainer. mountain bike.
Wish list:
- Copy Paper (most needed) - Paper towels/Antibacterial soap - Disinfecting wipes - Kleenex/Tissues - Construction paper ( All sizes) - Pencils/Pens - Composition notebooks
Silvia Méndez y Margalef I am thrilled to be part of the high school team this year. I have been teaching Spanish and French for over 20 years. I was born in Spain to Catalonian and French parents, but lived most of my life in Mexico, where I developed a passion for teaching Foreign Languages. I earned my Undergraduate degree in foreign languages and completed two Master degrees in Education. My love for language extends not only to the language and culture, but to the preservation of history. For instance, I speak my native Catalan, a language that was on the verge of extinction at one point, in addition to English, French and Spanish.
I have taught all levels of Spanish and French from grades 6 through university. I believe in language immersion and am dynamic in every aspect of my instruction. My ultimate goal is to instill a love for foreign language, culture, and history in the hearts and minds of my students.
Supply list items (every student needs) - Notebook and three ring binder - Note cards - Pens and pencils (blue/black) - Whiteboard markers - Colored pencils
Wish list items (for general classroom needs) - Tissues - Paper towels - Wipes - Sticky notes - White copy paper - Expo markers (fun colors) - Scissors - Ten books of “Auténtico 1” by Pearson - Ten books of “Spanish B” (IB Diploma Programme) by Oxford Press - Two “501 Spanish verbs” by Kendris - English to Spanish/Spanish to English dictionaries
Nate Nestegard Hello, I am Mr. Nate. I was born and raised in Montana. I graduated high school in 2006. Upon graduating, I worked for a year, and then decided to go do some volunteer missionary work. This allowed me to spend two years in the West Indies. When I returned, I began working toward an education degree. I was able to go to school in several different states and a country: Montana, Hawaii, Utah, and Norway. I completed my schooling at Utah State University in 2015 with a bachelors of science in education with an emphasis in math. I stayed in Utah and taught at a public charter for four years, and then moved to Arizona and started working for EDUPRIZE. I will be teaching 9th grade Algebra 1 students. I ask my students to approach learning math with this in mind; math is a learned skill, everyone has to learn math before they can do math. Some people are more talented than others, but talent can only get you so far. Hard work and dedication are the true indicators of success in learning.
Britta Pearson
Hello! This will be my 4th year teaching at EDUPRIZE, and I am so excited to be back for another amazing year. This year I am thrilled to be teaching Band, Orchestra and IB Music. I attended Brigham Young University-Idaho and have a degree in K-12 Music Education. I love to learn and grow as an educator and musician through attending state and national conferences. My ultimate goal for my students is to carry the love for playing music with them through their lives. There is nothing more powerful than music, and I love being able to teach my students valuable life lessons through it. In my free time, I play flute in the Scottsdale Community Band and spend time with my family and friends. I have an adorable cat named Penny who I adore and love to read when I get a chance. I am looking forward to what the next year brings. Required materials: Band and Orchestra students are required to provide a good working instrument.
Christian Polk Christian Polk is a former Division 1 and professional basketball player from Glendale Arizona. He played basketball for Arizona State University as well as The University of Texas-El Paso. After college Mr. Polk went on to play professional basketball overseas with the G League. Mr. Polk currently directs Team Harden and GetEmUp youth basketball programs as well as teaching P.E. at EDUPRIZE.
Wish List for PE includes: New Basketballs
Elaine Rand I am a proud graduate of Arizona State University. The 2020 - 2021 school year will be my 39th year of teaching. I have been teaching at EDUPRIZE School for 19 years. I have a wide range of experience from teaching students at the elementary level to the high school level. It is always rewarding to watch students achieve success! When not teaching I am actively involved in many activities. I travel extensively with my husband and two adult children. I teach Sunday School. I enjoy yoga, golfing, cycling, and reading literature!
Trent Rasmussen
I am thrilled to be a part of EDUPRIZE, and to have the opportunity to teach both choral music and theater. This will be my second year of teaching choral music, and my first year teaching theater. I have grown up developing and sharing a passion for music and the performing arts since I was in junior high. I have had the privilege of being a part of All-state choirs, community and professional music theaters, and received professional acting instruction from some of the most respected acting coaches from Los Angeles. All of this in preparation to take part with my students in the priceless experience that is the performing arts. I was born and raised here in Mesa, Arizona, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Brigham Young University-Idaho. I love the various genres of acting, from musical theater to cinematic acting, and you will almost never leave my class without hearing me quote my favorite movies! Can't wait to meet you all! Required materials for choir: - #2 pencils (wood or mechanical). NO pens (including erasable pens)
Required materials for theater: - #2 pencils (wood or mechanical). Black or blue pens (no other colors) - Spiral bound lined-paper notebook. 1 subject is fine
Niamh Savani Welcome to the ‘20-’21 school year at EDUPRIZE! I’m excited for another year with fabulous students expressing their creativity and excelling in the visual arts. I’ve worked in a variety of settings throughout my career as a visual arts educator including public schools, charter schools, and art centers. My name is Niamh Savani and I teach high school art, including IB Visual Art. I’m also the IB Creativity-Activity-Service (CAS) Co-ordinator. I was born and raised in Ireland, lived in London for two years, and travelled extensively throughout Europe. I have dual citizenship as both an Irish and American citizen, and have lived in the USA for over 20 years. My husband and I have lived in Gilbert for the past 18 years and we love it! In my free time I like to paint, read, travel, practice yoga, hike, and spend quality time with family and friends. I’m also certified as a Yoga Nidra facilitator through the Amrit Yoga Institute.
I received my BFA in painting (summa cum laude) from ASU, and my MAEd. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. I am also a National Board Certified Teacher in Art (Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood).
SUPPLIES
Due to Covid 19 and recommendations from the CDC, it is highly recommended that in addition to the regular supplies normally requested at the beginning of the year, students also buy their own colored pencils, colored sharpies, and paintbrushes (recommended items in italics).
All IB Visual Art students must have the following supplies:
- Two sketchbooks - highly recommended to get this specific brand and sizes: - Canson Mix Media - 9” x 12” - Canson Mix Media - 7 “ x 10” - One 2-pocket paper folder - Pencils, erasers, sharpener - Black sharpies - fine and regular point - Colored sharpies - White gel pen (Sakura gel roll) - Paint brush set (watercolors) - Paint brush set (acrylics)
High School Visual Arts students must have the following supplies:
- One sketchbook (minimum size 8.5 " x 11") with a sturdy cover - One 2 pocket paper folder - Pencils and a quality eraser - Fine tip and regular size black sharpies - Colored pencils - Colored sharpies - Paint brush set (watercolors) Wish List:
- Copy paper - Disinfecting wipes - Facial tissues - Paper rolls Barb Schollmeyer
I am very excited to be teaching at EDUPRIZE again this school year. I have been teaching for 11 years. I was born in Kentucky but then moved to Arizona when I was in high school. (I consider myself an Arizona native). I went to Northern Arizona University where I got my bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology. I received my teaching certificate for Special Education, Cross-categorical after having a family and being called to teaching. I have three children, two girls and a boy, and we love to spend time together. I love to hike and spend most weekends on a mountain to start my morning off right!
Wish List We are always in need of the following items: - Paper Towels - Clorox Wipes - Boxes of Tissue - Expo Markers - Lined Paper - Tape - Pencils - Pens - Glue Sticks - Candy/small toys (reward bin) Amy Smith
Hello Everyone, my name is Mrs. Smith, and welcome to the 2020-2021 school year. This will be my 18th year teaching and my 6th year at EDUPRIZE. We moved to Arizona from Illinois six years ago and are so glad we did. I love the weather, the mountains and the big city environment. This school year, I will be teaching three of the four sections of 9th grade World History and Geography, IB History of the Americas at the Senior level , along with the Theory of Knowledge Class (ToK) that many juniors and seniors take. IIn addition to my teaching responsibilities this will also be my first year as the IB Coordinator. I have three children, Dylan (12), Charlotte (10) and Josie (10) and my husband, Jesse works at the State Farm office in Tempe as a web developer. In my spare time I enjoy reading, running, and spending time with my friends and family. Supply List for 2020-2021 World History 9th Grade - Composition notebook - Markers - Colored Pencils - Scissors - Glue - Two-pocket folder - (all of these supplies can be kept in the classroom) - Ream of paper - Kleenex - Clorox wipes - Hand sanitizer - Recommended o Highlighters o Ruler o Loose-leaf paper
12th Grade IB History and ToK - Composition Notebook - 3 ring binder - Folder - Ream of paper - Kleenex - Clorox wipes - Hand sanitizer
Amanda Spezzano
I have been teaching for 10 years. This is my third year teaching at EDUPRIZE and I love being here. I was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but then moved to Arizona when I was 6 months old. (I consider myself an Arizona native). I was the third generation to graduate from Mesa High School. After graduating, I went to Arizona State University where I got my bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English. I always had a passion for math, so I went back and got my math endorsement as well. I have two children, a girl and a boy, and we love to spend time outdoors. Supply List - Printer Paper (2 Reams per student) - Colored copy paper (for interactive notebook pages) English: - College Ruled Spiral Notebook (3 subject) - College Ruled Spiral Notebook (1 Subject) - College Ruled Composition Book - Binder or Folder (for this class) - Pencils - Scissors - Glue - Notebook Paper - Pens Algebra 1: - 2-3 Graph Ruled Spiral/Composition Notebook - College Ruled Composition Book - Binder or Folder (for this class) - Pencils - Notebook Paper - Ruler - Scissors - Glue - TI-84 Graphing Calculator (will be able to be used for Algebra 2 and 3 as well) Pre Algebra: - 2-3 Graph Ruled Spiral/Composition Notebook - College Ruled Composition Book - 3 Ring Binder (1 ½ inch) - Colored Pencils - Scissors - Glue Sticks - Markers - Protractor - Ruler (centimeters across from inches) - Pencils - Notebook Paper - Scientific Calculator Wish List: - Dry Erase Markers - Sharpies - Spiral or Composition Notebooks - Tissues - Kleenex - Hand Sanitizer - Colored Copy paper - Markers & Colored Pencils - Pens/Pencils - Highlighters - Glue
Sara Stalder Welcome back to what will be a truly adventurous school year I am sure. This 2020-2021 school year will be my 6th year of teaching, but my 2nd year teaching 7th grade math and science here at EDUPRIZE. Before this, I taught math and science to mixed classes of 4th-8th grades at a small school, and even before that I was a student teacher at EDUPRIZE in the very same classroom that I teach in now! (It's a small world after all!) I am a proud math-loving Hufflepuff who has always loved art, cooking, music, and cats! I love learning and figuring out solutions for puzzles and try to apply that to my teaching every day. I am looking forward to navigating the school year alongside students and families. Throughout this new year, we will conquer difficulties, solve problems, discover new things, create, laugh (hopefully a lot), grow, and learn! Together, we will work through whatever fabulous struggles and challenges may come our way.
Required Materials for Instruction: Please bring the following to class EVERYDAY: - 3 ring binder with dividers - 1 3-subject spiral notebook (should last the year- name written on the outside cover) - 1 composition notebook (name written on the outside over) - Scientific calculator (label with your name) - Ruler (label with your name) - Protractor (label with your name) - Scissors (your own pair with your name written on them) - Pencils - Highlighters - Markers, colored pencils, crayons (your own) - Hand sanitizer/clorox wipes
Always appreciated: white liquid glue, glue sticks, reams of copy paper (white and color), whiteboard markers, tissues, paper towels, pencils, index cards, lined paper (college or wide) Jeremiah Stricklin With degrees in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Chemistry, most of my career has been spent in laboratories with near a decade of academic research. At the University of Arizona, I worked toward understanding the inherent instability in genomes. At the University of California Berkeley, I was involved in projects that looked to understand how a class of proteins called cohesins tethered chromosomes during cellular replication. At the not for profit TGEN, I worked on research aimed toward personalized medicine in breast cancer patients. In that time, I have built a wealth of understanding in the sciences. It is my goal to now share my love of science with students.
Doug Taysom I started teaching at Tempe High School in 1985 after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science at Southern Utah State College (now Southern Utah University). I earned a Master’s in Education at Arizona State University. I also am certified in Career Technology Education. Both my parents were educators in the Tempe Elementary District.
I have taught Chemistry, Physics, Honors Physics, Physical World, Chemistry/Physics, Honors Chemistry/Physics, Multi-Media Design, Information Technology, A+ Computer Repair, and Cisco Networking. I also taught A+ Computer Repair, BPC 170, for 20 semesters at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
For 14 summers I worked at Camp Geronimo for the BSA. I really enjoy working there. The summer of 2019, I played Grandpa in Virginia. This summer I suffered with everyone else.
I am excited to start my fourth year as staff at EDUPRIZE teaching Conceptual Physics and Chemistry, 8th Grade Honors Science and we are starting an A+ Computer Repair course (partnering with StRUT-Students Recycling Used Technology). Students NEED—Quad ruled composition book (must be quad ruled (Graph paper) or College Rule with pages sewn in place!) NO Spiral notebooks. No notebooks with perforated pages.
- Pencil (calculations and graphing) - Pen (notes) - Calculator (Scientific or better)
Items NEEDED for better classroom instruction WISH LIST
- Clorox Wipes - 1 roll of Packing Tape - Printer paper– 2 reams per student - Kleenex- 1 box - Paper towels- 1 rolls - staplers with staples
I do NOT need Post Its or Hand Sanitizer (I have a lot!)
Catherine Toca I’m Ms. Toca! I was born and raised in Scottsdale, AZ and I am a proud Sun Devil! My favorite pastimes are reading, playing board games and hanging out with my dog, Birdie. My favorite subjects in school were math and science, so I feel very lucky to be able to share that passion with my 7th grade students this year. The 20/21 school year will be my first year teaching junior high and I couldn’t be more excited! Edgardo Vargas I graduated with honors from University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, with a bachelor’s degree in English. Altogether, I have over ten years of professional experience as a teacher. I’ve had the opportunity to work in both private and public schools in Florida and Puerto Rico. I have taught Math, English, Science and Spanish. One of the things I’ve enjoyed the most about teaching is meeting lots and lots of students so full of energy and talents. It’s a challenge and at the same time, a pleasure and honor to serve these students. Being a teacher has helped me develop a positive attitude, flexibility, and creativity, which in the end is a blessing in my daily life. I am married and we have three children. We enjoy going to athletic events and outdoor activities. Both my wife and I are teachers and we love it. Darcy Wheeler My name is Ms. Wheeler, and I am thrilled to be part of the 7th-grade team this year. I am excited to begin a new year and get to know more about you and your child.
I was born and raised in Idaho, in a family that loves to learn and travel. Our family joked that there was never a plane that we did not want to get on. I think that started my great love of history and exploration. I graduated with advanced degrees in history and literature.
My husband was in the military, so I had a lot of opportunities to live and teach in many parts of the world. I come from a family of educators: my great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and two sisters are all teachers. I love school, and I hope that you love it as much as I do. Besides travel, my favorite things to do are reading, hiking, camping, water sports, dog agility, and skiing. I hope this is a year of great adventures and exploration or all of us.
Please take a moment to fill out this form: https://forms.gle/rfVBUCMTcYznfmWB8
Required Materials for Instructions:
- Two composition books (2 more 4-8 weeks after school starts when stores sell them for .20) - Writing utensils (mechanical or regular pencils) - Ballpoint pens: red, green, black, or blue (preferably two different dark colors) - Organization system for your worksheets and handouts (such as folders or a plastic accordion folder) - Highlighters – various colors - Scissors - A personal supply of tissues and hand sanitizer
Always appreciated: liquid glue, glue sticks, reams of copy paper (white and color), whiteboard markers, tissues, paper towels, disinfecting wipes