Maryvale teacher Selina Alonzo; Trevor Browne assistant principal Tony Camp; personnel specialist Marilyn Cheatham and math curriculum specialist Mona Toncheff were presented with Phoenix Union High School District 2009 Employee of the Year awards by Superintendent Kent P. Scribner and Governing Board President Amy Kobeta at the District’s Opening of Schools Convocation, Tuesday.
Alonzo, an English teacher, is also the department chair, despite the fact that she has only been teaching for five years. A graduate of Carl Hayden High School who benefitted from the Hispanic Mother-Daughter program, Alonzo earned her teaching degree and returned to the community where she grew up. Her background has proved invaluable in motivating and inspiring Phoenix Union students and parents. Alonzo volunteers on the Maryvale YMCA board representing her students. She mentors students and is active with many student groups and clubs. Her colleagues recognize marked improvement and interest in learning among her students. A builder of relationships and a person who has earned the respect of students, teachers and parents, one colleague says “Selina is an excellent representative of what our district is all about.”
Camp has been in the District for 10 years, and as an administrator, he has already made an impact at four different schools. The former science teacher at Metro Tech performed Dean of Student duties there before going to Camelback. He was assistant principal for instruction at Alhambra for the past two years, and has moved over to Trevor Browne this year. Camp is described by colleagues as “a hands-on administrator, who wants what is best for our school. He pushes himself to put instruction first and to focus on what is going on in the classrooms and offers creative suggestions for improving learning.”
Cheatham has been with the District for 31 years, helping employees in human resources for the past 21, and in the payroll department for 10 years. She is an invaluable resource not only for her department, but for hundreds of employees and thousands of applicants. One co-worker called her “a walking District encyclopedia, who is always willing to share information, insight, and the answers.” This year, she accepted the challenge of learning a new Human Resources/Payroll system, transferring massive amounts of data and troubleshooting at every turn.
Toncheff has impacted students and teachers across the District in the area of math. Under her leadership, the District implemented an E-Squared Math program that introduced the concepts of Professional Learning Communities to the District, and improved the delivery of math instruction. Math AIMS scores have improved dramatically as a result. Toncheff works closely with partner elementary districts’ 8th grade teachers to better prepare students for high school math, and together they have increased the placement of 9th graders into Geometry and Algebra 3-4. She co-chaired the Honors Review Committee last year to ensure rigor in those classes. Toncheff began as a math teacher at Camelback 17 years ago, but as a curriculum specialist for five years, no one has made a greater impact district-wide in math than her.
Phoenix Union Certified and Support Staff Employees of the Year were selected by a committee of peers, based on nominations made up of school and site Employees of the Year. Phoenix Union employs over 2800 people, including approximately 1700 teachers. The following is a list of Certified and Support Staff Employees of the Year, by school.
Alhambra: Eileen Snook, Reading Teacher;Tommy Vasquez, Campus Facility Supervisor; Tony Camp, Assistant Principal for Instruction. Betty Fairfax: Phillip Wooley, Instructional Specialist; Dianne Coronado, Bookstore Manager. Camelback: Kirsten Nielsen, SPED Teacher Florentina Maez, Senior Office Assistant; Carl Hayden: James Haugen, SPED Teacher Kelly Newcom, Campus Lab Technician. Cesar Chavez: Dr. MingPing Ji, ESL Teacher Marta Trejo, Instructional Assistant. Central: Patrick Looper, Business Teacher; Heather Earle, Senior Office Assistant; Maryvale: Selina Alonzo, English Teacher; JoAnn Carrillo, Registration Clerk. Metro Tech: Monique Mogro, Social Studies Teacher; Zellita Hernandez, Instructional Assistant. North: Gretchen Clifton, SPED Teacher; Larry Ayala, Senior Security Assistant. South Mountain: Charlene Roll, Law Teacher; Joan Arrington, Service Assistant. Trevor Browne: Nicholas Halonen, Choir Teacher; Shanton Harris, Student Study Facilitator Small Schools: Steve Clendenen, Spanish Teacher, Franklin; Evelyn Gonzales, Senior Office Assistant, Bioscience. Plant Operations: Doug Smith, Chief Plumber. District Office: Mona Toncheff, Math Specialist; Marilyn Cheatham, Personnel Specialist
Source: Phoenix Union High School District
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