Phoenix Union Honors Employees of the Year

Central Teacher Maria Chacon; Metro Tech Principal Kate McDonald; Camelback Student-Parent Liaison Monica Meza; Cesar Chavez Lead Security Kevin Scroggins, and Suns-Diamondbacks Education Academy Principal Rick Beck were presented with Phoenix Union High School District 2010 Employee of the Year awards by Superintendent Kent P. Scribner at the District’s Opening of Schools Convocation, Tuesday.

Chacon is a social studies teacher who models rigor and relevance and inspires staff and students with her own life story. She has taught for four years, but is Central’s World History Professional Learning Community (PLC) leader, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) history teacher, and has constructed her social studies curriculum to press students toward excellence in writing. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico and a Central High graduate, she has enhanced cultural awareness on the campus. She created Los Linces, a ballet folklorico group, bringing in a professional instructor, purchasing and making costumes and booking performances throughout the city. The MECHA club sponsor, Chacon is instrumental in the school’s multicultural programs, including the school’s Peace on Earth Day.

McDonald is truly an instructional leader at Metro Tech High School. The school has been Performing Plus for several years, meets Adequate Yearly Progress, and consistently turns in some of the top AIMS scores in the District. McDonald secured the largest school grant ever from Science Foundation Arizona to implement a sustainability program which was infused across the curriculum, and student-driven projects in sustainability have emerged all over campus. Metro Tech opened the state’s first student-run Credit Union on a high school campus and the school’s automotive department has reached the highest certification possible to train aspiring auto technicians. A two-time National Board Certified Teacher, she co-taught a humanities course with her administrative team last semester to stay actively involved in pedagogy and assessment. McDonald has been Metro’s principal for two years. She was the District’s Language Arts Content Specialist, and taught English at South Mountain and Alhambra during her 20 years in Phoenix Union.

Two employees were named Support Staff Employees of the Year. Meza assists English Language Learner students and families with success in school. She makes home visits, facilitates support groups and is a member of the school’s Intervention Team. One colleague says, We feel as though she is an angel on our campus. Meza began her career at Camelback in 1998 as an Instructional Assistant.

Scroggins sets the tone for campus safety, customer service and respect for students and staff at Cesar Chavez, where he has worked for six years. He demonstrates leadership, professionalism, experience and communication skills, particularly with conflict resolution. He goes out of his way to help students, even outside the school environment, working with them in the community. Says his co-workers, he mentors, mediates and guides students as they search for ways to be successful. His position is that when a student fails, he fails.

Beck, Special Achievement Employee of the Year wears all the hats at his small school, Suns-Diamondbacks Education Academy. He is part principal-part staff. He started the school 10 years ago, and has watched it grow out of its original location, as he and his staff have turned over 800 would-be dropouts into high school graduates. He never turns down an opportunity to serve our students and parents. Our school would have never become what it is without him, said one staff member. Beck has been with the District for 23 years as a special education teacher at Metro Tech and South Mountain.

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: Michelle Gutierrez, Counselor; Joe Sells, Lead Security.
Trevor Browne: Cecilia Moreno, Business Teacher -Instructional Leader; Cookie Byler, SPED Admin. Assistant.
Camelback: Michelle Charles, Nurse; Monica Meza, ELL Liaison.
Cesar Chavez: Rayna Aguilar, SPED Math Teacher; Kevin Scroggins, Lead Security.
Central: Maria Chacon, Social Studies Teacher; Patty Harris, Registrar.
Betty Fairfax: Sandra Baker, Math Teacher - Instructional Leader; Rose Hendrix, Credentials Specialist.
Carl Hayden: Tom Brewer, Science Teacher; Frances Figueroa, IMC Coordinator.
Maryvale: Robert Turley, Instructional Specialist; Sandra Aguilar, Senior Security Assistant.
Metro Tech: Sarah Endres, SPED Teacher; Lizeth Garay, Credential Specialist.
North: John Patrick Doherty, Math Teacher; Chris Montenegro, Campus Operations.
South Mountain: Shannon Sanderson, English Teacher; Rosa Noel, Library Computer Tech Asst.
Small Schools: Yunbo (Crystal) Gu, ESL Teacher, Bostrom; Natasha Foster, Senior Office Assistant, Bostrom
Plant Operations: Tony Scarfo, Quality Assurance Tech.
District Office: Russ Shaffer, Science Content Specialist; Dean Walker, Maintenance Tech.