Mountain View welcomes 9 new staff Principal Manuel Carrillo comes to MVES from Calabasas Middle School where he served as dean of students and athletic director. Mr. Carrillo’s reputation for hard work and enthusiasm precedes him. He lives in Rio Rico with his wife, Yuki, a teacher at Peña Blanca Elementary, and their three children. When not working he enjoys diving and water sports. Virginia Duke is a certified dental assistant who also taught preschool for years before pursuing a degree in education. She returned to Rio Rico to start her career at MVES after graduating from Northern Arizona University last spring. Ms. Duke enjoys photography and relaxing with her family on the weekends. Bonnie Schoenfeld joins the MV staff this year as a
reading interventionist. Mrs. Schoenfeld spent many years working in sales management in the New York city area. She spends her non-working hours involved with animal rescue. She loves children and is excited about making a significant difference in their lives.
SPECIAL ED Gaby Robles is beginning her fifth year working with children with special needs, and her first full year with MV’s special education department. She is also a licensed cosmetologist who enjoys the variety of styling hair when she’s not working with youngsters. Veronica Barnett’s warm personality makes her a perfect fit for her new role as MV’s office clerk. Mrs. Barnett has been a stayhome mother, raising four
children and being active in church and involved in her children’s community sports. Amanda Figueroa, a MV alumnus, returned this year as the school’s assistant librarian. When not checking out or shelving books, Ms. Figueroa reads to small groups of students. Previously a health aide at CMS, she coaches sports and cheerleading. Ms. Figueroa also enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.
FORMER ACCOUNTANT Heather Huerta joined the special education program as a resource person. For the last seven years she worked as an accountant while raising her four children. She is considering furthering her education in
the field of teaching. Mrs. Huerta’s outside interests include jewelry-making and doing things together with her family. Alma Feria joins the MV staff as a parent liaison after having worked for four years in the district’s Head Start program. She has an associate degree in early childhood education and is currently a student at Cochise College. When not working, Mrs. Feria enjoys long walks and spending time with her family. Alejandra Garcia, a RRHS graduate, has a background in computer science and has taught ESL in Mexico. She joins the MV staff this year as an instructional aid in the computer lab. Ms. Garcia especially enjoys Sundays when she can spend extra time with her daughter and family.
New faces at MVES, front from left are Virginia Duke, Alma Feria and Heather Huerta. Back row, Alejandra Garcia, Amanda Figueroa, Gaby Robles, Bonnie Schoenfeld and Principal Manuel Carrillo. Not shown is Veronica Barnett.
EDUCATE EVERYONE EVERY DAY
Calabasas educators bring varied backgrounds
Page 10, Santa Cruz Valley District #35 Fall 2011 Newsletter
By Jeffrey Lawrence Calabasas Middle School started the school year with some new teachers, as well as the return of a former teacher who chose to come back to enrich the lives of the students. Eva Schnitzler, the new special education self-contained classroom teacher, has been at the district for many years. Beginning as a substitute in 1996, she held many jobs in education. At one point she worked at a private school for four years. In 2008 she joined the district’s special education department and held a variety of positions. Recently, Ms. Schnitzler earned her master’s degree in special education. “Every day is so different, so challenging, but everyone in my classroom I work with helps the students have a positive experience.” Our new sixth grade math teacher Patty LaChance is no stranger to teaching. Having taught elementary children in such places as El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, Ms. LaChance joined the CMS family for her eighth year of being an ed-
ucator. Teaching was not her first career; right after college she was a zookeeper for six years. “In my spare time I like to read, crochet, and cross stitch.” When talking about other ways to relax she mentioned her enjoyment of motorcycles. “I do not drive one myself, but enjoy being a passenger!” “I love the warm weather here in Arizona and do not miss the Oregon winters a bit!” said our new eighth grade special education teacher Rebecca Cerrillo. Mrs. Cerrillo, who is married and has a son Jaime (a CMS student), completed her master’s degree in special education. She has already become an active member of the school by having guest speakers from around the area come to her classroom to speak to her students. In her spare time she enjoys going on road trips, taking her dog for long walks, as well as reading a good book or two. “Visiting Arizona attractions with the family such as the museums, landmarks, and zoos are so enjoyable. I still have much more to see around Southern Arizona and I am looking forward to the rest
of the year to travel.” Shweta Dubey, our sixth grade resource teacher, was born in India. After earning her B.A. in special education and a master’s in sociology, she taught special education in India. Looking for a new challenge, she decided to come to the United States in 2008. She was at an elementary school in South Carolina for a few years continuing her special education teaching. “I had a great working experience in South Carolina, but I am so elated to be working at CMS. “I really appreciate the administrators, the district and my co-workers for enhancing my professional growth in Arizona,” she said. One of the “new” teachers at CMS is a familiar face to many. Kathleen Pasierb, the seventh grade science teacher, had worked for the district for many years. In total she has worked at CMS for 13 years as well as being a science teacher in Santa Cruz County for 21 years. Ms. Pasierb is passionate about many issues. Giving her students a quality and well-rounded science education is the most impor-
tant, but she’s also involved with her local community in matters of environmental awareness. As a board member for the Friends of Sonoita Creek, she is able to share her viewpoints and knowledge to help protect the local environment so that future generations can enjoy the richness and vastness nature offers. “Another way I contribute to helping the environment is volunteering for the Hummingbird Network. This is where I help “band” (hummingbirds are given a band with special codes on one of their legs in order to better track their migration patterns) the hummingbirds to see how environmental changes are affecting them.” Ms. Pasierb is also active in a restoration committee that helps to propagate and plant native nectar plants in an effort to restore the natural habitat of Santa Cruz County. Ernie Gutierrez, the new life skills teacher, has made a positive impact on his students in the short time he has been at CMS. One of the more popular projects he began was having a vegetable garden near his classroom. The students
Helping students are these new teachers: From left, Shweta Dubey, Eva Schnitzler, Rebecca Cerrillo, Patricia LaChance and Kathleen Pasierb with Ernie Gutierrez at rear. planted seeds for corn, peppers, pumpkin, and tomatoes. The students were in charge of watering and taking care of the garden with many of the plants growing and producing
flowers. Unfortunately, recent cold weather did some damage. That will not deter the students. When the weather gets better next Spring, they will try again.