GATE Pull-Out Program
We see that gifted students have special educational needs that we meet while educating the whole child through a variety of services and options.
Pamela Brown
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I graduated from the UofA in 2007 with my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and from ASU in 2019 with my Master's degree in Gifted Education. This is my 9th year teaching GATE pull-out classes and my 18th year teaching. When I'm not at school, I enjoy every moment I get to spend with my family and keeping up with my 6 year old son, Ryan! I love going to the movies with friends, evening walks, and doing puzzles. My favorite thing about summer is camping in Colorado and leaving our heat behind for a bit. Last I love going to Dutch Bros with Ryan and getting our morning drinks before school...yum!
Sites: McCorkle, Safford, Tolson, VeseyJosh Chuc
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This is my sixth year as a GATE Itinerant teacher. I originally learned about GATE through my mom who was also a former GATE Teacher!
I earned my bachelors degree from the University of Arizona and my masters from Northern Arizona University. I am bilingual and enjoy science. I also have a baby daughter that I love spending time with!
Mary Davis
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I graduated as a Music Major from the Uof A in 1987. Later I returned to school and received my post baccalaureate in Elementary Education K-8. I have been a GATE Itinerant Teacher for the past six years. I’ve taught General Music, Elementary grades 2nd-5th, and Middle School Language Arts, Math, and Art.. I have three children and my hobbies are hiking, yoga, reading, and traveling. I love Hawaii and have returned there many times.
Sites: Bonillas, Kellond, Dietz, Booth FickettGlenn Dobbin
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I have been teaching since 2009 and have been with the GATE Department since 2013. Before venturing into teaching, I did a lot of work with youth in other capacities, like social services.
I enjoy working for the GATE Department. I like the variety of lessons. In my free time, I'm an active dad running my son and daughter to various sports practices.
Kelly Finfrock
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I graduated from Prescott College with my BA in Elementary Education in 2004. I've worked as a classroom teacher in elementary for over 10 years and after receiving my Gifted and Talented Endorsement began working at TUSD in 2020. I love being a GATE Teacher and getting to work with so many different classes, grades, and students. When I'm not teaching or taking classes I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and photography.
Site: FruchthendlerBrigette Gallus
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I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and went back to school to get my Masters in Educational Technology. This is my 18th year working in TUSD. I have taught grades K-6 at different sites. This is also my 9th year working as a GATE Itinerant Teacher. I enjoy spending time with my two golden retrievers, hiking, traveling, watching the Green Bay Packers win and going to Zumba classes.
Sites: Robins, Ochoa, Manzo, Johnson, LawrenceCristina Hanna
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Hello, my name is Isabel C. Hanna! I have been teaching for 19 years in TUSD and I still love what I do. I have taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade but this is my first-year teaching in the GATE itinerant program. I graduated with honors from the University of El Paso Texas with my bachelor’s in education. I grew up in El Paso, Texas but I have been in Tucson for a while now. In my free time I love gardening, baking, cooking, going on walks, and spending time with family and friends. I am excited for this new journey within the GATE department since I can provide more interactive lessons with students in a space where they can share all of their ideas!
Sites: Miller, Oyama, Holladay, Grijalva, WhiteSusan Kelly
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I have been teaching students in grades K – 8 for 35 years! Teaching GATE is a fantastic job for me, because it is challenging, and I am always learning something new. I love to investigate ideas, spend time outdoors gardening, or hiking, play with my dogs, and ride horses. I have 2 amazing daughters, 22 and 26, who never cease to amaze me. I am energized curiosity and inventiveness of my students and excited about our sessions together.
Sites: Van Buskirk, Banks, Davidson, Maldonado, MaxwellElias Kotzambasis
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This is my 21st year teaching in TUSD, 2nd year as GATE Itinerant. I have grown up/old here in Tucson as I have been here for over 50 years. I have 2 grown children that are married, and I am eagerly awaiting grandchildren!!
Sites: Henry, Miles, Ford, Marshall
Emily Lambert
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I graduated from the University of Arizona in 1998 with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. I got my Master's degree in Early Childhood Education and a Reading Endorsement from Northern Arizona University in 2002. I began with my GATE Endorsement at Erickson Elementary as a Cluster Model teacher. In 2013 I got my National Board Certification as an Early Childhood Generalist. In 2023 I completed my Maintenance of Certification. I have been in the GATE Department as a Pull-Out teacher for the last ten years. I spend a lot of time outside of school attending sporting events and spending time with family.
Sites: Collier, Myers Ganoung, Roberts-Naylor, SewellJennifer Lee-Titus
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I was born and raised in Tucson and received my B.A. in Political Science and Post Baccalaureate in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona. I am a National Board certified educator. I have been teaching with TUSD for over 25 years in K-2 and have been working with GATE for 5 years now.
I’m a mother to two daughters who both were in GATE and I now have a granddaughter. I love to travel as much as possible and spend my time reading about new places to travel.
Always looking forward to new experiences!
Sites: Borton, Blenman, Mission ViewMiriam Mack
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I have a bachelor’s of anthropology from UA, am trained as a field archaeologist, and have a master’s degree in geosciences from the UA. I also have a master’s degree in teaching (elementary) from SUNY Cortland. As you can see I have a lot of interests!
I have been an educator for over 18 years. I taught high school sciences, 1st and 5th grades, and middle school ELA and social studies. I was a GATE teacher at Mansfeld Magnet Middle School for four years, and this is my third year in the GATE itinerant program. I love the genuine thirst for knowledge, creativity, and curiosity that our GATE students display in the classroom!
Aside from teaching, I enjoy knitting, roller skating, doing the NYT Spelling Bee, hanging out with my dogs, Peaches and Sophie, and traveling. My last big trip was to the Big Island in Hawaii, and I was thrilled to see lava glowing in the crater of Kilauea before the sun came up.
Sites: Sam Hughes, Robison, Hudlow.Daisy Michel
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¡Hola! I’m Mrs. Michel or Ms. Daisy. It's my third year as a GATE itinerant teacher. I really enjoy working with our GATE students and making instruction interactive, thoughtful, and engaging. I also worked at Hollinger in 1st-3rd grade Dual Language Self-Contained GATE classes. I earned my bachelor's degree in Bilingual Elementary Education and a Master’s in Gifted Education from the University of Arizona. I’ve been happily committed to serving TUSD’s community of gifted and talented students for many years.
I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing board games, and being outdoors; there is nothing like a nature walk to feel refreshed.
Myrna Ramirez
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I’ve been a teacher for many years and I still enjoy my career very much. I graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Arizona. I was born in San Diego, CA but moved to AZ when I was an infant….so I am almost native. š I’ve been with the TUSD GATE Dept for many years.
On my free time I enjoy cooking, home projects, spending time with family and friends. Because of our beautiful weather, I enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, walking and biking.
Missy Root
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I graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in Family Studies and Education. I began my teaching career with Mesa Public Schools and while teaching, I earned my Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. Over the past 25 years, I have taught all ages- from kindergarten to college! I'm thrilled to be part of the GATE team and look forward to working with young children again.
When I'm not teaching, I enjoy reading, playing tennis, and hiking with my husband and three kids.
Cassandra Valenzuela
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I was born and raised in Tucson, received my Bilingual Elementary Education B.A. at University of Arizona, and Masters in School Management at Alcala de Henares University, Spain. I've taught 2nd grade and also 1st/2nd Dual Language. I'm happy to start my 6th year teaching as a GATE itinerant teacher. I adore working with students, motivating them to grow, and helping them connect with the world around them.
I enjoy quality time with family and friends, reading, painting/drawling, yoga, running, weight lifting, hiking, cooking yummy food, and monsoon season.
Garrett Young
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I was born and raised in San Diego, California. I received my B. S in Geography at Northern Arizona University; earned my post-baccalaureate in Elementary Education at University of Arizona; and completed my Masters in Educational Leadership at N.A.U. Tucson.
I have been teaching in the TUSD Gifted and Talented Program for 23 years - and love it! When not engaged in changing the world through teaching GATE students, I enjoy playing guitar, traveling and gardening.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns:
- GATE Department
- [email protected]
- (520)225-3605
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