Pam Brown
 pamela.brown@tusd1.org
Sites: McCorkle, Oyama, Tolson, Vesey, and Robison
I graduated from the UofA in 2007 with my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and from ASU in 2019 with my Masters degree in Gifted Education. This is my 8th year teaching GATE pull-out classes and my 17th year teaching. When I’m not at school, I enjoy every moment I get to spend with my family and keeping up with my busy toddler! |
Josh Chuc
 joshua.chuc@tusd1.org
Site(s): Davis, Grijalva, and Warren
This is my fifth 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!
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Mary Davis
 mary.davis@tusd1.org
Sites: Bonillas, Kellond, and Booth Fickett
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 five years and have taught for 36 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.
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Glenn Dobbin
glenn.dobbin@tusd1.org
Site(s): Soleng Tom, Gale, and Ford
I have been teaching since 2009 and have 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.
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Kelly Finfrock
kelly.finfrock@tusd1.org
Site(s): Fruchthendler
I graduated from Prescott College with my BA in Elementary Education in 2004. I've worked as a classroom teacher in elementary for 11 years and received my Gifted and Talented Endorsement a few years ago. I am very excited to be starting my third year with TUSD as an Itinerant GATE Teacher. When I'm not teaching or taking classes, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and photography. I look forward to meeting you all and working with you, hopefully in person one day!
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Gina Hunter
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gina.hunter@tusd1.org
Site(s): Miller, Safford, Johnson, and Lawrence
I have been a teacher for over 18 years. My favorite topics to teach are Writing and Science. I graduated from the U of A with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. Later on, I graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language. My favorite thing to do is travel. I especially like visiting the ocean. I have visited 7 countries and more than 35 states in the USA. This is my third year working with the GATE department. What I enjoy most about this position is that I get to spend my days challenging students, as I present exciting STEAM lessons.
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Site(s): Lineweaver, Lynn Urquides and Drachman
I graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a Bachelor’s of Journalism and with an elementary education degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. After working in public relations for ten years and as a community volunteer for another ten years, I began my teaching career. I worked in the general education classroom for 8 years with students from kindergarten to fifth grade and then I began my specialization of gifted education. It has been a joy to teach gifted students for the last 9 years in both Dallas and Tucson. I love reading and set a personal goal of completing at least 100 books each year. I also enjoy gardening, decorating, entertaining and fashion. Traveling is a passion of mine too and have visited 9 countries and look forward to visiting more. History is also a love of mine and last summer I worked as a museum docent and an historical interpreter (tour guide) in Breckenridge, Colorado.
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Site(s): Van Buskirk, Banks, Davidson, Maldonado, and Maxwell
I have been teaching students in grades K – 8 for 32 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, 20 and 24, who never cease to amaze me. I am energized by working with our GATE students and excited about our sessions together.
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Sites: Collier, Dietz, Erickson, Myers Ganoung, and Sewell
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. I have been in the GATE Department as a Pull-Out teacher for the last nine years. I spend a lot of time outside of school attending sporting events.
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Site(s): Carrillo, Hollinger, and Roskruge,
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.
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Site(s): Sam Hughes, Howell, and Hudlow
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 17 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 second 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 dog, Peaches, 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.
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Sites: John B. White, and Sam Hughes
¡Hola! Mi nombre es Daisy Michel, I taught elementary Dual Language and self-contained GATE for over 26 years at Hollinger K-8. I received my bachelor's degree in Bilingual Elementary Education and a Master’s in Gifted Education from the University of Arizona. This is my first year as a GATE itinerant teacher. I enjoy making learning interactive and thoughtful for my students. It’s exciting and motivating to hear the children share their interesting ideas in class.
I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing board games, and being outdoors; there is nothing like a nature walk, it nurtures my soul!
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Site(s): Borton, Blenman, and Mission View
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’m currently working on achieving National Board status. I have been teaching with TUSD for over 25 years in K-2 and have been working with GATE for 4 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!
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Site(s): Borman, Whitmore, Cragin, and Cavett
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 20 years - and love it! When not engaged in changing the world through teaching GATE students, I enjoy playing guitar, travelling and gardening.
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Judith Moritz
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judith.moritz@tusd1.org
Site(s): Tucson Unified Virtual Academy
This is my ninth year with the GATE department. I have been with the district for thirty-one years mostly teaching middle school grades. I have my master's degree in educational leadership. As a parent and a grandparent, I realize the challenges of raising children in an ever-changing society. That is why I value the GATE program's emphasis on thinking strategies and habits of a scholar using a problem solving approach. I love working with students and seeing how they bring their enthusiasm and creativity with them to every lesson. I am blessed to be in a position where I can learn with your children and watch them develop their strengths and passions.
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Melissa Root
 Missy.Root@tusd1.org
Site(s): Henry, Fruchthendler, and Bloom
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. |
This is my 20th year teaching in TUSD, 1st 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!!
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