Ms. Sawyer serves as the primary administrator for the Champion Schools South Mountain Campus.Growing up in the Bay Area, she began swimming competitively at the age of ten and continued through high school. Later, when she moved to Salt Lake City she also competed on the skiing team.She graduated from Antioch College and earned her Masters Degree at John F. Kennedy University in Clinical Psychology. She has completed Executive Education courses at the Harvard School of Government and School of Education.
Junior Taylor
Position: Athletic Director
Experience: 4 Years
In just a few short years the Stinger Athletics Program has prospered to greatness under Coach Taylor's direction. As the primary administrator next to Ms. Sawyer, Coach also acts as Vice Principal.
Stephanie Ruiz
Birth Place: Phoenix, AZ
Position: Kinder
Mrs. Ruiz returns for her 8th year teaching kindergarten. She trained at Reed Montessori in preschool for three years and also has a degree in Early Childhood Education at Ottawa University. Her sport background includes softball but she will be coaching soccer for the first time next season at Champion Schools.
Alexa Pacheco
Birth Place: Salem, OR
Position: Kinder
Experience: R
Ms. Pacheco begins her first year at Champion Schools as the Kindergarten counterpart to veteran teacher, Ms. Ruiz. She was co-teaching during the summer sessions to get to know her students. Her strong sport background included experience as a member of the cross country and track team. In high school she played varsity soccer and was also a captain of her cheer squad. Ms. Pacheco will be the new Varsity Cheer coach this fall.
Anita Jones
Birth Place: Cleveland, OH
Position: 1st Grade
Experience: 4 Years
Ms. Jones begins her 4th year from a new classroom at the South Mountain Campus, like Ms. Z. Her energy and passion for teaching young students and helping them express themselves are her finest traits. Ms. Jones plans to, again, take on double coaching duties this year helping with Girls on the Run and K-2nd soccer where she hopes to bring her team back to the championship game.
Mary Fobbs
Birth place: San Francisco, CA
Position: 1st Grade
Experience: R
Mary, a recent graduate from the Arizona State, Education program began substitute teaching at Champion Schools at the end of the 2009-2010 school year. She played soccer in elementary and middle school. She loves working with kids and she's excited to join the Champion Schools team. She will be teaching 1st graders at the South Mountain Campus for the 2010-2011 school year.
Emily Zaplatosch
Birth Place: Scottsdale, AZ
Position: 2nd Grade
Experience: 2 Years
After a tremendously successfuly first year at Champion Schools, Ms. Z is the only returning 2nd grade teacher. Ms. Z will attempt to defend her titles in JV soccer and kickball from last year while also coaching Varsity softball. She has collegiate level softball experience from her time as a UCLA bruin where she attained her Bachelors degree. She went on to fulfill her teaching creditial at Cal State Long Beach.
Mallory Miller
Birth Place: Tucson, AZ
Position: 2nd Grade
Experience: R
Ms. Miller is one of 3 new teachers now working out of the South Mountain Campus this year. She is happy to be apart of the team and will join Ms. Z in 2nd Grade. Mallory played soccer for the University of Arizona and was a member of the 2004 Pac-10 Champion Wildcat team. She will bring her 9 years of coaching experience to the Stingers this year.
Jennie Johnson
Birth Place: Milwaukee, WI
Position: 3rd Grade
Experience: 8 Years
Ms. Johnson returns to 3rd grade teaching this fall after a year teaching Middle School Reading. Her prowess as a tutor for all age-levels makes her special.
Abraham Gonzales
Birth Place: Yuma, AZ
Position: 4th Grade
Experience: 2 Years
Mr. Gonzalez returns for his second year after a debut that included taking the 2010 Olympic Day Class crown. He is also a member of the Champion Schools leadership team.
Nichole Jimenez
Birth Place: Phoenix, AZ
Position: 4th Grade
Experience: 4 Years
Ms. 'J' returns to fourth grade for her fourth year on the Champion Schools' staff. Last year she coached JV soccer and plans to assume those duties again in 2010-2011. She also has several years of swimming and cheerleading experience.
Heather Ray
Birth Place: Groton, CT
Position: 5th Grade
Experience: 3 Years
Ms. Ray returns to teaching reading and writing skills, this year to the Champion Schools' fifth graders. She graduated from Arizona State University receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a specialization in Humanities and Educational Technology. She will also resume her soccer coaching duties for the JV Stinger league.
Janelle Jacka
Birth Place: Seattle, WA
Position: 5th Grade
Experience: R
Another first year teacher, Ms. Jacka, graduated from the University of Portland in Oregon with a double major in Political Science and Spanish with a minor in Economics. She also played soccer there where her team made it to the NCAA Quarter Finals four years in a row! Needless to say, Ms. Jacka will be apart of the Stinger Soccer coaching staff this fall. She will be teaching the Champion Schools' fifth graders math and science this year.
Mark Gustaveson
Birth Place: Page, AZ
Position: 6th Grade
Experience: 2 Years
Coach Gus' was pulled up into action midway through the 2009-2010 season for Middle School Math and Science and put together quite a performance that included the first school wide Science Fair. A former Varsity basketball athlete, Gus' also coaches the Lady Stinger Varsity basketball squad.
Helena Habes
Birth Place: Portland, OR
Position: 7th Grade
Experience: R
Ms. Habes, a recent graduate from the University of Washington, comes to us with background in sports journalism. Over these next two years, Ms. Habes will get her masters from the Mary Lou Fulton Teacher's College at Arizona State University. Ms. Habes' prior knowledge of sports reporting has qualifed her to lead Champion Schools first ever Sports Media Club. Ms. Habes will extend the learning of language arts outside the class as students become editorial news writers and reporters for their peers
Thurmond Moore
Birth Place: Clark AFB, Phillipines
Position: 8th Grade
Experience: 2 Years
Coach Moore joined the Stinger Staff midway through the 2010 year as the Middle School Social Studies and Workout instructor and is returning this fall to resume similar duties. His workout responsiblities have been replaced by the new supplement to social studies and current events; Character Building. Coach Moore has an extensive background in coaching football, from the defensive side of the ball in particular. In addition to stints in the NCAA, Europe, UFL and NFL, Thurmond served as the college placement and advisement counselor for the Orange Lutheran Lancers.
Marissa Gutierrez
Birth Place: Yuma, AZ
Position: Office
Experience: R
Marissa began assisting Champion Schools at the end of the 2009-10 school year in the office. She is currently a sophomore at the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism majoring in communications. She loves art, writing and working with kids which is why she will also be helping in After Care at the North Campus in addition to anchoring Student Services there.
Barry Hernon
Birth Place: Warren, OH
Position: Bus and Maintenance
Experience: 2 Years
Barry is well known around the Champion community as the Bus Driver but he is also the prime force behind campus maintenance. If something needs to be built or painted or cleaned, Barry is the man. He attended Kent State University and was also a soldier of the United States Army for 3 years. His golf expertise can be attributed to 4 years of playing professionally.
Garrett Holland
Birth Place: Denver, CO
Position: Coach
Experience: 2 Years
In just his first year on board, Coach G was involved with JV and Varsity Stinger Flag Football, Basketball and Track and Field. In addition to assiting after-school teams he is the lead instructor for 3rd-8th grade workouts. Coach G came to Champion Schools by way of Athletes' Performance Institute in Arizona where he was a Performance Intern. 'G', played football and ran track in college, doing sprints and the decathalon.
Theresa Ortega
Birth Place: Santa Ana, CA
Position: After Care Coodinator
Experience: 2 Years
Ms. Theresa has been apart of the Champion Schools team for two years now. In addition to working with children in After Care last year, she also was involved with the first season of Girls on the Run and plans to coach and mentor the girls again this year. Ms. Theresa's daughter, Rachel, graduated in the 2010 class of Champion Schools' 8th Graders.
Jennifer Redmond
Birth Place: Dayton, OH
Position: Special Education
Experience: 3 Years
Mr. Redmond is the head of Special Education and Individualized Learning at Champion Schools. She has an ESL endorsement for grades K-8 and a Special Education certification for grades K-12. Her skills make her a very valuable asset to the education team. In addition to being a Girls Varsity Volleyball coach she has a strong background in soccer and played as a goalie for many years.
Key Advisors
Patrick McGee - Sports Agency Executive Vaughn Bryant - NFL, Player Development Coach Mo Streety - AZ Cardinals Trainer Kim Murphy - Speech & Language Services Joann McFee - Occupational Therapy Programs Heinfeld & Meech - Accountants Brett Backland - Auditors
