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Santa Maria Middle School
Attitude + Attendance + Achievement = Success
STEM Club students in a classroom pose for the camera from their desks

SMMS Staff

At Santa Maria Middle School, our caring, compassionate, highly qualified teachers and our experienced support staff are committed to providing an outstanding middle school experience for your child and to helping our students achieve to the best of their ability.

Administration

Amelia Sanchez
Principal
P: (623) 707-1100
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Biography

About Amelia Sanchez

Education

BS Elementary Education, Grand Canyon University

Experience

Ten years in education. I taught sixth grade ELA for four years and have worked with middle school students for nine years.

Why I Teach

This is what I love to do. This is my passion. I enjoy building and establishing positive relationships with our students and guiding them to achieve their goals.

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Donald McClintock
Assistant Principal
P: (623) 707-1100
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Biography

About Donald McClintock

Education


Experience


Why I Teach


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Jennifer Hodges
Counselor
P: (623) 707-1129
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Biography

About Jennifer Hodges

Education

Bachelor of Science in Middle Childhood - Early Adolescent Education with a mathematics minor from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. Master of Science in Educational Psychology from University of Wisconsin - Madison. 

Experience

I have experience with teaching 4th grade as well as 6th–8th math and 6th grade ELA. I have taught 6th grade math at SMMS since moving to Arizona.

Why I Teach

I teach because I believe in the importance of quality education. I believe all students deserve the right to have a quality education that affords them the opportunity to do whatever they want to do once they enter society after school. I teach because I want to help students find what they are passionate about and help them in their process to do what they want to do post school.
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Office Staff

Wanda Bishop
Social Worker
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Biography

About Wanda Bishop

Education

BS in Human Development & Family Studies - University of Alabama (2006)

Master of Social Work - University of Alabama (2009)

Experience

I hail from the great state of Alabama. (Roll Tide!) I moved to Phoenix in 2017 as an empty nester ready to explore the next chapter of my life.

Upon my initial arrival to AZ, I served as a long-term substitute and later a full-time teacher for kindergarten and second, fourth, and fifth grade. The 2022–2023 school year marked my second year serving as a school social worker.

I spent most of my professional career (12 years) working in student affairs at the University of Alabama, where I served in various capacities—the most relevant position was a student care specialist providing crisis intervention for students and their families.

Why I Teach

I believe that every child has the capacity to blossom into wonderful individuals in spite of past traumas if equipped with the right tools early on. My goal is to disrupt the discourse one student at a time with hopes of building a brighter and better tomorrow for us all.

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Maria Carroll
Attendance Clerk
P: (623) 707-1052
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Biography

About Maria Carroll

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Maria Contreras
RTC Monitor
P: (623) 707-1100
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Biography

About Maria Contreras

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Dafney Russell
Secretary
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Biography

About Dafney Russell

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Sixth Grade

Eduardo Alvizo
Math
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Biography

About Eduardo Alvizo

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Lory Banuelos
Language Arts
P: (623) 707-1126
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Biography

About Lory Banuelos

Education

BS in Psychology - GCU, Secondary Education - GCU

Experience

The 2022–2023 school year marked my third year teaching, though my ninth year overall in Santa Maria.

Why I Teach

I knew I wanted to work with kids but never knew what route my life would take. I have been working at Santa Maria for many years before I saw myself in a teaching position. I love to read and want to nurture and encourage that with my students. I also want to create a space of safety and creativity for the kids and a place where I can encourage them to be themselves.

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Edward Caro
Social Studies
P: (623) 707-7183
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Biography

About Edward Caro

Education

BA Education - University of Arizona

Experience

10 years, nine with FESD

Why I Teach

I teach because I care about the students in our community. I want to inspire and give our students hope in my classroom. I want our students to learn that education is the key to improving the possibilities for the future. As the world becomes smaller through technology, I feel that it's important for the younger generation to become familiar with the world around them. I would like students to realize that the world, albeit different in many parts, is full of wonder and generosity that should be discovered with an open mind and heart.
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Ismael Gonzales
Math
P: (623) 707-1080
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Biography

About Ismael Gonzales

Education

MA Teaching

Experience

10+ Years

Why I Teach

I teach so that students will not need me. My ultimate goal is to create self motivated and lifelong learners. I want my students to use all the resources and tools available to them and have the awareness to know what they do not know and learn it. Gone should be the days when the student thinks that the teacher is the only way to learn but one of many.
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Janice Irby
Science
P: (623) 707-1131
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Biography

About Janice Irby

Education

MA Elementary Education

Experience

27 years teaching six-grade science

Why I Teach

Children today are living in a world of new and ever changing possibilities. I teach so I can help kids develop into adults who not only function and contribute but who thrive and lead the next generation. The influences children have are not always conducive and supportive of education. Making sure school is a fun, safe, and positive experience frees up young minds to wonder and discover the mysteries of life, which helps them grow and learn. I teach because I enjoy being with young people and helping them find the wonder in our world.
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Kamila Jelani
Social Studies
P: (623) 707-1128
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Biography

About Kamila Jelani

Education

BA History, MEd Secondary Education

Experience

I have experience in teaching eighth grade and 11th grade in high school. I student taught at Granada East Elementary School.

Why I Teach

I teach social studies because I want to help the next generation become culturally aware citizens. I care about our students and want to create a positive space for them to feel safe and secure while at school. I want to teach our students to be mindful and aware of how their actions influence and impact others.
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Seventh Grade

Isaiah Casillas
Math
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Biography

About Isaiah Casillas

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Walter Isaacs
Science
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Biography

About Walter Isaacs

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Jason Kibsey
Science
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Biography

About Jason Kibsey

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Nicole Orton
Language Arts
P: (623) 707-1078
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Biography

About Nicole Orton

Education

BA Elementary Education

Experience

10 years in seventh grade at SMMS

Why I Teach

I choose to teach because as a child I struggled in elementary school, and I had a few teachers who worked with me by going above and beyond their job title to assist me. I feel like I owe it to the future to teach my students in a way those teachers taught me because their patience allowed me to become a successful student.
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William Van Liew
Social Studies
P: (623) 707-1091
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Biography

About William Van Liew

Education

BS Communications - Grand Canyon University, MEd Elementary Education - Grand Canyon University

Experience

Two years - Rancho Solano Prep (third grade), Two years - Camelback Academy (third–fifth grade), Eight years - SMMS (seventh grade)

Why I Teach

My love for teaching began at a very young age due to being the oldest of six children. I started out teaching my younger siblings about sports and life. By the age of sixteen, I was coaching them in organized sports, mostly soccer, baseball, and wrestling. When my siblings grew up, I stopped coaching and was working in the restaurant business. One night, a gentleman approached me and told me I had coached his son in baseball and he had been looking for me to tell me how grateful he was for the positive impact I had on his son. As I watched him walk away, I realized what I needed to do, and the next day I enrolled in the Master of Education program at Grand Canyon University.
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Theresa Webber
Math
P: (623) 707-1065
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Biography

About Theresa Webber

Education

BS Elementary Education - Emphasis in Mathematics - Grand Canyon University

Experience

The fall of 2020 began my third year as a classroom teacher after two years as a substitute. During school, I worked for four years as an educational assistant in grades K through 8. Prior to that, I spent many years volunteering for local elementary schools that my nieces and nephew attended.

Why I Teach

I teach because I believe all children deserve a quality education. I had a couple of incredible teachers during my education whose patience and understanding have had an effect on my life to this day. I hope to be that for my students as well.

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Eighth Grade

Angelica Boladas
Science
P: (623) 707-1092
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Biography

About Angelica Boladas

Education

BS Elementary Education, Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan

Experience

I have been teaching for 12 years. 2022–2023 is my second year of teaching at SMMS.

Why I Teach

I teach because it brings joy to know that others learn from me. It gives a sense of fulfillment when they apply in real life the knowledge they acquired in school. With that, it reminds me of the crucial role that teachers play in society as persons responsible for molding the minds of learners to create a better world as they grow. For me, nothing beats the noble feeling of having changed someone positively and helped them reach their potential one day at a time. 

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Tristan Hutcheson
Math
P: (623) 707-1074
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Biography

About Tristan Hutcheson

Education

BA Elementary Education - Arizona State University

Experience

I started my teaching career as an aide on the playground. I then moved into many different roles around the school I worked at, from running the computer lab to working in the classroom. After graduating college, I started as a sixth grade teacher for one year. I then came to Santa Maria Middle School where I taught seventh grade math for seven years. I've most recently been teaching eighth grade math for and Digital Media. I love doing new things and taking on new challenges every year.

Why I Teach

Teaching always presents me with something new to learn or master. I'm always finding ways to improve as a teacher and new challenges to take on. Every year is a different experience with its own rewards and its own challenges.
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Bill Stewart
Social Studies
P: (623) 707-1075
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Biography

About Bill Stewart

Education

BS Administration, MA Education, MA Ed Administration

Experience

I have over two decades of experience molding young minds at Santa Maria. I also taught Marines, life skills, and military skills for over a decade while in the Marine Corps.

Why I Teach

I teach because, as far as I am concerned, the most valuable asset in the world is the mind of a child. I love being able to help my students learn right from wrong. Also, teaching them to evaluate the past as well as current facts to make sound decisions (true critical thinking) is the greatest feeling in the world.
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Jaime Tres
Science
P: (623) 707-1077
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Biography

About Jaime Tres

Education

Master's degree in science at California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, California.
Master's thesis: breeding biology of the Gila orcutti fish of the Santa Clara River in California.
Master's degree in education at Framingham State College in Massachusetts.

Experience

22 years teaching middle school science, high school biology, and high school chemistry.
University teaching experience teaching general biology, zoology, geobiology, forensics entomology (all currently teaching online or in person).

Why I Teach

When I was an undergraduate, I started as a student aide for a professor at the university I was studying at, and he got me in charge of lab preps and later lab teachings. I discovered that I loved teaching and have continued doing so to this day. Currently, I am a full professor at a university where I teach courses mainly online and in summer in person. I believe all students can learn and my role as a teacher is to help students learn what they need to learn.
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Caleb Willow
ELA
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Biography

About Caleb Willow

Education

Bachelor of English - ASU

Experience

Began teaching in 2019
Certified Yoga Instructor, 2012

Why I Teach

Caleb Willow comes from a long line of educators and has been with Santa Maria since 2019 (pre-pandemic). He believes that all his students are valuable for the continued success of our society. A firm believer in peer-to-peer mediation, he manages his classroom by holding students accountable for their actions and expects that their conflicts with each other can be resolved if they learn how to communicate, apologize, and work together for future successes. Mr. Willow has managed small businesses before entering the education field, and he feels that his real-world experiences and his interactions with people from all walks of life has prepared him for working with the young adults in his classroom. He is excited to be teaching tomorrow's future.

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Karen Yanez
Math
P: (623) 707-1064
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Biography

About Karen Yanez

Education

BA - Arizona State University

Experience

Four years teaching, three years at SMMS

Why I Teach

I choose to teach to try to make a difference for younger generations in mathematics and try to help them gain the math skills they need in life.
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Educational Resource Teachers

Lindsey Comandini
Reading Interventionist
P: (623) 707-1068
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Biography

About Lindsey Comandini

Education

BA English Education - University of Arizona, MA Curriculum & Instruction - Arizona State University

Experience

21 years teaching experience

Why I Teach

I teach to make a positive impact on young students' lives. I want to help young people find educational success as well as personal, later in life. I grew up in the Fowler Elementary School District, attending both Sunridge and Fowler, so I definitely wanted to teach in this district and make a difference.
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Juan Jimenez
Math Interventionist
P: (623) 707-1130
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Biography

About Juan Jimenez

Education

MA Special Education

Experience

Four years

Why I Teach

My goal in teaching is to lead our students into a more academic-friendly mindset. I enjoy sharing my subject knowledge and continuing the flow of information to the next generation. It's important it instill in our students the idea that learning is a cycle that repeats and must be continued.
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Helen Nance
Librarian
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Biography

About Helen Nance

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Cynthia Schmidt
Reading Instructional Assistant
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Biography

About Cynthia Schmidt

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Exploratory

Renee Contreras
PE
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Biography

About Renee Contreras

Education

Texas A&M International University

Experience

Three years

Why I Teach

I teach because I want to positively impact students' lives by helping them reach their fullest potential both inside and outside of the classroom. Since high school, I knew I wanted to be a PE teacher because of my passion for sports, and I wanted to be able to help shape the lives of others just like many of my past teachers have done for me.   

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Jay Harrison
PE
P: (623) 707-1099
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Biography

About Jay Harrison

Education

MPE in Physical Education - Arizona State University
BA in Marketing with Minors in Portuguese and Economics - Utah State University

Experience

10 years

Why I Teach

Since I was a child, I loved going outside and playing sports with family and friends. That passion grew in high school and college by taking all the PE/weightlifting classes I could take and participating in competitive sports for the following reasons: for enjoyment, to get in shape, and to find respite from the difficulties of life, school, and work. Now that I am an educator, I want to help my students to understand and excel by participating in daily physical activity.

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Victoria Hernandez
Media Center
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Biography

About Victoria Hernandez

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Lisa Padilla
Art Teacher
P: (623) 707-1076
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Biography

About Lisa Padilla

Education

BA Education, MS Education, National Board Certified Teacher

Experience

18 years

Why I Teach

When my son was born with special needs, I felt like I needed a career change. I wanted a profession where I was making a difference in the world. I feel that teaching is the most important job anyone can have. My hope is that I can positively impact every student that comes through my room.
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Donald Seago
Media Technology
P: (623) 707-1072
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Biography

About Donald Seago

Education

BA Communications, Arizona State University
MEd Secondary Education - English Language Arts

Experience

This is my fifth year teaching.

Why I Teach

Teaching came to me later in life, after time in the private sector. It became obvious that I would be happier working with students and preparing them for the future rather than helping the already rich accumulate more wealth. I am currently teaching 8th grade English language arts where I get to watch as students grow in their writing and be exposed to new ideas through reading. I also teach digital media which teaches cross-curricular skills for modern life and engages students in something they are interested in.
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Xavier Yanez
Band
P: (623) 707-1096
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Biography

About Xavier Yanez

Education

BA Music Education

Experience

20 years

Why I Teach

I teach because I care about children and because I want the world to be a better place. I teach to inspire, encourage, and motivate through music. It may be a cliché, but it's at the heart of why so many music educators brave the negative press—to make a difference.
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Special Education

Emma Banuelos
Instructional Assistant
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Biography

About Emma Banuelos

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Nicole Bourgeois-Horne
Self-Contained
P: (623) 707-1121
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Biography

About Nicole Bourgeois-Horne

Education

BA Special Education, EdM Instructional Technology, National Board Certified in Exceptional Needs

Experience

29 years

Why I Teach

I teach because I understand the importance of an education, and I understand that education comes in all forms. A classroom that addresses all student needs is a successful teaching strategy and a win-win scenario for our learners. I know that student achievement has to include not only the school but the community as whole, and I enjoy being a part of the solution that includes education.
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John Conti
Self-Contained
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Biography

About John Conti

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Mary Jimenez
Instructional Assistant
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Biography

About Mary Jimenez

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Barbara Miller
Instructional Assistant
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Biography

About Barbara Miller

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Steffany Salguero Chacon
Instructional Assistant
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Biography

About Steffany Salguero Chacon

Education

Experience

Why I Teach

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Lindsey Sattler
Resource
P: (623) 707-1127
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Biography

About Lindsey Sattler

Education

Certificate of Education and Certificate of Special Education - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Experience

I moved to Phoenix after I graduated college and have been teaching at Santa Maria ever since.

Why I Teach

I teach because I love to help students discover their own potential. As a special education teacher, I get to help my students realize they are more than their disability and can feel good about themselves. There is nothing better than having students realize they can succeed more than they ever thought possible.
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Custodial Staff

Jerry Moreno
Head Custodian
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Adela Gonzalez
Custodian
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Lourdes Nieto
Custodian
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Otoniel Salguero
Custodian
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