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
Interim 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.

Helen Nance
Assistant Principal/TOSA
P: (623) 707-1100
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Biography
About Helen Nance
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Luz Vazquez
TOSA
P: (623) 707-1100
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Biography
About Luz Vazquez
Education
BA Early Childhood Education - Ottawa University
Masters of Education in Educational Administration - Grand Canyon University - 2023
Experience
I started my teaching career at Fowler Elementary in the Fowler Elementary School District. I started as a part-time preschool teacher. Once I completed my BA in early childhood education, I began teaching kindergarten at Fowler Elementary. I taught kindergarten for three years before moving to Sunridge Elementary, which is also in the Fowler School District. I taught third grade for two years. I decided to move to first grade and remained a first grade teacher for the next five years. I decided to pursue my MA in educational administration and got transferred to Santa Maria Middle School, which is also in the Fowler Elementary School District.
Why I Teach
I teach because I want to contribute to my community by serving as an educator, learner, leader, and student/family advocate. I believe that every student has the ability to succeed academically and socially if given the opportunity to do so, along with the proper tools, caring teachers, and a safe environment to do so. Teachers can be a positive influence in every student’s lives and create lifelong learners.
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.

Maria Carroll
Attendance Clerk
P: (623) 707-1052
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Biography
About Maria Carroll
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Maria Contreras
RTC Monitor
P: (623) 707-1100
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Biography
About Maria Contreras
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Dafney Russell
Secretary
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Biography
About Dafney Russell
Education
Experience
Why I Teach
Sixth Grade

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.

Edward Caro
Social Studies
P: (623) 707-7183
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Biography
About Edward Caro
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Ismael Gonzales
Math
P: (623) 707-1080
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Biography
About Ismael Gonzales
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Jennifer Hodges
Math
P: (623) 707-1129
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Biography
About Jennifer Hodges
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Janice Irby
Science
P: (623) 707-1131
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Biography
About Janice Irby
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Kamila Jelani
Social Studies
P: (623) 707-1128
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Biography
About Kamila Jelani
Education
Experience
Why I Teach
Seventh Grade

Jerry Borunda
Language Arts
P: (623) 707-1068
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Biography
About Jerry Borunda
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Juan Jimenez
Math
P: (623) 707-1130
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Biography
About Juan Jimenez
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Nicole Orton
Language Arts
P: (623) 707-1078
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Biography
About Nicole Orton
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

William Van Liew
Social Studies
P: (623) 707-1091
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Biography
About William Van Liew
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

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.

Caleb Willow
Science
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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.
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.

Tristan Hutcheson
Math
P: (623) 707-1074
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Biography
About Tristan Hutcheson
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Nailah Robinson-Goss
ELA
P: (623) 707-1071
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Biography
About Nailah Robinson-Goss
Education
AA in Human Services, BS in Psychology, EdM in Secondary Education
Experience
Substitute teaching for five years
Third year teaching in the Fowler Elementary School District
Second year teaching at SMMS
Why I Teach
I love teaching because I like the light that sparks in the students' eyes when they finally get what I have been trying to teach them. I have loved English language arts since I was in elementary school. My mother taught me how to read and write before I entered Pre-K, and I have been in love with it ever since. I want to share that love of reading and writing with the students.

Donald Seago
Language Arts
P: (623) 707-1072
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Biography
About Donald Seago
Education
MEd Secondary Education - English Language Arts
Experience
Why I Teach

Bill Stewart
Social Studies
P: (623) 707-1075
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Biography
About Bill Stewart
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Jaime Tres
Science
P: (623) 707-1077
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Biography
About Jaime Tres
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Karen Yanez
Math
P: (623) 707-1064
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Biography
About Karen Yanez
Education
Experience
Why I Teach
Educational Resource Teachers

Lindsey Comandini
Reading Interventionist
P: (623) 707-1068
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Biography
About Lindsey Comandini
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Dolores Perea
ELD
P: (623) 707-1094
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Biography
About Dolores Perea
Education
Experience
Why I Teach
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.

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.

Victoria Hernandez
Media Center
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Biography
About Victoria Hernandez
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Lisa Padilla
Art Teacher
P: (623) 707-1076
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Biography
About Lisa Padilla
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Xavier Yanez
Band
P: (623) 707-1096
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Biography
About Xavier Yanez
Education
Experience
Why I Teach
Special Education

Nicole Bourgeois-Horne
Self-Contained
P: (623) 707-1121
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Biography
About Nicole Bourgeois-Horne
Education
Experience
Why I Teach

Ashley Rain
Self-Contained
P: (623) 707-1128
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Biography
About Ashley Rain
Education
BSIS with a concentration in Special Education – Stephen F. Austin State University; MEd in Elementary Education - Stephen F. Austin State University
Experience
I have been an educator for over a decade. As an educator who loves to travel, I have taught in different states as well as internationally.
Why I Teach
I teach because it’s fun! Every day is a new adventure! My students and I help one another to learn and grow. I believe that every person is an expert in something and has a gift to share with the world. As an educator, I feel it is my duty to help my students become the best version of themselves.

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