Murphy Elementary District

Teacher of the Year
Robert Walling
Amphitheater Public School District
Painted Sky Elementary
4th Grade Teacher/Technology Coach

Robert began teaching eight years ago at Painted Sky Elementary. During his time teaching, he has had the privilege of teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. In each of those years, Robert made technology integration into all subjects a necessary part of teaching.

As technology coach, Robert assists the teachers at his site integrate technology into all aspects of their classroom. With a goal of making Painted Sky the premiere technology elementary school of Amphitheater, he has helped train teacher to implement new technologies such as Smart Boards into their classroom routines. All the while, Robert never loses focus that his fourth graders are his primary concern and he teaches lessons that engage and challenge his students.

Robert received his BA in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona in 2000 and his M. Ed in Educational Technology from Northern Arizona University in 2006. He plans on achieving his National Board Certification next year.

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Technology Specialist of the Year
Cherie Stafford
Paradise Valley Unified School District
Technology Integration Facilitator

Cherie has been in the education field for 30 years. She has taught Special Education as well as grades 2-5. In addition to her classroom experience, she has been a Library Media Specialist and Computer teacher at the elementary level, as well as a school Site Technology Representative. She also has taught as an adjunct faculty member for Ottawa University Professional Education and Arizona State University Cohort Program. In addition, she is a technology instructor for the Arizona K-12 Center’s “Camp Plug and Play.” She has taught a full range of technology integrated professional development classes, including multimedia, handheld computers (PETC-certified), Microsoft Office applications, Apple/Mac applications, Internet resources, project-based learning, Web 2.0 and many others related to connecting technology standards to the curriculum.

Her passion is empowering teachers to engage and enrich students in dynamic educational experiences through technology. One example is the district handhelds in the classroom project known as REAL TIME (Realizing Enhanced Achievement for Learners with Technology Integration Maximizing Education). Additionally, she has been instrumental in successfully facilitating GenYes in 19 schools.

Member: ISTE and AzTEA Bachelor of Science, NAU; Masters in Education, NAU, 60+ additional credit hours

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Technology Coordinator of the Year
Gina Pinch
Maricopa Unified District

Gina worked in the financial services industry out of college - but transitioned into education when her children where very young. She taught for a short time and quickly learned her calling was in the "support" area joining the Technology Department in Kyrene School District - followed by the role of Director of Technology at Maricopa Unified School District.

Gina returned to school for a Master's in Education focusing on Adult Education and Online Learning and has been an online facilitator for ASSET (now IDEAL) since they began offering courses in 2001.

Gina is passionate about how technology can be utilized to assist both staff and students to master 21st century skills, particularly in the areas of communication and collaboration. A lifelong learner, Gina is always working to develop new skill sets through reading, networking and formal coursework. Having held roles as classified and certified staff and as an administrator within the K-12 environment, Gina understands the unique needs of each area and works to meet those needs.

Gina is married to her high school sweetheart Steve and they have a son currently at ASU and a daughter planning to enter NAU in the fall.

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Technology Support Person of the Year
Wayne Gritis
Vail School District
Empire High School
Site Technology Coordinator

Wayne Gritis began teaching 5th grade in 1987 at Vail Elementary School, which later became Old Vail Middle School. In 1990, Acacia Elementary school opened, and Wayne started teaching 3rd grade there, a grade he would teach for the next eleven years.

He even taught his two sons when they were in third grade. During his last two years at Acacia, while he was still teaching he was mentored by Steve Janesch, Acacia's site tech coordinator. Steve taught Wayne many of the tricks and methodology he uses today. When a site tech coordinator position opened at Old Vail Middle School in 2001, Wayne found a great opportunity to put into play his enjoyment at solving problems. Wayne stayed at OVMS for four years, learning many important lessons of what a site technology coordinator needs to know. When Empire High School was in the planning stages in 2005, Wayne saw a chance to put those lessons into practice in a new environment. That environment was not just a new school, but a new idea--a 1-to-1 laptop program without textbooks. Wayne has been the site technology coordinator since Empire opened in 2005. Wayne also has received much support and guidance throughout his site technology coordinator career from Matt Federoff, Vail's Technology Director.

A native Tucsonan, Wayne received a BA in elementary education from Arizona State University in 1985 and a MA in education from the University of Arizona in 1993. Wayne has seen his district grow from about 250 students in 1987 to over 9100 now and was recently honored for having been with the Vail School District for 20 years.

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Librarian of the Year
Beth Malapanes
Amphitheater Unified District

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Rookie of the Year
Allyson Fazio
Murphy Elementary School District #21 Jack L. Kuban Elementary School
Grade 2

Allyson Fazio began her teaching career in 2005 in a second grade classroom at Jack L. Kuban Elementary School in Phoenix, AZ. She had completed her student teaching at the school the previous year and fell in love with this diverse community of learners, including staff, students, and parents.

She firmly believes in delivering a rigorous curriculum to all students, and uses technology resources to make the curriculum accessible and comprehensible for all learners. Allyson teaches the standards-based content, but differentiates the delivery of her instruction to address the students’ various learning styles. She integrates technology resources such as United Streaming, Safari Montage and Smart Boards into her daily instructional activities to make her students’ learning experiences come alive!

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Administrator of the Year
Frank R. Garcia
Flagstaff Unified School District
South Beaver Magnet School
Principal

Frank Garcia began his teaching career in the Ray Unified District in Kearny, Arizona in 1988. The initial computers in his classrooms were Apple II-E’s. He then moved on to the White Mountain Apache Reservation and the Whiteriver Unified School District where he spent two years. Then, in 1993 he returned to his hometown of Flagstaff and accepted a job at South Beaver School teaching first grade which he taught for 6 years before moving into school counseling and finally into administration.

Mr. Garcia believes that students with solid foundational skill in technology will be at an advantage in tomorrow’s job market. The technology revolution will create a world in which our students will be able to achieve goals that are currently unimaginable.

Mr. Garcia holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Northern Arizona University and will soon complete his Superintendent’s Certificate. He is active at both the local and state levels having been appointed by Governor Napolitano to the Parent’s Commission for Drug Abuse Education and Prevention. He is also a member of the Arizona State Department of Education’s Certification Advisory Committee. He is active on the Flagstaff Family YMCA Board of Directors and The Flagstaff Cultural Partners Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Flagstaff Rotary Club. He resides in Flagstaff with his wife of 20 years, Jean, and their three children.

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