Education
Learn about the women leading education in the Prescott area.
Bringing It All Back Home
“The last thing I ever thought I’d be doing is teaching.”
From her office on Yavapai College’s (YC) CTEC Campus, Cassi Gibson still sounds a little surprised. A Bagdad native, Cassi graduated from YC’s Electronics program in 2011, seeking a career that could take her far and wide.
After finding success playing multiple roles in a variety of industries, now she is back, helping her students do the same.
The Dillon Duo
When the Kindergarten teacher position opened up at Lincoln Elementary School within the Prescott Unified School District (PUSD) in the 2024 school year, Lincoln alum Bethany Dillon knew she had to apply. After all, not only did she attend Lincoln, but her mom, Kim, teaches there, too.
Seeing each other most days is just one of the special perks that both women enjoy. Bethany said, “I am very lucky to spend the time learning from and watching my mom be the amazing teacher that she is!” Kim, a second-grade teacher who volunteered at Lincoln when Bethany attended there in 2002, fell in love with the Lincoln community and said working with Bethany, “…is always one of those full circle gratifying moments for me and why I often feel I have the best job in the world.”
Ambassador for Education
eather Mulcaire has a nice office on Yavapai College’s Verde Valley Campus … and you’ll never find her there.
“I feel like the day is a failure if I’m not out and meeting people,” she said, laughing. “Finding out what students need, how class is working for them…” As Verde Campus Associate Dean, Heather is always on the move. “I could be at the greenhouse in the morning, over at Home Depot buying supplies, then washing dishes and pouring wine because I’m working front-of-house for a recreational cooking class. Whatever it takes to support our programs.”
Empowering Students
Small-group and one-on-one targeted instruction are components of academic intervention. The four women on the Intervention Team at Granite Mountain Upper Elementary School within the Prescott Unified School District (PUSD) do so with continual dedication and passion. Assisting students who struggle academically, this team offers proactive support by tailoring plans that empower students to overcome challenges. Through these interventions, the team also tracks and monitors academic progression, communicates with teachers about goals and strategies, builds partnerships with instructors, and maintains a focus on improvement.
Wired to Achieve
Right from the start, students in Elizabeth Peters’ Electronics & Instrumentation program know they’re in for a challenge. “E&I is one of our more rigorous programs,” Liz, YC’s Electronics Technology and Pre-Engineering professor, said. “We hear students say, ‘I feel like I got a four-year degree in two years.’ They don’t always mean it as a compliment. But I think, ‘Cool! That’s what we’re going for.’”
Now in her tenth year at Yavapai College’s CTEC Campus, Liz teaches Pre-Engineering and Electronics, from the smallest sub-atomic particle to the gnarliest circuit board. “It’s in the family. My dad started the E&I program at YC.”
Her brother graduated in the program’s first cohort. Then Liz followed in 2012. She was working for an international aerospace company when her dad suggested, “Hey, I think you could be a good teacher. We need somebody.”
The Necessary Tools for Educator and Student Success
For Cathy Moody, ensuring the seamless procurement of necessary items requested by educators to enhance their roles for supporting the students is a vital component to the district’s operations. Cathy, Director of Purchasing and Procurement at the Prescott Unified School District (PUSD) since 2021, explained, “Anything purchased for PUSD, including trade services for plumbing and HVAC, comes through purchasing department. The most fulfilling aspect of my position is making sure that our staff and students have the necessary goods and services to succeed.”
Working with vendors like Amazon, Walmart, security and fire systems, and printing companies, just to name a few, Cathy recognizes the importance of maintaining those positive vendor relationships and connections. “The most challenging part of my role is ensuring that we are purchasing responsibly and getting the most out of our money while ensuring staff and students have precisely what they need. We have so many needs in the district, so keeping vendor communication lines open can make a big difference in the cost savings of an item. Since taking on this role, I have helped the district save close to a million dollars by negotiating with vendors or finding better deals.”
Shaping School Culture
For the Character Coaches at Prescott Unified School District (PUSD), offering a positive impact on students’ lives is the highest priority. These women have the essential role of teaching strength-building skills for character development in many forms including assisting with conflict resolution; developing social skills; providing supporting and preventive interaction with students in the playground, lunchroom and other unstructured areas; helping develop positive relationships with students and families; viewing and assisting with low-level behavior remediation and intervention/conflict; and teaching self-regulation and coping skills to ensure classroom success methods.
Building Her Destiny in Chino Valley
Some people find their niche in this life. Some carve their own. It’s accurate to say Marnee Zazueta, Yavapai College’s Chino Valley Campus Dean, climbed to the top of the academic ladder. But she built the ladder first.
“I am a Chino Valley girl,” she said. “Grew up here from kindergarten, went to Chino Valley High School.”
There, her monster work ethic caught the attention of Agriculture Teacher John Morgan. “John has been telling me, since I was thirteen, that I would be a teacher someday.”
Catch a Ride on Yav Connect!
Yav Connect, operated by the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Organization (CYMPO), supports your daily commute. This microtransit service, now expanding from Prescott Valley into the heart of Prescott, will make getting around easier and more convenient for residents. By choosing Yav Connect, you’re not just getting a ride—you’re contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable environment and a more connected community.
Difficulties Become Possibilities
any daily miracles occur through Horses with Heart in Chino Valley. A new Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) program promises to create even more.
Accredited through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, Horses with Heart has provided therapeutic riding to people with disabilities, veterans, first responders, and seniors since 1993.
EAL is an experiential learning method (based on experiences and observation) that promotes personal growth and improved life skills through partnership with horses. Skills developed include trust, confidence, communication, social skills, boundary setting, respect, critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership. Credentialed facilitators guide safe interactions with our horses.
The Glue that Holds Everything Together
For Prescott Unified School District (PUSD), the collaborative efforts of its Administrative Assistants foster a unique bond to ensure the success of students, staff, parents and community.
Nothing short of variety, these women are the face of the schools and do it all, allowing them to show leadership and multitasking at its best. With duties such as scheduling staff and athletics needs, overseeing registration, managing the front office and all staff, tracking student progress for graduation, setting up online classes, sending out progress reports, maintaining monthly tuition, submitting weekly money deposits and time clocks for their employees, communicating with families, and “other duties as assigned,” it’s evident that no day is exactly like the previous one.
‘Something for Every Learner’
Tiffany Boehle said the best part of her job is “the chance to be creative and facilitate projects that benefit PUSD students and families while solving problems along the way.”
As the Prescott Unified School District’s (PUSD) Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE), Tiffany manages a department of twelve CTE programs on the Prescott High School (PHS) campus.
“I enjoy helping students find career paths that benefit them and the community, and there are so many CTE opportunities that are available to students for free,” she said. “CTE offers students a low-risk opportunity to learn skills, develop professionalism and earn industry certificates that lead to steady employment and fill critical and high-demand professional needs of our community.”