Women Who Teach

“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.

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.”

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.”

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.

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.”

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.”