School year 2026-27 underway “on the Hill”

Morenci began first full week on July 27

By Raymundo Frasquillo

MORENCI – The eight-week summer break has ended for Morenci students as the 2026-27 school year is underway. It started on July 22.

During the Summer break, the buildings, classrooms, and campuses were made ready, new to the district teachers were oriented, and a final faculty and staff gathering was held on July 21.

Already, the Class of 2027 ran through the halls for its last first day of school; the first assembly was held in Lawson Stadium as Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium was unavailable; eight half-hour sessions on topics including Attendance/Tardies/Discipline, Dress Code, Emergency Drills/School Safety, Student Health Issues, Motivational Messages/CATS Code, Team Building, School Spirit/Traditions, and Chromebooks were reviewed; and initial class meeting were held. The initial meal offerings in both the Multi-Purpose Room concession stand and school cafeteria were consumed.

Chromebooks have been issued in time to begin the first full week on Monday, July, 27. There are four 9-week grading periods with a 2-week Fall Break after the first, a 2-week holiday break after the second, and a 2-week Spring Break after the third.

Fall sports offered for high school students are cross country, football, swim, volleyball, and spirit line while the middle school has football, volleyball, and spirit line.

There are no new administrators for any of the district schools. However, several faculty additions have been made, seven for Metcalf Elementary, one for Fairbanks Middle School, and a shared one for both the middle school and the high school.

Metcalf Elementary School

Metcalf Elementary School has Dr. Chelsea Adams as principal and Andrea Hudman as assistant principalalong with Dean of Students and Academic Coach, both in their sixth years in that capacity. They oversee a total of 44 teachers in the building housing grades K-4. 

Mya Gaethje (Kindergarten), Ruben Gonzalez (2nd Grade), Kayla O’Connell (3rd Grade), Jeston Lott (4th Grade), Malorie Aralica and Merrian Saenz both Special Education, and Jessica Armijo (Physical Education) are in their inaugural year at Metcalf.

Returning teachers Kindergarten: include Paula Gonzalez, Vanessa Jones, Benino Morales, Tiffany Saenz, and Myranda Wasko; First Grade: Erin Clem, Elizabeth Dunagan, Alexis Gregory, Michelle Pollack, Stephanie Salazar, and Janet Vaughn; Second Grade: Jessica Gonzalez, Shannon Herrera, Taylor Martinez, Kathryn Najar, and Kelsey Pugmire; Third Grade: Jessica Gallegos, Jessica Harrington, Cassandra Hernandez, Jessica James, and Sara Rios; Fourth Grade: and Vanessa Fallow, Angela Hernandez, Jessica King, Christine Rivera, and Layla Turner.

Six Special Education teachers include Kodie Barnett, Angie Humeniuk, Ruth Martin, Allison Reigel, Nichole Romero, Linda Woodard.

Rosie Allen (PE), Sabrina Gonzales (Spanish), Jennie Romero (Library Skills), and Gene Willey (Music)round out the teaching corps.

Fairbanks Middle School

Fairbanks Middle School has Nikki Lopez as principal for a fourth year and Rebecca Manuz in her 10th year as assistant principal. 

The Special Education Director is Kara Wagley, Tanner Pursley (Counselor), Brianne Wolfe (Academic Coach), Nadine Caffrey (System / Network Administrator), Kim Kuykendall (Computer Tech), Cheryl Woodall (Student Information Specialist), Sabrina Suarez (Secretary), Willa Zimmermann (Secretary), Rosie Allen (Secretary PM), Danille Keen (Library), and Debbie Lucero (Cafeteria Director).

Thirty-two teachers hold classes for middle school students, with Tyra Ethelbah and Dolores Marques being new to the faculty for this year.

The FMS teachers are Fifth Grade: Katy Crandall (Math), Jamie Madrid (Reading), Alyssa Murillo (Science), Nicole Pursley (Writing), and Marla Reyes (Math); Sixth Grade: Rochelle Brock (Science), Raylyn Chee (Reading), Nicole Marin (Social Studies), and Felicia Medina (Writing); Seventh Grade: Janel Cervantez (English), Brendon Enriquez (Science), David Gallegos (Social Studies), Rayshele Kerrigan (Math), and Christy Parrott (English); and Eighth Grade: Jody Bailey (Social Studies), Christy Parrott (English), A.J. Rodriguez (Science), Melissa Rodriguez (Math).

The rest of the faculty members include Ruben Aguallo (Boys Physical Education), Jasmine Aguinaga (Girls Physical Education/Health), Benedetta Cargile (Band), Christina Chavez (Art), Barbie Gaethje (7th/8th Special Education), Melanie Hobbs (Accommodations), Angie Humeniuk (Speech), Casey Maldonado (5th/6th Special Education), Manuel Manuz (Coding/Technology), and Gene Willey (Mariachi).

Morenci High School

Morenci High School returns its principal and assistant principal in Don Goodman and Tiffany Powers, respectively. The faculty coach is Ilsa Castillo, the student counselor Joseph Garcia, and Krista Mahan oversees the EAC Distant Learning.

The “top-tiered technology based” school graduated its’ 121st class in May and has 25 teachers within its walls. 

Dolores Marques (Spanish) is the faculty addition this year.

The rest of the MHS teachers include English: Julie Baker, Amanda Davis, Garcia, Esther Kessler, and Siobhan Manrique; History: Baker, Jennifer Chavez, Kenneth Lester, and Manrique; Math: Alexa Aguilera,Castillo, Sabyn Martinez, Gary Rees, and Renee Still; and Science Leonisa Calapini, Marilou Cortez, and Sheridan Valdez.

Additionally, Anthony Aguinaga (Welding/Construction), Benedetta Cargile (Band, Mariachi), Sabrina Gonzales (Spanish), Frankie Gonzalez (Freshman Academy), Lester (Econ/Arizona Government), Linda Madrid (Modified/Adaptive Instruction), Denita Marble (Culinary Arts), Terry Montoya (Special Education), Casey Woodall (Athletic Development), and Nicolas Carrasco (FMS/MHS Athletic Development) round out the faculty. Greg Verlander is the Industrial Electrician teacher on a separate campus.

Graham/Greenlee schools

The first day of school for Safford is on Wednesday, July 29 with a final date of May 27; Duncan and Pima both start on Wednesday, Aug. 5, and both end on May 20; Thatcher commences on Wednesday, Aug. 12 and ends on May 20; and Fort Thomas begins on Monday. Aug. 17 and ends on May 20, as per information listed on each districts’ websites.