Chandler, AZ, April 21, 2022 – Legacy Traditional Schools announced its 2021-22 Arizona District “Teacher of the Year” and “Staff Member of the Year” at its annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Educators and administrators were chosen by their peers and colleagues for their outstanding contributions to student success inside and outside of the classroom.

The 2022 Legacy Awards was the first in-person ceremony since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and collectively honored all award nominees for the 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 school years. Legacy also awarded its first-ever Patrick Grady Principal of the Year Award in recognition of the school’s caring and charismatic school leader and Superintendent who died suddenly in 2021. 

“While these have been uncertain and unprecedented times for all of us, the one constant has been the amazing hard work and dedication of our educators and administrators,” said Nicole Kirkley, superintendent of Legacy Traditional Schools. “We’re so fortunate to bring together all of the award nominees from the last three years who go above and beyond every day to make a difference in the lives of our students. Congratulations to our recipients for this well-deserved recognition!”

  • Earning recognition as 2021-22 “Staff Member of the Year” is Edward Grado, Facilities Manager at Legacy Traditional School – Deer Valley.
  • Earning the title of 2021-22 “Teacher of the Year” is Lori Stadler, a sixth-grade teacher at Legacy Traditional School – East Tucson.
  • Earning the first-ever 2021-22 Patrick Grady Principal of the Year award is Kara Hodge, Principal at Legacy Traditional School – Deer Valley.

Legacy Traditional Schools’ Campus-Level Teachers of the Year (TOY) and Staff Members of the Year (SOY) include:

Avondale

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Rebecca Satterlee
    • TOY // Lauren Roley
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Victoria Morado
    • TOY // Alisa Keith
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Julia Yellen
    • TOY // Amanda Newton

Casa Grande

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Janice Woodruff
    • TOY // Michelle Pfadt
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Denise Rodriguez
    • TOY // Vanessa Wherry
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Judith Hernandez
    • TOY // Sarah Olsen

Chandler

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Kristi Vigil
    • TOY // Dr. Teri Knapp
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Victor Casiano
    • TOY // Michelle Sondrup
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Jesslyn Weaver
    • TOY // Jordan Ferrell

Deer Valley

  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Edward Grado
    • TOY // Kylie Morgardo

East Mesa

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Julie Gonzalez
    • TOY // Katie Slater
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Chelsi Hartley
    • TOY // Kandice Kosier
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Bernice Tilson
    • TOY // Kandice Kosier

East Tucson

  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Lisa Rincon
    • TOY // Lori Stadler

Gilbert

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Henry Jackson
    • TOY // Amanda Gouba
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Rita Means
    • TOY // Terri Harris
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Angelina Ray
    • TOY // Sherry Stevens

Glendale

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Gricelda Esparza Luna
    • TOY // Jody Klue
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Dustin Smith
    • TOY // Travis Bayler
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Stacey Simenson
    • TOY // Denise Williams

Goodyear

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Kristi Stephens
    • TOY // Katie Wilkens
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Mirla Magnana
    • TOY // Sheryn Williams
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // McKenzie Wood
    • TOY // Carmen Esnal

Laveen

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Jesse Minjarez
    • TOY // Jose Ledesma
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Sandra Smith
    • TOY // Noemi Garcia
  • 2021 – 22
    • SOY // Aleta Elmore
    • TOY // Alesia Ware

Legacy Online Academy

  • 2021 – 22
    • SOY // Torian Weaver
    • TOY // Heidi Decker

Maricopa

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Randy Schaal
    • TOY // Shawna Bennett
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Nicole Wade
    • TOY // Krystal Hansen
  • 2021 – 22
    • SOY // Rebecca Durovka 
    • TOY // Tiffany Voyles

Mesa

  • 2021 – 22
    • SOY // Candido Aguilar
    • TOY // Courtney Mitchell 

North Chandler

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Allen Morrow
    • TOY // Steven Brazier
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Olivia Martinez
    • TOY // Sharon McKinney
  • 2021 – 22
    • SOY // Taylor Hayes
    • TOY // LeeAnne Crawford

NW Tucson

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Elizabeth Villa
    • TOY // LeAnn Weise
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Mariela VillaGomez
    • TOY // Ana Vinas
  • 2021 – 22
    • SOY // Charity Davis
    • TOY // Alex Grijalva

Peoria

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Andrea Gordon
    • TOY // Julie Ann Piatka
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // McKenna Baker
    • TOY // Dawn Macy
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Petio Petev
    • TOY // Emily Lehning

Phoenix

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Thelma Guisinger
    • TOY // Sandy Phillip
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Tracy Harris (K-6)
    • TOY // Brittany Lardner
  • 2021-2022
    • SOY // Mary Place
    • TOY // Megan Cote

Queen Creek

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Amanda Desterhouse
    • TOY // Ashley Gibson
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Abbi Jimenez
    • TOY // Kylie Dolin
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Eric Beagley
    • TOY // Katherine Lamboy

Surprise

  • 2019 – 2020
    • SOY // Lori Zanger
    • TOY // April Chin (K-5)
    • TOY // Blaine Linster (6-8)
  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Valoree Hensley
    • TOY // Kiara Lloyd (K-5)  
    • TOY // Kelly Chan (6-8)
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Phillip Kelly
    • TOY // Jennifer Pichardo

West Surprise

  • 2020-2021
    • SOY // Vandy Blodgett
    • TOY // Jennifer Misener
  • 2021 – 2022
    • SOY // Jaime Sheeks
    • TOY // Patricia Richey

Legacy also celebrated its Milestone honorees with special recognition for employees with at least a decade of tenure at Legacy Traditional Schools.

2021-22 Milestone Honorees 

Lindsay Harrell Legacy Online Academy 10 years
Amanda Nikole Newton LTS – Avondale 10 years
Annette E Boswell LTS – Avondale 10 years
Arlene D. Petranovich LTS – Avondale 10 years
Kendra J Lewis LTS – Avondale 10 years
Lisa M Bigoness LTS – Avondale 10 years
Maribel Cornidez LTS – Avondale 10 years
Mary-Jo Vanderah LTS – Avondale 10 years
Melissa A. Blake LTS – Avondale 11 years
Paula M Derisi LTS – Avondale 10 years
Tami Gagliardi LTS – Avondale 14 years
Cari-Ann Toussaint LTS – Casa Grande 12 years
Christine J Tanner LTS – Casa Grande 10 years
David Hays LTS – Casa Grande 12 years
Debra L Meyers LTS – Casa Grande 10 years
Emily Dagmar Edbrooke LTS – Casa Grande 10 years
Kellie Lyn Cook LTS – Casa Grande 10 years
Leticia M. Da Silva LTS – Casa Grande 11 years
Lisa R Young LTS – Casa Grande 10 years
Meredith Lisa Cluey LTS – Casa Grande 12 years
Nicole Woodruff LTS – Casa Grande 10 years
Pamela J Vandezandschulp LTS – Casa Grande 10 years
Scott Vandezandschulp LTS – Casa Grande 10 years
William F. Applegate LTS – Casa Grande 10 years
Christopher A Knight LTS – Chandler 10 years
Cindy Jones LTS – Chandler 10 years
Erin A Mackey LTS – Chandler 10 years
Jacqueline Russell LTS – Chandler 10 years
Leticia A Kunda LTS – Chandler 10 years
Margaret L Witt LTS – Chandler 10 years
Tina M Esman LTS – Chandler 10 years
Brian L Lauterbach LTS – East Mesa 11 years
Jennifer M. Little LTS – East Tucson 12 years
Lisette Curry LTS – East Tucson 10 years
Lori Jane Stadler LTS – East Tucson 10 years
Amanda K Gouba LTS – Gilbert 10 years
Andrew J Bess LTS – Gilbert 10 years
Jennifer L. Roberts LTS – Gilbert 10 years
Kelly J Reap LTS – Gilbert 12 years
Jody Lynn Klue LTS – Glendale 10 years
Kristen Smith LTS – Goodyear 10 years
Peggie J Robbins LTS – Laveen 10 years
Antonela C Niland LTS – Maricopa 10 years
Cheryl Lynn Cardinal LTS – Maricopa 10 years
Francisca M Quintero LTS – Maricopa 10 years
Griselda Porter LTS – Maricopa 10 years
Heather Kirk LTS – Maricopa 11 years
Jennifer M Moran LTS – Maricopa 10 years
Karen Snyder LTS – Maricopa 10 years
Kasondra Johnson LTS – Maricopa 12 years
Kelly A Lerro LTS – Maricopa 10 years
Kelly S Taylor LTS – Maricopa 13 years
Laura Lynn Hartwig LTS – Maricopa 10 years
Shawna D Bennett LTS – Maricopa 13 years
Shayla L Hendrix LTS – Maricopa 13 years
Tiffany C Voyles LTS – Maricopa 13 years
Gladys C Benitez LTS – North Chandler 10 years
Judith A Noneman LTS – North Chandler 13 years
Sara A Wayne LTS – North Chandler 10 years
Jennifer Lynn Emling LTS – North Valley 11 years
Jon Thomas Ellis LTS – North Valley 10 years
Ardemis T Martin LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Bonita K Abril LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Bradley Michael Rasmussen LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Carrie J Tache LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Donna Jean Bores LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Gina Marie Sherman LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Jennifer A Shade LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Kathie Joanne Martinez LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Kristen J Owen LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Leann R Wiese LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Lindsey Oswald LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Renee S Vanselow LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Salina M Wolf LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Sharon Amber Martinez LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Stephanie Rae Miller LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Steve Gleeson LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Teresa Lynn Wallentine LTS – NW Tucson 10 years
Chanda Lewis LTS – Queen Creek 11 years
Heather Coombs LTS – Queen Creek 11 years
Jerry L Osborne LTS – Queen Creek 10 years
Kathryn E Lesko LTS – Queen Creek 10 years
Kristy A Sprinkle Wells LTS – Queen Creek 10 years
Roberta Thomason LTS – Queen Creek 10 years
Rosa Arellano LTS – Queen Creek 10 years
Susanna O. Thomas LTS – Queen Creek 11 years
Alexa Lipsky LTS – West Surprise 11 years

 

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