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 |