July/September 2015

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WHO IS PRINCIPAL MICHAEL McCONNELL AT LULU WALKER ELEMENTARY? Born and raised in Tempe, Arizona meet Principal Michael McConnell. With a strong educational background, Michael graduated from McClintock High School in 1989, attended Mesa Community College from 1989-1991 and found his way to the University of Arizona, graduating in 1995 with a BA in Education eventually earning a Master of Education in Educational Leadership in 2004 from Northern Arizona University. 22
“Students, families and community come first. I work very hard to be visible and approachable.” Michael started his professional career teaching Kindergarten at E.C. Nash Elementary School from 1995-2006.“I began my career in education as a Kindergarten Teacher at E.C. Nash Elementary School. As a teacher, I found extreme joy in helping students develop the skills and passion to be a life-long learner and most importantly a life-long reader. There is no greater feeling than when a child learns to read. I have always said that reading is most complex thing we will ever learn to do and we accomplish that by the age of eight.” Michael states.He then became a Reading Intervention Teacher at L.M. Prince Elementary School 2006-2007 which led him to the role of Instructional Support Assistant (Assistant Principal) at L.M. Prince Elementary School from 2006-2008. “As an educator I have always prided myself on making decisions based on what is best for children. “ Michael says. Michael became the Assistant Principal at Coronado K-8 2008-2011 and found his home as Principalof Lulu Walker Elementary School from 2011-Present. “As a principal, I want my staff to know that I am their biggest supporter. I feel my main job for teachers is to provide them all the tools, time and resources necessary to do the job that god put them on this earth for and that is to positively impact the lives of children.” Michael says with pride. “The one thing I want my students, families and community to know is that the reason I am here is for them. My door is always open and I am never too involved in a task that can’t wait. Students, families and community come first. I work very hard to be visible and approachable. I visit classrooms multiple times a day. I am outside at student drop-off and pick-up every day. This allows my parents who work and cannot visit school frequently to have easy access to me and share any concerns, ask questions or offer praise. I do not want school to be like it was for me when I was a child. I struggled to learn to read and I did not like school at all. The principal was just a man you went to when you got in trouble. I do not remember seeing a principal around campus, playing with, helping or talking with children.” says Principal McConnell. Michael has a beautiful wife, Marisa, who teaches first grade at Mesa Verde Elementary School. Together, they have two sons who have grown up to be wonderful young men. Colby is 21 and works for Wells Fargo and Cadden is 23 and is going to be completing a 5+ year enlistment in the US Army in the next couple of months. “Marisa and I have been married for 12 years (13 in October) we met at E.C. Nash Elementary School where we taught Kindergarten together for 7 years.” He says. One of his recent endeavors that he is most proud of is joining the Ben’s Bells Board of Directors. “I am honored to work with a group of people whose sole purpose is to inspire, educate, and motivate people to realize the impact of intentional kindness, and to empower individuals to act accordingly. I am 1/4 of a group of Amphi Principals who are known as the Kindness Crusaders; I am Captain Kind, my fellow Crusaders are Bro Kind, Harmony Kind and Brainy Kind. We are a group of principals who believe in the power of kindness. We practice and teach kindness in our schools. We visit schools, hospitals and various locations around the community spreading kindness and encouraging people to be kind. “ Photos by David Clark 23
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Page 5 and 6: M A G A Z I N E Rhonda Moretti Owne
Page 8: swiss heritage #Aslongaswestaytoget
Page 11 and 12: Nesha dreamed of owning a store tha
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Page 15 and 16: and eventually married her husband
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Page 19 and 20: Paul Cicala’s anchoring & reporti
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Page 25 and 26: Born and raised in Albuquerque, New
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Page 29 and 30: Tucson Trainer I call this pose the
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Page 35 and 36: Photos by Lyn Sims Love your family
Page 37 and 38: it. I remember when I first started
Page 39 and 40: she shares, “I was very self-cons
Page 41 and 42: “When the audition notice came ou
Page 43 and 44: Marcy Rodriguez is a 31 year old La
Page 45 and 46: “My goal is to be constantly impr
Page 47 and 48: Al Marrero “I’m just letting my
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Page 65 and 66: A Special Thank You To Our Contribu
Page 67: Join us to BUILD homes, communities

July/September 2015

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