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We take great pride in introducing you to our
Exceptional Middle School Teachers
Literature and Language Arts
Amy Lecky, Middle School Language Arts and Literature and Middle School Coordinator
Amy Lecky was born and raised in Kentucky, a place dear to her heart. After receiving a BA degree in Education from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, she ventured to Arizona. She loves the desert and all its beauty. She has been teaching for seventeen years, ten of which have been at Summit. Throughout her years of teaching, she truly believes that laughter, enthusiasm, and fostering a positive attitude are just a few of the key components of a classroom and the enjoyment of learning. Mrs. Lecky enjoys teaching and supporting Middle School Students at Summit.
Mrs. Lecky is a three time recipient of a “Golden Gator, Excellence in Teaching Award” from Xavier College Preparatory High School. This award recognizes junior high teachers who have been inspirational to Xavier’s freshmen students. She currently teaches seventh grade literature and seventh and eighth grade language arts and literature. Mrs. Lecky also spearheads two important programs designed for Summit eighth grade students, “ROPES” and “SERVE”, which teach leadership, confidence and community service. She also serves as Middle School Coordinator and is a member of the National Middle School Association.
Amy.Lecky@SummitSchoolaz.org
Lori Christianson, Fifth Grade Language Arts and Literature, Sixth Grade Language Arts, Peer Leader for Literacy
Lori Christianson's teaching career has focused upon students in grades five through eight. Prior to coming to Summit, she worked as a gifted resource teacher in the Kyrene School District and has taught self-contained fifth and sixth grades in addition to seventh- and eighth-grade language arts, speech, and debate in both Wisconsin and Hawaii. She is in the process of completing her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and has a bachelor’s degree in middle grades and secondary-level English.
In addition to an Arizona teaching license in elementary education, she holds special endorsements in gifted, sheltered English immersion, and middle-level education as well as a Wisconsin teaching license in grades 5 – 12 English. Recent professional development includes graduate courses in linguistic diversity, curriculum design, assessment, and counseling of the gifted. Additionally, Mrs. Christianson has attended the Literature and Language Arts Advanced Placement Summer Institute at the University of Wisconsin, the National Council of Teachers of English National Convention, and the Arizona Association for the Gifted and Talented 2010 State Convention. Utilizing her extensive experience Mrs. Christianson serves as Summit’s Literacy Peer Leader for fifth through eighth grade supporting teachers in the use of research based best practices, differentiating instruction and challenging students.
Lori.Christianson@SummitSchoolaz.org
Math and Social Studies
Melissa France, Mathematics – Fifth and Sixth Grade, Seventh Grade Social Studies
Mathematics Peer Leader, Student Council Advisor, and Life Skills Instructor
Melissa France brought her mathematic and leadership skills to Summit in 2000. She is happy to have been a part of Summit since the beginning and to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the school. Melissa teaches fifth and six grade math, and instructs classes in life skills to seventh and eight grade students.
Mrs. France serves as Summit's Student Council Advisor, guiding students in leadership roles for school wide community service projects and spirit building activities. She also serves a leadership role in Summit’s math curriculum; supporting teachers in the use of research based best practices, differentiating instruction and challenging students. In 2006 she was a recipient of a “Golden Gator, Excellence in Teaching Award” from Xavier College Preparatory High School. This award recognizes junior high teachers who have been inspirational to Xavier’s freshmen students. Melissa is a member of NCTM, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Mrs. France earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1998, with a minor in Psychology from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Melissa.France@SummitSchoolaz.org
Christy Guidorizzi, Mathematics – Seventh and Eighth Grade, Seventh Grade Social Studies
Christy Guidorizzi teaches Pre-Algebra, Algebra and Geometry to Summit’s seventh and eighth students. She is in her eleventh year as a middle school math teacher. Previously, she taught math for one year at Akimel A-al Middle School here in Ahwatukee, and seven years at Alvin Junior High in Alvin, Texas just south of Houston. She also is one of the Desert Vista’s summer Math Camp instructors.
Ms. Guidorizzi is a graduate of the University of Texas of Austin (UT), with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and Business. While there, she pitched for UT's Division I softball program. Prior to transferring to UT, she attended Chapman University in California for two years where she initially demonstrated her love for math through the in-school tutoring program. A two-time first team All-American, she still holds the record for the most strikeouts in a championship 7 inning game with 20.
Although Ms. Guidorizzi has a Texas past, she is a former Arizona resident. She attended Pueblo Junior High and was part of the first graduating class of Mountain Pointe High School. Her hobbies include softball, running, tennis, and snow skiing. She also has a seven year old daughter who attends Summit.
Christy.Guidorizzi@SummitSchoolaz.org
Margaret Rodriguez, Mathematics - Fifth and Sixth Grade
Seventh Grade Language Arts, Publications Elective Seventh and Eighth Grade
Margaret Rodriguez has been an educator for seven years. Her experience includes teaching first, third and seventh grades in the Laveen Elementary School District. Mrs. Rodriguez graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in Elementary Education. She also holds a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. In addition to an Arizona teaching certificate in elementary education, she holds special endorsements in middle grades language arts, reading, and sheltered English Immersion. Mrs. Rodriguez has a passion for teaching and is always looking for new ways to grow as a professional.
Margaret.Rodgriguez@summitschoolaz.org
Science
Andrea Yocum, Middle School Science, Sixth Grade Social Studies
Andrea Yocum is an Arizona native, born in Lake Havasu City. She graduated from college at Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and psychology. Mrs. Yocum started her teaching career as a fifth/sixth grade classroom teacher, and then taught science and math units in the Mesa School District before coming to Summit. She is currently enjoying her tenth year teaching sixth through eighth grade science at Summit School.
Mrs. Yocum attended the National Hands-on Science Institute in Denver, and was one of 280 educators’ world-wide, selected for the Honeywell Space Academy for Educators at the National Space and Rocket Center. Her experiences have helped her cultivate a love and understanding of science in her students. In 2009 she was a recipient of a “Golden Gator, Excellence in Teaching Award” from Xavier College Preparatory High School. This award recognizes junior high teachers who have been inspirational to Xavier’s freshmen students.
Mrs. Yocum enjoys spending time with her family as well as her three cats and one dog. She also has a love for the scuba diving and traveling to new and interesting places.
Andrea.Yocum@SummitSchoolaz.org
Special Instructors
Art
Kathleen Kupper, Art Teacher - Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
Kathleen Kupper is Summit School's Specialist in Art and Design. Her education includes a Master of Architecture degree from UCLA and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the Southern California Institute of Architecture [SCI-Arc] and the ASU College of Architecture. Mrs. Kupper developed and taught architecture, art, and design programs in the United States and Switzerland. She is Director and co-founder of the Vitruvius Program, having received major grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Arizona Commission on the Arts. In 2000, she brought The Vitruvius Program to Summit School of Ahwatukee, which now serves as the school's art curriculum.
Student work has been published and exhibited internationally and recognized by Phoenix Magazine as one of the top five education programs in Metro-Phoenix. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art has displayed 280 architectural works that describes the design education work of Summit's preschool through sixth grade students in an exhibit entitled Bridges: Connecting Earth to Sky, in their young@art gallery.
In 2011 the Association of Architecture Organizations (AAO) selected Summit’s innovative Vitruvius art program as the best Architecture, Art and Design school program in the United States!
Mrs. Kupper co-teaches with daughter, Selene. Together they present integrated design exercises and art principles to the Summit School students, and relate their work to community and global issues, embodying scientific, artistic and spiritual narratives.
Kathleen.Kupper@SummitSchoolaz.org
Selene Kupper, Art Teacher - Preschool through Eighth Grade
Selene Kupper has been an art specialist at Summit School for the past five years. She develops and teaches the Vitruvius Program curriculum that serves as the art program for the school. In 2010, Ms. Kupper and her co-teacher Kathleen Kupper collaborated with the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, providing the museum over 280 art works created by Summit School of Ahwatukee students. Ms. Kupper developed and facilitated preschool through sixth grade architectural and design projects for the exhibit, titled Bridges: Connecting Earth to Sky. The Vitruvius Program was recognized by Phoenix Magazine as one of the top five education programs in Metro-Phoenix. Ms. Kupper has developed projects and taught in the Vitruvius Program at the ASU Center for Academic Precocity, Design Discovery at the ASU College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Tesseract School Paradise Valley and North Scottsdale, and the University of Wisconsin.
In 2011 the Association of Architecture Organizations (AAO) selected Summit’s innovative Vitruvius art program as the best Architecture, Art and Design school program in the United States!
Ms. Kupper studied graphic design at ASU. She has worked as a general manager, buyer, and designer for a five store corporation. As an artist and designer, her work has been exhibited internationally and she continues to create design work in the area of textiles and graphics. At Summit, she presents integrated design exercises and art principles to the students.
Selene.Kupper@SummitSchoolaz.org
Library
Martha Mriss, Library – Preschool through Fifth Grade
Martha Mriss is an Arizona native and a third generation Arizonan. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and Master of Arts in Educational Supervision from Northern Arizona University. She has over 25 years of teaching experience with fourteen years as a library specialist and seven years of classroom teaching. She also worked as a Human Resources Coordinator for four years and one year as a reading specialist before retiring. Her love of the library helped to draw her out of retirement to be the library specialist at Summit where she expands student’s love of books by teaching a library class to preschool through fifth grade.
Martha.Mriss@SummitSchoolaz.org
Music
Christopher Dorsey, Music - Middle School
Chris Dorsey was born in Byron, Georgia, and began formal guitar training at Georgia Southwestern University. Continuing at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. He earned his Master of Arts in Guitar Performance from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Guitar Performance from the School of Music at Arizona State University in 2005.
Dr. Dorsey has studied and performed throughout the world, including Spain, Argentina, and locally in Phoenix and Sedona. In 2000, the Arizona State University College of Fine Arts and the “Friends” of the ASU Center for Latin American Studies awarded Chris grants to study tango in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is active both as a soloist and as a member of the Santa Fe Guitar Quartet of Argentina. He has recorded two albums with the quartet: Journeys (2003) and Wapango (2007).
Dr. Dorsey began teaching classical guitar at the university level in 1996 and has been teaching children and youth since 1999. In 2005, he established the Dorsey Guitar Studio in Phoenix, Arizona, which offers high-quality instruction in music and classical guitar to children and youth. In 2006 he joined the Summit faculty, as the school’s sixth grade music teacher, and band director for seventh and eighth grade students.
Cdorsey1@mindspring.com
Physical Education
Kathy Dean, Physical Education and Wellness Specialist, Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
Kathy Dean attended Indiana University and Indiana State University where she completed a BA degree in health, physical education, recreation and dance and music education. She has a Master’s degree from Indiana State in Exercise Physiology. Her first teaching job was in a small, rural town in northern Indiana where she taught Kindergarten through twelfth grade swimming and lifesaving. Mrs. Dean taught at Indiana University – Purdue University in Indianapolis while her kids were growing up, and worked as a wellness consultant for the Indiana Department of Education. She has also worked in Corporate Wellness as a Wellness Director for the Wayne Township School Corporation in Indiana and the Medtronic Corporation in Tempe. In 1997 Mrs. Dean and her family moved to Phoenix, where she taught physical education and music in the Kyrene Schools. She started St. John Bosco School in 2001 and was instrumental in developing the athletic program and the athletic facilities. She has coached just about every sport and volunteered as well as taught fitness classes for the YMCA’s since she was 16 year old.
Mrs. Dean is currently the President for the Arizona Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and serves on several committees including Action for Healthy Kids and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. This is her 3rd year teaching at Summit School of Ahwatukee.
Kathy.Dean@SummitSchoolaz.org
Spanish
Andrea G. Gonzalez-Cantwell, Spanish
World languages are her passion; Mrs. Gonzalez is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese. A native of Mexico, she has taught in public and private schools, with age levels ranging from elementary students to university pre-service teachers and professionals.
Mrs. Gonzalez is a graduate of New Mexico State University, where she earned a Masters Degree in Spanish with a concentration in Linguistics, Curriculum and Instruction. She enjoys challenging students to rise to their greatest potential, by acquiring fluency in a second language.
Andrea. Gonzalez-Cantwell@summitschoolaz.org
Technology
Gail Soderquist, Technology – Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
Gail Soderquist was born and raised in Minnesota. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education from Minnesota State University, and a Masters in Education from the University of Phoenix. Her teaching experience includes classroom teaching in kindergarten through eighth grade, and as a technology teacher at several charter and public schools in Arizona.
Mrs. Soderquist is a member of AzTEA (Arizona Technology in Education Association) and regularly attends technology workshops. She loves working with students and using technology as a tool in the learning experience! She expands students’ knowledge in Summit’s dedicated technology lab, instructing kindergarten through sixth grade classes, and the seventh and eighth grade technology elective.
Gail.Soderquist@SummitSchoolaz.org
We take great pride in introducing you to our
Exceptional Middle School Teachers
Literature and Language Arts
Amy Lecky, Middle School Language Arts and Literature and Middle School Coordinator
Amy Lecky was born and raised in Kentucky, a place dear to her heart. After receiving a BA degree in Education from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, she ventured to Arizona. She loves the desert and all its beauty. She has been teaching for seventeen years, ten of which have been at Summit. Throughout her years of teaching, she truly believes that laughter, enthusiasm, and fostering a positive attitude are just a few of the key components of a classroom and the enjoyment of learning. Mrs. Lecky enjoys teaching and supporting Middle School Students at Summit.
Mrs. Lecky is a three time recipient of a “Golden Gator, Excellence in Teaching Award” from Xavier College Preparatory High School. This award recognizes junior high teachers who have been inspirational to Xavier’s freshmen students. She currently teaches seventh grade literature and seventh and eighth grade language arts and literature. Mrs. Lecky also spearheads two important programs designed for Summit eighth grade students, “ROPES” and “SERVE”, which teach leadership, confidence and community service. She also serves as Middle School Coordinator and is a member of the National Middle School Association.
Amy.Lecky@SummitSchoolaz.org
Lori Christianson, Fifth Grade Language Arts and Literature, Sixth Grade Language Arts, Peer Leader for Literacy
Lori Christianson's teaching career has focused upon students in grades five through eight. Prior to coming to Summit, she worked as a gifted resource teacher in the Kyrene School District and has taught self-contained fifth and sixth grades in addition to seventh- and eighth-grade language arts, speech, and debate in both Wisconsin and Hawaii. She is in the process of completing her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and has a bachelor’s degree in middle grades and secondary-level English.
In addition to an Arizona teaching license in elementary education, she holds special endorsements in gifted, sheltered English immersion, and middle-level education as well as a Wisconsin teaching license in grades 5 – 12 English. Recent professional development includes graduate courses in linguistic diversity, curriculum design, assessment, and counseling of the gifted. Additionally, Mrs. Christianson has attended the Literature and Language Arts Advanced Placement Summer Institute at the University of Wisconsin, the National Council of Teachers of English National Convention, and the Arizona Association for the Gifted and Talented 2010 State Convention. Utilizing her extensive experience Mrs. Christianson serves as Summit’s Literacy Peer Leader for fifth through eighth grade supporting teachers in the use of research based best practices, differentiating instruction and challenging students.
Lori.Christianson@SummitSchoolaz.org
Math and Social Studies
Melissa France, Mathematics – Fifth and Sixth Grade, Seventh Grade Social Studies
Mathematics Peer Leader, Student Council Advisor, and Life Skills Instructor
Melissa France brought her mathematic and leadership skills to Summit in 2000. She is happy to have been a part of Summit since the beginning and to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the school. Melissa teaches fifth and six grade math, and instructs classes in life skills to seventh and eight grade students.
Mrs. France serves as Summit's Student Council Advisor, guiding students in leadership roles for school wide community service projects and spirit building activities. She also serves a leadership role in Summit’s math curriculum; supporting teachers in the use of research based best practices, differentiating instruction and challenging students. In 2006 she was a recipient of a “Golden Gator, Excellence in Teaching Award” from Xavier College Preparatory High School. This award recognizes junior high teachers who have been inspirational to Xavier’s freshmen students. Melissa is a member of NCTM, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Mrs. France earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1998, with a minor in Psychology from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Melissa.France@SummitSchoolaz.org
Christy Guidorizzi, Mathematics – Seventh and Eighth Grade, Seventh Grade Social Studies
Christy Guidorizzi teaches Pre-Algebra, Algebra and Geometry to Summit’s seventh and eighth students. She is in her eleventh year as a middle school math teacher. Previously, she taught math for one year at Akimel A-al Middle School here in Ahwatukee, and seven years at Alvin Junior High in Alvin, Texas just south of Houston. She also is one of the Desert Vista’s summer Math Camp instructors.
Ms. Guidorizzi is a graduate of the University of Texas of Austin (UT), with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and Business. While there, she pitched for UT's Division I softball program. Prior to transferring to UT, she attended Chapman University in California for two years where she initially demonstrated her love for math through the in-school tutoring program. A two-time first team All-American, she still holds the record for the most strikeouts in a championship 7 inning game with 20.
Although Ms. Guidorizzi has a Texas past, she is a former Arizona resident. She attended Pueblo Junior High and was part of the first graduating class of Mountain Pointe High School. Her hobbies include softball, running, tennis, and snow skiing. She also has a seven year old daughter who attends Summit.
Christy.Guidorizzi@SummitSchoolaz.org
Margaret Rodriguez, Mathematics - Fifth and Sixth Grade
Seventh Grade Language Arts, Publications Elective Seventh and Eighth Grade
Margaret Rodriguez has been an educator for seven years. Her experience includes teaching first, third and seventh grades in the Laveen Elementary School District. Mrs. Rodriguez graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in Elementary Education. She also holds a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. In addition to an Arizona teaching certificate in elementary education, she holds special endorsements in middle grades language arts, reading, and sheltered English Immersion. Mrs. Rodriguez has a passion for teaching and is always looking for new ways to grow as a professional.
Margaret.Rodgriguez@summitschoolaz.org
Science
Andrea Yocum, Middle School Science, Sixth Grade Social Studies
Andrea Yocum is an Arizona native, born in Lake Havasu City. She graduated from college at Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and psychology. Mrs. Yocum started her teaching career as a fifth/sixth grade classroom teacher, and then taught science and math units in the Mesa School District before coming to Summit. She is currently enjoying her tenth year teaching sixth through eighth grade science at Summit School.
Mrs. Yocum attended the National Hands-on Science Institute in Denver, and was one of 280 educators’ world-wide, selected for the Honeywell Space Academy for Educators at the National Space and Rocket Center. Her experiences have helped her cultivate a love and understanding of science in her students. In 2009 she was a recipient of a “Golden Gator, Excellence in Teaching Award” from Xavier College Preparatory High School. This award recognizes junior high teachers who have been inspirational to Xavier’s freshmen students.
Mrs. Yocum enjoys spending time with her family as well as her three cats and one dog. She also has a love for the scuba diving and traveling to new and interesting places.
Andrea.Yocum@SummitSchoolaz.org
Special Instructors
Art
Kathleen Kupper, Art Teacher - Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
Kathleen Kupper is Summit School's Specialist in Art and Design. Her education includes a Master of Architecture degree from UCLA and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the Southern California Institute of Architecture [SCI-Arc] and the ASU College of Architecture. Mrs. Kupper developed and taught architecture, art, and design programs in the United States and Switzerland. She is Director and co-founder of the Vitruvius Program, having received major grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Arizona Commission on the Arts. In 2000, she brought The Vitruvius Program to Summit School of Ahwatukee, which now serves as the school's art curriculum.
Student work has been published and exhibited internationally and recognized by Phoenix Magazine as one of the top five education programs in Metro-Phoenix. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art has displayed 280 architectural works that describes the design education work of Summit's preschool through sixth grade students in an exhibit entitled Bridges: Connecting Earth to Sky, in their young@art gallery.
In 2011 the Association of Architecture Organizations (AAO) selected Summit’s innovative Vitruvius art program as the best Architecture, Art and Design school program in the United States!
Mrs. Kupper co-teaches with daughter, Selene. Together they present integrated design exercises and art principles to the Summit School students, and relate their work to community and global issues, embodying scientific, artistic and spiritual narratives.
Kathleen.Kupper@SummitSchoolaz.org
Selene Kupper, Art Teacher - Preschool through Eighth Grade
Selene Kupper has been an art specialist at Summit School for the past five years. She develops and teaches the Vitruvius Program curriculum that serves as the art program for the school. In 2010, Ms. Kupper and her co-teacher Kathleen Kupper collaborated with the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, providing the museum over 280 art works created by Summit School of Ahwatukee students. Ms. Kupper developed and facilitated preschool through sixth grade architectural and design projects for the exhibit, titled Bridges: Connecting Earth to Sky. The Vitruvius Program was recognized by Phoenix Magazine as one of the top five education programs in Metro-Phoenix. Ms. Kupper has developed projects and taught in the Vitruvius Program at the ASU Center for Academic Precocity, Design Discovery at the ASU College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Tesseract School Paradise Valley and North Scottsdale, and the University of Wisconsin.
In 2011 the Association of Architecture Organizations (AAO) selected Summit’s innovative Vitruvius art program as the best Architecture, Art and Design school program in the United States!
Ms. Kupper studied graphic design at ASU. She has worked as a general manager, buyer, and designer for a five store corporation. As an artist and designer, her work has been exhibited internationally and she continues to create design work in the area of textiles and graphics. At Summit, she presents integrated design exercises and art principles to the students.
Selene.Kupper@SummitSchoolaz.org
Library
Martha Mriss, Library – Preschool through Fifth Grade
Martha Mriss is an Arizona native and a third generation Arizonan. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and Master of Arts in Educational Supervision from Northern Arizona University. She has over 25 years of teaching experience with fourteen years as a library specialist and seven years of classroom teaching. She also worked as a Human Resources Coordinator for four years and one year as a reading specialist before retiring. Her love of the library helped to draw her out of retirement to be the library specialist at Summit where she expands student’s love of books by teaching a library class to preschool through fifth grade.
Martha.Mriss@SummitSchoolaz.org
Music
Christopher Dorsey, Music - Middle School
Chris Dorsey was born in Byron, Georgia, and began formal guitar training at Georgia Southwestern University. Continuing at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. He earned his Master of Arts in Guitar Performance from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Guitar Performance from the School of Music at Arizona State University in 2005.
Dr. Dorsey has studied and performed throughout the world, including Spain, Argentina, and locally in Phoenix and Sedona. In 2000, the Arizona State University College of Fine Arts and the “Friends” of the ASU Center for Latin American Studies awarded Chris grants to study tango in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is active both as a soloist and as a member of the Santa Fe Guitar Quartet of Argentina. He has recorded two albums with the quartet: Journeys (2003) and Wapango (2007).
Dr. Dorsey began teaching classical guitar at the university level in 1996 and has been teaching children and youth since 1999. In 2005, he established the Dorsey Guitar Studio in Phoenix, Arizona, which offers high-quality instruction in music and classical guitar to children and youth. In 2006 he joined the Summit faculty, as the school’s sixth grade music teacher, and band director for seventh and eighth grade students.
Cdorsey1@mindspring.com
Physical Education
Kathy Dean, Physical Education and Wellness Specialist, Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
Kathy Dean attended Indiana University and Indiana State University where she completed a BA degree in health, physical education, recreation and dance and music education. She has a Master’s degree from Indiana State in Exercise Physiology. Her first teaching job was in a small, rural town in northern Indiana where she taught Kindergarten through twelfth grade swimming and lifesaving. Mrs. Dean taught at Indiana University – Purdue University in Indianapolis while her kids were growing up, and worked as a wellness consultant for the Indiana Department of Education. She has also worked in Corporate Wellness as a Wellness Director for the Wayne Township School Corporation in Indiana and the Medtronic Corporation in Tempe. In 1997 Mrs. Dean and her family moved to Phoenix, where she taught physical education and music in the Kyrene Schools. She started St. John Bosco School in 2001 and was instrumental in developing the athletic program and the athletic facilities. She has coached just about every sport and volunteered as well as taught fitness classes for the YMCA’s since she was 16 year old.
Mrs. Dean is currently the President for the Arizona Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and serves on several committees including Action for Healthy Kids and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. This is her 3rd year teaching at Summit School of Ahwatukee.
Kathy.Dean@SummitSchoolaz.org
Spanish
Andrea G. Gonzalez-Cantwell, Spanish
World languages are her passion; Mrs. Gonzalez is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese. A native of Mexico, she has taught in public and private schools, with age levels ranging from elementary students to university pre-service teachers and professionals.
Mrs. Gonzalez is a graduate of New Mexico State University, where she earned a Masters Degree in Spanish with a concentration in Linguistics, Curriculum and Instruction. She enjoys challenging students to rise to their greatest potential, by acquiring fluency in a second language.
Andrea. Gonzalez-Cantwell@summitschoolaz.org
Technology
Gail Soderquist, Technology – Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
Gail Soderquist was born and raised in Minnesota. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education from Minnesota State University, and a Masters in Education from the University of Phoenix. Her teaching experience includes classroom teaching in kindergarten through eighth grade, and as a technology teacher at several charter and public schools in Arizona.
Mrs. Soderquist is a member of AzTEA (Arizona Technology in Education Association) and regularly attends technology workshops. She loves working with students and using technology as a tool in the learning experience! She expands students’ knowledge in Summit’s dedicated technology lab, instructing kindergarten through sixth grade classes, and the seventh and eighth grade technology elective.
Gail.Soderquist@SummitSchoolaz.org