CATALINA FOOTHILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT

VVELC logo
3435 E. Sunrise Drive | Tucson, Az 85718
Phone: 520-209-7650 | Fax: 520-209-7664
School Hours: 7:00am - 5:30pm
AM CARE: 7:00am - 9:00am
PM CARE: 2:30pm - 5:30pm

Jennifer Dooley
Principal

Our Staff

	Name		Position	Education

	Amy Acuña		Teacher	Amy returned to CFSD in 2021. Fluent in Spanish, she taught Spanish Immersion at the elementary level prior to joining VVELC. She has a BA in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement from the University of Arizona and a MS in Education Methods from the State University of New York.
	Lori Ball		Inclusion/Special Education Teacher	Lori has been in education for 30 years. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She also earned a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education with a Special Education Endorsement from NAU.
	Jodi Boone- Sampsel		Inclusion/Special Education Teacher	Jodi joined VVELC in 2021. She has a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona. She is certified in Elementary and Early Childhood Special Education and has an endorsement in Early Childhood Education.
	Kim Budenski		Educational Assistant	Kim has been working in Early Childhood for over 20 years including classroom, early childhood school readiness assessments, school readiness programs and family support and outreach. She also worked for many years as a professional baker. She joined the Valley View team in the spring of 2024.
	Kami Carr		Educational Assistant	Kami joined VVELC in 2016. She has an AA in Business from the University of Phoenix. In making the shift from the family restaurant business to education, she found her passion for working with children at the Early Childhood level. Prior to joining CFSD, she worked for 12 years at the preschool, elementary and high school levels as an Educational Assistant.
	Adilia Dauria		Spanish Immersion Educational Assistant	Adilia started working for CFSD at the elementary level in 2017. She joined VVELC in 2020. She has a BS in Chemical Engineering from the National Engineering University of Nicaragua and a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from the University Centroamericana of Nicaragua.
	Mckenzie DeCoite		Teacher	McKenzie has been with VVELC since 2014. She has a BA in Early Childhood Education from Western Washington University.
	Bessie Demetriou		Educational Assistant	Bessie has 14 years experience in Early Childhood as an education assistant. She has a Masters in Business Administration from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.
	Celeste Dominguez		Educational Assistant	Celeste joined VVELC in 2023. She has her AA in General Studies from Cochise College which included several classes in education. She has 4 years of experience working in elementary schools as a literacy tutor and educational support.
	Jennifer Dooley		Principal	Jen started her CFSD career in 2005 as a teacher at Valley View. She has a Masters in Early Childhood Education as well as a Masters in Educational Leadership with a principal certification.
	Emma Evers		Educational Assistant	Emma started at VVELC in 2022. She is currently working on earning her Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education through Grand Canyon University.
	Daniela Garcia		Educational Assistant	Daniela joined VVELC in 2022. She has years of experience in Early Childhood Education, working in Canada as a lead Educator in a variety of settings such as family centers, preschool and elementary schools. She has a 4 year undergraduate degree in Psychology from Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico and a 2 year diploma in Early Childhood Education from Sheridan College in Canada.

	Megan Kelly		Educational Assistant	Megan joined VVELC in 2023. She has a BS in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University.
	Dana Lee		Teacher	Dana returned to VVELC in 2018 upon completing her BA in Early Childhood Education. She taught several years at VVELC as an Inclusion Educational Assistant. She is working on a Masters in Early Childhood Special Education.

	Maricarmen Leon		Spanish Immersion Educational Assistant	Maricarmen joined VVELC in 2022. She is new to Tucson, and is currently taking classes at Pima Community College to further her professional and personal life.
	Lizbeth Lutz- Rodriguez		Spanish Immersion Teacher	Lizbeth returned to VVELC in 2023. She has taught in CFSD for over nine years. She has a Master’s degree in Special Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement from the University of Arizona. As a native Spanish speaker, she has made the transition from teaching Special Education to Spanish Immersion.
	Anna Orphan		Educational Assistant	Anna joined VVELC in 2021. For over 10 years, she has worked in Early Childhood Education in a private setting as a lead teacher, educational assistant and trainer. She has a BA in English from Kent State University in Ohio. She has volunteered as a reading coach with Literacy Connects and as an ESL coach with Literacy Volunteers of America.
	Renee Peters		Educational Assistant	Renee has a degree in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and worked in Early Intervention-home based services for 25 years. She moved from Wisconsin to Tucson a couple years ago and has been at Valley View since January 2024.
	Vanessa Quijada		Educational Assistant	Vanessa has a Bachelor degree in Nutrition from Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico and is a mother of 3 boys. She started her early childhood career as a sub and Educational Assistant for Child Parent Centers where she found a passion for working with kids. She has been with VVELC since 2023.

	Leah Rosthenhausler		Teacher	Leah has been with VVELC since 2015. She has a BA in Fine Arts from the University of Arizona. She holds an Elementary Education certification with an Early Childhood Endorsement.
	Daniela Salazar		Educational Assistant	Daniela joined VVELC in 2022. She has more than 14 years experience in early childhood education, and has a BA in Education from La Salle University in Monterrey, Mexico.
	Lizette Sanchez		Spanish Immersion Teacher	Lizette has been with VVELC since 2016. She has a BA in Early Childhood Education from the University of Arizona & MA in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from the Universidad de Alcalá in Spain.
	Beth Semonsky		Speech and Language Pathologist	Beth has been with VVELC since 2000. She has a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Marywood University in Scranton, PA and a MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Loyola College in Baltimore, MD. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from American Speech Language Hearing Association.
	Zhiwei Shepard		Chinese Immersion Teacher	Zhiwei has been with CFSD since 2015 and joined VVELC in 2018. She has BA in English Education from Qufu Normal University, China. She has an Arizona Standard Professional Elementary, K-8 teaching certificate and an Early Childhood Endorsement. She has been teaching Chinese Immersion classes since 2011.
	Anna Simon		Inclusion Educational Assistant	Anna has been with VVELC since 2015. She has a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies-Speech Language Sciences and Technology from Northern Arizona University.

	Aiko Stevenson		Teacher	Aiko has been with VVELC since 2017. She has a BS in Early Childhood Education from Grand Canyon University and is excited to teach in the Young 3’s classroom.
	Ming-Hui Tseng		Chinese Immersion Educational Assistant	Ming-Hui has been with VVELC since 2019, initially working as a substitute teacher for CFSD. She has a BA in Fashion Management from University of Art London, U.K. and a BA in Fashion Design from Shin Chien University, Taiwan.
	Sasha Tucker		Educational Assistant	Sasha joined VVELC in 2022. After graduating from medical assistant school, she realized her passion for working with children. She has over ten years experience working with children from birth - age 12.
	Elva Vasquez		Spanish Immersion Educational Assistant	Elva joined VVELC in 2010. She has an AA in Social Studies from Cochise Community College.
	Beatriz Villaba		Inclusion Educational Assistant	Beatriz joined VVELC in 2016. She has a BS from Midwestern State University.
	Emily Volpp		Educational Assistant	Emily returned to VVELC in 2022. She has 11 years of experience working in early childhood settings. She is looking forward to continuing her formal schooling in Early Childhood Education soon.
	Alexis Yeager		Health Assistant/Office Clerk	Alexis joined VVELC in 2023. She is a licensed RN with adult trauma ICU and pediatric med/surg experience.
	Kristina Zeider		Educational Assistant	Kristina joined VVELC in 2024. She has a BA in Psychology from Purdue University and more than five years of experience working with children.
	Cally Zismann		Teacher	Cally received an AS in Early Childhood Education in Indiana. She earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Arizona before getting a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Southern New Hampshire University. She joined VVELC in 2024 and brings 10 years experience working in early childhood and elementary settings.
	Cynthia Zuniga		Spanish Immersion Teacher	Cynthia returned to VVELC in 2023. She is fluent in Spanish, and has taught in CFSD’s Spanish Immersion program for 9 years. She has a BA in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement from NAU.