Kathryn Hazelton
Lura Kinsey Elementary School
Flagstaff Unified School District
Third Grade
Kathryn Cartier
Excelencia School
Creighton Elementary District
Sixth Grade

James Clemens
Kerr Elementary School
Mesa Public Schools
Fourth Grade
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2012 Rodel Exemplary Teachers
Introducing the
Lindsay Dauenhauer
Centennial Elementary School
Flowing Wells Unified School District
Second Grade

Experience: five years in education as a second-grade teacher

Engaging students: I keep my students engaged in learning by continuously trying my best to create innovative lessons that spark the interests of all my learners. I’ve found that if I’m excited about what I teach, they’re excited to learn. My classroom is always full of energy. I constantly utilize active participation and incorporate hands-on activities. I hold each child accountable and allow them to take pride and ownership of their learning.

Who
becomes a Rodel Exemplary Teacher
Finalists
The 
Francesca Davis
Discovery School
Glendale Elementary School District
Fourth- through Eighth-Grade Special Education

Experience: four years as a special education resource teacher for third- through eighth-grade students

A tip for parents: Be involved in your child’s life to the best of your ability. Not only help with homework, but engage them in a conversation about their day. Talk to them about their friends, what they had for lunch, their favorite subject. School and home should be as transparent as possible and the student is the link that binds them together. The teacher is not the only person that contributes to a student’s development. It is the parent as well.
Theresa Graves
Eliseo C. Felix School
Avondale Elementary School District
Fifth Grade

Experience: 24 years in education including two years as a teacher’s assistant, two years as a school secretary, six years as a third-grade teacher, 10 years as a fourth-grade teacher, two years as a mentor teacher, and two years as a reading specialist

Making data-driven decisions: Student achievement data is vital to good teaching. This data tells a teacher whether a skill has been mastered. It also tells us when we need to stop and re-teach or differentiate the lesson for those students who are having a hard time with a specific concept. Achievement data keeps us from wasting valuable time and valuable students.
Kris Holt
L.M. Prince Elementary School
Amphitheater Public Schools
Third Grade

Experience: 13 years in education as a third-grade teacher

Learning from a mentor: My mom has always been my mentor. She was a teacher for many years, and she was my inspiration. She especially helped me in the beginning of my career by being supportive and giving advice to help me be successful. One lesson she taught me was to avoid power struggles with kids, because it is not a win-win situation. That advice has molded me into the teacher I am today. As I began to mentor student teachers, I met Dr. Renate Krompasky, a University of Arizona Student Teacher Supervisor. In this new phase of my career, she has mentored me on how to get the best out of student teachers. Her modeling of high expectations, constructive feedback and self analysis has demonstrated a framework for how I can assist my student teachers.

Laurie Jeffers
John Q. Thomas Elementary School
Flagstaff Unified School District
Fifth Grade

Experience: 22 years in education including six years as a first-grade teacher, one year as a fourth-grade teacher, three years as a SEI multi-age transitional teacher, three years as a sixth-grade teacher, six years as an elementary principal, and three years as a fifth-grade teacher

Bragging rights: The students and their families have had a special place in my heart. My students have provided an environment that has reinforced my belief that all students can learn. Students from diverse and low socio-economic backgrounds have their own dreams. Regardless of where a student comes from or what they may have to overcome, my students have made it possible for me to believe it is my professional responsibility as a teacher to empower students.

Sal Mancilla
Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School
Phoenix Elementary District
Sixth Grade

Experience: 15 years in education including four years teaching third grade and 11 years teaching sixth grade

Engaging students: I listen and learn to what brings my students joy outside of the school day. Lessons in the classroom can contain foreign concepts, which are easily grasped when delivered in a format that is familiar and meaningful to each student. Technology levels the playing field, provides the instant feedback necessary for motivation, and (when implemented correctly) exposes students to a world much bigger than the one they know. Knowing they are expected to contribute and are linked to the “bigger picture” keeps them engaged and fosters an independent love of learning.

Jasmine Muniz
Balsz Elementary School
Balsz Elementary District
Sixth Grade

Experience: nine years in education including two years as a kindergarten teacher, two years as an ELL pull-out teacher, three years as a fourth-grade teacher, and two years as a sixth-grade teacher

A tip for new teachers: Classroom management is worth the time and effort! Be explicit, be clear, be realistic, be prepared and be patient!
Michelle Novelli
W.F. Killip Elementary School
Flagstaff Unified School District
Kindergarten

Experience: 10 years at Killip Elementary including one year as a second-grade teacher, three years as a third-grade teacher, and six years teaching kindergarten

A tip for new teachers: When I give advice to new teachers, I remind them that - even as beginning teachers - they can be fantastic and that they can and should use assessment data to ensure student success. “Don’t be afraid of data!” I say. Young teachers can have success beyond their years if they use data as a tool for achievement and instructional decisions.
Daniele Prusinski
Manzanita Elementary School
Washington Elementary School District
First Grade

Experience: seven years as a first-grade teacher

A tip for new teachers: One tip I would give to new teachers is to get and stay organized. Develop a system that works for you and take the time each day to straighten up your classroom. This will ensure that classroom procedures run smoothly, discourage the piles from building up and allow for a calmer and more functional work environment.
Leticia Rodriguez-Davis
Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School
Chandler Unified District
Fifth Grade

Experience: 19 years in education including eight years as a fourth- through sixth-grade classroom teacher, seven years as a K-8 special education resource teacher, three years as an English language development teacher, four summers as an English as a second language teacher, one year as a student service coordinator for special education

Engaging students: Besides creating my classroom as an environment that I believe encourages students to be engaged, I believe that I have created a learning community amongst the students in my classroom through collaboration and peer assistance where opting out is not an option. When beginning a lesson, I strive to connect the content with their prior knowledge, so that my students connect the relevance of what they already know to what they are learning.

Dora Saldamando
Pueblo Gardens Elementary
Tucson Unified District
Fourth Grade

Experience: 14 years in education including one year as a second-grade teacher, three years as a third-grade teacher and 10 years as a fourth-grade teacher; two years as an afterschool 21st Century Community Learning Center Coordinator; three years math professional development facilitator; four years as a math consultant

A tip for parents: Believe in your children and to always have high expectations for them. Be part of your child’s life in school and at home and to encourage them to be leaders by being positive role models yourselves.

Scott Thompson
Granada East School
Alhambra Elementary School District
Sixth Grade

Experience: 10 years in education including six years as a fifth-grade teacher, four years as a sixth-grade teacher

Bragging rights: I am proud of the many accomplishments that have occurred during my time at Granada East School. These include 100% of my students meeting or exceeding on the reading portion of the AIMS exam in 2010 and the many years that my students achieved at a level that outperformed the state average in math and reading. I am also proud to be a staff member at a school that was recognized as an A+ School of Excellence through the hard work of the administration, the staff and the community.

Jason VanderKamp
Frank Elementary School
Tempe Elementary School District
Fourth/Fifth Grade

Experience: seven years in education including one year as fourth-grade teacher, five years as a fifth-grade teacher and one year as fourth/fifth-grade teacher

Collaborating for student success: Collaboration is the reason why my students and I have been so successful. My colleagues and I are constantly working together trying to improve our instruction and effectiveness by coming up with creative ideas. We all understand that we are only as strong as our weakest link, so we work extremely hard to all be as successful as possible.
Betty Atwell
Helen Keeling Elementary School
Amphitheater Public Schools
Kindergarten
?
How
are Rodel Exemplary Teachers selected
?
What
does a Rodel Exemplary Teacher do next
Nancy Chavez
Esperanza Elementary School
Sunnyside Unified School District
First Grade
Nicole Clark

Palomino Intermediate School
Paradise Valley Unified District
Sixth Grade
Lisa Gura
Dysart Elementary School
Dysart Unified District
Third Grade
Christine Harrington
Catalina Ventura School
Alhambra Elementary School District
Kindergarten/First Grade Special Education
Marchelle Hasan
Justine Spitalny School
Cartwright Elementary School District
Third Grade
Donna McEnery
Rio Vista Elementary School
Amphitheater Public Schools
Third Grade
Jessica Meza
Michael Anderson School
Avondale Elementary School District
Kindergarten
Kim Quisido
John Q. Thomas Elementary School
Flagstaff Unified School District
Second Grade
Partners
Our
They get to "pay it forward" by mentoring Rodel Promising Student Teachers, usually one each semester for three years.

They'll also be honored at an awards banquet and receive a cash award.
Outstanding elementary and middle school teachers from high-need schools identified in Coconino, Maricopa and Pima counties can be nominated by their principals to become Rodel Exemplary Teachers. 
First, Rodel researchers identify classrooms in high-need communities where students are getting high achievement. 

Then, principals at those schools are asked to nominate the teachers they would like to "clone." 

Finally, a team from Rodel observes and interviews candidates to determine which teachers best demonstrate the traits of an exemplary teacher and are qualified to mentor student teachers.