How Passionate Educators Adapt

Prescott Unified Podcast

Elementary education, the years from kindergarten through 5th grade, is so crucial. School children in those grades are learning all the most basic skills - reading, math - AND building the character foundation that will be who they are for the rest of their lives.

This month we get to interview five dedicated elementary educators who are passionate about their work and so clearly full of love for their students and their learning.

Kelsey Secor has worked in education for fifteen years and has been with PUSD for the past thirteen years. She has been an elementary and middle school teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal and has spent the last four years as Principal of Taylor Hicks Elementary School.

Denise Murphy has been an educator for 23 years and this is also her 13th year with PUSD. Denise has been an elementary school teacher, she was the Early Literacy Director for the Arizona Reads Now program, and is now PUSD's K-2 literacy coach.

Shelli Read has an 18 years career . She has taught 4th grade and been a math interventionist. Currently she is enjoying her role as a k-4 math coach, working at all three elementary schools in PUSD.

Karen Hughes has been in education for about 20 years. She is in her 6th year as principal at Lincoln School. She was born and raised in Arizona and comes from a family of educators.

Rachel Chunglo stepped into a new role this fall. She is the PUSD Distance Learning Coordinator a position funded with CaresAct money.

As the distance learning coordinator, Rachel Chunglo is the liaison between PREP students, parents, and teachers. Rachel has led numerous parent webinars to help parents and students prepare for distance learning, and will continue to host webinars to help families that are struggling with distance learning.

This episode contains both exploration of really technical education subjects like “number sense” and phonics AND it also contains really heartwarming stories about how educators build relationships with their students and their families and how that makes community and learning possible, even in a pandemic. And, don’t miss the early reading book recommendations and a link to a teacher-approved math resource for parents!