Teachers – Pueblo High School

Medhi Wins December 2023 ‘Bake-Off’

By Desiree Noriega

Once again, Pueblo High School’s faculty had an opportunity to boast their delectable creations; last quarter, the competition was “chips and salsa”, and this time around, on Dec. 14, faculty members showcased their favorite baked goods in the “December Bake-Off”.

This contest’s winner, journalism teacher Mr. Rana Medhi, entered his “pineapple upside-down cheesecake” dessert.

“Not to sound overly confident, but I knew I’d win,” Medhi said. “This dessert is a family recipe that has been passed down through the generations. It wins at every competition.”

Math teacher Ms. Taylor Pacheco, said, “I think Mr. Medhi’s dessert should not have won for having to replace the whipped cream.”

Pacheco’s dessert, “Oreo Balls”, won second place.

Third-place winner, librarian Ms. Marsha-Jean Burrola, said, “I’ve seen better days.”

Burrola’s dessert was truffles.

MTTS Coordinator, Ms. Brenda Levinson-McCune, organized this event, although she said that it was Ms. Karla Martinez’ (assistant principal) idea to have a faculty “Bake-Off” before the end of the semester.

“This contest was to celebrate the holidays, but it was a bit of a struggle with everybody so busy with the end of the semester and preparing for Christmas,” Levinson-McCune said.

She added that she will continue these food competitions next semester.

“I’d like to organize at least two more contests this school year,” she said. “I would like to have themed contests, but I’m still brainstorming ideas for future events like this.”

Ms. Rhesa Olsen Retires After Decade At Pueblo

By Arnold Ochoa

After 10 years of passionate teaching at Pueblo High School, Ms. Rhesa Olsen said: “It’s time to retire.”

For the past decade at PHS, Olsen taught various levels of algebra and financial math to more than a thousand Warriors.

“It’s gone by so fast, and I can’t believe 10 years have come and gone!” Olsen said. “It’s been a pleasure.”

Despite missing all her great students—past and present—she said that she won’t miss the alarm clock going off at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Olsen’s early life was about living in many wonderful places in the country. Olsen’s father was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, so she and her family moved frequently. Her favorite places to live were Oahu, HI (grades three through five), and Alexandria, VA, where she graduated from high school.

Olsen then moved to Tallahassee, FL, to begin her teaching career in the late 1970’s at Godby High School. She then taught calculus and algebra at Tallahassee Community College and various algebra classes at Ivy Tech State College in Indianapolis.

“When I first started teaching, educators used chalkboards and mimeograph machines,” Olsen said. “I’d go home each evening with different colored chalk on my clothes, hair, and face—as well as purple ink on my hands from the stencils. Promethean Boards have certainly made teaching easier and less messy!”

After retirement, Olsen has a lot on her “To Do” list. She is looking forward to volunteering her time at a few animal shelters as well as tutoring math and reading at a local elementary school.

“I’m also excited about visiting friends and family [during retirement],” she said. “I look forward to traveling—especially to places I haven’t yet visited, including Alaska and Costa Rica.”

With so much on Olsen’s “plate” after this semester, she said that she will still miss her love of teaching and many of her students.

“I think what I’ll miss most are the times when I observed students beginning to enjoy math in my classes,” she said. “I loved seeing students ‘get it’—and when they realized that math isn’t so scary after all. I will also miss former students coming back to visit to tell me what they’re doing with their lives since high school.”

Although 10 years of teaching at Pueblo has been just a fraction of Olsen’s total educational career, she said that she will miss the camaraderie between other teachers both while at Pueblo and after hours.

“There is a lot to say before retirement,” Olsen said, “but I think what I want to say foremost is that I hope that I have encouraged students to be amazed at the beauty, fun and magic of math. I also want kids to know that one learns from making mistakes, and that they should always try. If they don’t try, they won’t know.”

Olsen would like to end her teaching career by quoting poet/writer George Eliot: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

She hopes students will heed the message in Eliot’s words.

Cristobal Santa Cruz Receives Collegiate Award

By Isaiah Sotelo

Out of 305 nominees from 38 states and 17 countries, Pueblo U.S. history teacher Mr. Cristobal Santa-Cruz was nominated and selected as one of this year’s winners of the prestigious Yale Educator Award, which recognizes high school educators who have motivated and supported students to go and be “above and beyond”.

These educators are nominated by students, and these nominations are reviewed by admissions officers at Yale University.

“I felt privileged because I know that several teachers deserved this award,” said Santa Cruz, who was nominated by Pueblo High School’s Class of 2021 valedictorian Yakeleen Almazán, currently attending Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

“Once I read the Yale Educator Award prompt, I automatically thought of Mr. Santa Cruz.” said Almazán.

Almazán thanks Santa Cruz for all of the encouragement he gave her. She believes that because of his support, she was accepted to Yale and was selected for one of the most prestigious scholarships for high school students.

“Not only did he touch my life, but he is legendary at Pueblo for his amazing lectures and the motivation he instills within his students,” Almazán said.

She added that Santa Cruz’ interactive style of teaching allows his students to be engaged in their classwork and deeply interested in the subject.

“I can honestly say that I was never bored—not even once—while I was in his classroom,” Almazan said. “I was always fully attentive and fascinated during his lectures.”

Ms. Mary Wallace, an economics teacher at Pueblo, added that Santa Cruz has been an unconditional ally to his co-educators and staff throughout their years of teaching.

“He is the most amazing teacher I ever met,” said Wallace. “When I was a first-year teacher, he took me under his wing and helped me so much. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have made it my first year.”

Santa Cruz, who has been teaching at Pueblo for 29 years, was publicly recognized for this award at Pueblo’s Homecoming game on Oct. 1.

“When my students leave my class, my hope is that they have the skills that help them become literate members of our society and that they adhere to a tenacious spirit that helps them further their education in the field they choose to follow,” he said.

Welcome, ‘Queen Bee’!

Elizabeth Olguin & Ivan Rosas

The Pueblo community welcomes Ms. Marie Jose Queen Bee Libe, who moved to Tucson from the Philippines last month.

Libe taught Filipino and the value of education in the Philippines for high school students before moving to the United States to teach 11th grade English.

“As a teacher, it has always been my dream to educate in the U.S.,” she said.

Libe expressed that there are a lot of teachers in the Philippines who would like to teach in America and experience different cultures.

Coming to Pueblo was definitely a culture shock, as education is very different in this country, Libe said.

“One of the classes we teach back in the Philippines is about values,” Libe said, “that stresses the importance of education. I do have to admit that children in the Philippines love education maybe more than America.”

Thus far, Libe said that her transition to this country and this new school has been smooth and added that Pueblo High School is very systematic.

“Pueblo is also very unique,” Libe said. “I like how Pueblo has their own radio station!”

Libe’s has several professional goals this school year including working on self-improvement and honing her teaching skills.

Everybody at Pueblo High School wishes her the absolute best this 2019-20 school year!

“I feel very welcomed here at Pueblo,” she added.

…And Assistant Principal Gunnels Makes Four

by Adamaris Castillo

New this school year to the administrative family at Pueblo High School is former English teacher Ms. Kathryn Gunnels, who officially begins as assistant principal with a long list of responsibilities, including the planning of meetings for teachers (Professional Learning Communities), supervising advanced learning opportunities, finalizing the master schedule and organizing student-testing events.

She also communicates to staff via a weekly update on teachers’ computer work stations.

“This is the hardest job I’ve ever had,” Gunnels said, “but I also love it—not only to help students but also to support Pueblo’s great teaching staff.”

Gunnels, who taught English for 10 years at Pueblo (in two separate time periods), actually fulfilled her student-teaching assignment under the supervision of Mr. Manny Galvan, who retired a few years ago (but occasionally substitute-teaches) and Ms. Marci Bowman, who also retired from teaching.

“I knew then [while student-teaching] that Pueblo was a special place,” Gunnels said. “I may have left Pueblo for a few years [to pursue other positions], but I’m definitely back, and it feels like a second home.”

She revealed that education was not her first career choice. Gunnels said that she majored in business, but after mentoring at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind, she was inspired to become an educator.

And, as far as being the fourth employee with the surname “Gunnels” to be employed at Pueblo High School, Assistant Principal Gunnels said, “We have a rule at our house at the dinner table. My husband, two sons and I are not allowed to talk about school.”

Husband Mr. Michael Gunnels is a communications media tech teacher; son Jeren is a transition school-to-work instructional specialist; and other son, Derek, is an exceptional education teacher.

“I’m here [as an assistant principal] especially for our students,” Gunnels said. “I want students to know that when they make mistakes or face monumental obstacles, it’s not the end of the world. I want to help them realize that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I want to help them find solutions to their problems.”

She added, “I want our students at Pueblo to know that they can do anything with their lives—they have the potential to achieve greatness.”

Mr. Nicolas Pitts: ‘Pueblo Is the Place To Be’

by Bryan Bueno

Mr. Nicolas Pitts is one of the many new staff hired here at Pueblo High School this year, and he said that he is definitely ready to teach!

As a new biology teacher, Pitts feels as if he can make a huge impact on the Pueblo freshmen in his classroom.

“I think biology is the foundation of biotech, which is the future of technology,” he said. “I really want them to make that connection.”

After graduating from Tucson High Magnet School in 2009 and then from the University of Arizona, Pitt traveled to Columbia (South America); he lived there from the ages of 23 through 25.

Pitts said he applied for teaching position at Pueblo because “it’s close to home and his culture” and because he wanted to help build Pueblo’s rich community.

“I feel good very comfortable at Pueblo so far,” Pitts said.

Besides his love of many sports (including riding his bike), Pitts said that he loves to practice speaking Spanish. Pitts said that he also likes “reggaeton” music and claims that Farruko is his favorite artist in this music genre.

At 26 years old, Pitts said that he has a lot planned for his first year at Pueblo, despite not knowing for sure how much longer he wants to remain in Tucson.

“If I stay in Tucson, Pueblo is the place where I want to be,” he said.