Morenci opens the 2024-25 school year on Wednesday

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: First-year Morenci head football coach Frankie Gonzalez (CENTER) walks through the defensive linemen as a play is about to start. The Wildcats lost the bulk of both lines through graduation and are using different student-athletes to fill the voids. Kneeling from left are, senior Yeddidia Laputa Kanyinda, junior Isaiah Cook, senior Richard Varela Jr., and senior Shane Seballos. The 2024-25 school year begins Wednesday, July 24 for the Morenci Schools.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: First-year Morenci head football coach Frankie Gonzalez, center, walks through the defensive linemen as a play is about to start. The Wildcats lost the bulk of both lines through graduation and are using different student-athletes to fill the voids. Kneeling from left are, senior Yeddidia Laputa Kanyinda, junior Isaiah Cook, senior Richard Varela Jr., and senior Shane Seballos. The 2024-25 school year begins Wednesday, July 24 for the Morenci Schools.

By Raymundo Frasquillo

MORENCI – An 8-week summer break is nearing its end. The break used to be 12 weeks long, but changed after two weeks each were allotted for the Fall (October) and Spring (March) Breaks some time back. The buildings, classrooms, and campuses are ready, new to the district teachers have been oriented, and a final faculty and staff gathering is set for Tuesday, July 23. Morenci’s 2024-25 school year begins on Wednesday, July 24.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Band camp participants review marching in formation eight paces to five yards during an evening camp session. Returning band members under the watchful eye of MHS grad and current EAC band member Quinton Wiltbank, far right; from left are, James Anderson, Mathew Crowder, LilyAnn Jweinat, Eleasah Spean-Austin, Destiny Lamoree, Isaac Whetten, Maxwell Clancy, Robert Hobbs, October Hernandez, Philson Benally III, Miles Romero, Manuel Grijalva Jr., Alandra Dalton, and Avery Wiltbank.

There are no new administrators for any of the district schools. However, several faculty additions have been made.

Morenci Early Learning Center

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Returning Pride Band Color Guard members Mathew Crowder, October Hernandez, and Jaimelee Frisby march downfield during the first day of band camp on July 15.

Ashley Morales remains as the Early Learning Center Director, a position she has held since 2022.

New to the faculty are Corrinna Barker (4-year-olds) and Brandalynn Salas (3-year-olds). The other faculty members include Jennie Romero and Christie Wyatt for 4-year-olds along with Sarah Stergion for 3-year-olds. Vanessa Torres is the Special Education teacher.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Karen Casoose listens intently to Morenci High School secretary Amy Ciriello, right, as she registers daughters Mandi, left, and Kallyn, right, ) on July 16.

Metcalf Elementary School

Metcalf Elementary School has Dr. Chelsea Adams as principal and Andrea Hudman as assistant principal along with Dean of Students and Academic Coach, both in their fourth years as such. They oversee a total of 44 teachers in the building housing grades K-4. Paula Gonzalez (K), Taylor Martinez, and Kelsey Pugmire both 2nd Grade, Lily Naccarati (Character), Bridgette Mennen, and Rosie Allen both for Physical Education, and Kara Wagley (Special Education) are in their inaugural year at Metcalf.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Omar Torres accepts a receipt from MHS athletic secretary Tasha Harguess during senior registration.

Returning teachers include Vanessa Jones, Benino Morales, Casey Russell, Tiffany Saenz, and Myranda Wasko return for Kindergarten; Erin Clem, Elizabeth Dunagan, Alexis Gregory, Michelle Pollack, Stephanie Salazar, and Janet Vaughn for First Grade; Lillian Forgach, Jessica Gonzalez, Shannon Herrera, and Kathryn Najar for Second Grade; Jessica Gallegos, Jessica Harrington, Cassandra Hernandez, Allison Reigel, Marla Reyes, and Sara Rios for Third Grade; and Janet Cervantez, Vanessa Fallow, Angela Hernandez, Jessica King, Christine Rivera, and Layla Turner for Fourth Grade.

Seven Special Education teachers include Sandra Carrasco, Michelle Manuz, Ruth Martin, Laurie Stubblefield, Vanessa Torres, Linda Woodard, and Kodie Barnett (Occupational Therapist).

Sabrina Gonzales (Spanish), DeDe Guerrero (Library), and Gene Willey (Music) round out the teaching corps.

Fairbanks Middle School

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Switching directions are band camp members Kirsten Farrell, Isabella Fagone, Jaimelee Frisby, Margarita Aguilera, Ximena Esparza, Mathew Crowder, Joseph Lopez, Eleasah Spean-Austin, James Anderson, LilyAnn Jweinat, Isaac Whetten, Maxwell Clancy, and October Hernandez.

Fairbanks Middle School has Nikki Lopez as principal for a second year and Rebecca Manuz as assistant principal in her eighth year. Christina Chavez is the Special Education Director and Tanner Pursley is the counselor.

Thirty teachers hold classes for middle school students, with Rochelle Brock (6th Science), Brendon Enriquez (7th Science), Nicole Marin (6th Social Studies), and Benedetta Cargile (Band) new to the faculty for this year.

The FMS teachers are Katy Crandall, Tawnya Helbig, Jamie Madrid, Alyssa Murillo, and Nicole Pursley for Fifth Grade; Rebecca Baumeister, (Math), and Raylyn Chee (English-reading) for Sixth Grade; David Gallegos (Math), Scarlet Ludvigson (Social Studies), and Christy Parrott (English) for Seventh Grade; and Jasmine Aguinaga (Math), Jody Bailey (Social Studies), A.J. Rodriguez (Science), Melissa Rodriguez (English) and for Eighth Grade.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Additions to the district teachers are, seated from left, Paula Gonzalez, Beatriz Wilkinson, Nikki Marin, Rosie Allen, Rochelle Brack, and Benedetta Cargile. Standing, from left, are Bridgette Mennen, Kara Wagley, Siobhan Manrique, Kelsey Pugmire, Nicolas Carrasco, Brendon Enriquez, Brandalynn Salas, Casey Maldonado, Sheridan Valdez, Corrinna Suarez, and Deserae Daniels.

The rest of the faculty members include Ruben Aguallo (Boys Physical Education), Andrea Einwaechter (Art), Barbie Gaethje (7th/8th Special Education), Casey Maldonado (5th/6th Special Education), Venise Mendez-Lytle (Girls Physical Education), Melanie Hilton (Accommodations), Gene Willey (Percussion/Band) Samantha Williams (technology), and Casey Woodall (Co-Ed Athletic Development).

Morenci High School

Morenci High School returns its principal and assistant principal in Don Goodman and Tiffany Powers. The faculty coach is Ilsa Castillo and the student counselor is Joseph Garcia.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Trent Nelson puts down tape for an outline of an addition to his parking space artwork. Senior students have been able to purchase a parking space in the lot between the high school building and tennis courts and decorate it. The student council fundraising project began in January 2019.

The “top-tiered technology-based” school has 24 teachers within its walls and graduated its’ 119th class in May. Benedette Cargile (Band, Mariachi), Nicolas Carrasco (Athletic Development), Desarae Daniels (Business/History), Amanda Davis (English), Frankie Gonzalez (Freshman Academy), Siobhan Manrique (English/History), Sheridan Valdez (Science), Beatriz Wilkinson (Spanish/Art) are the faculty additions this year.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: A landscaping crew cleared the ditch between the high school building and the football field on June 27. Three days later rain run-off flowed freely. Run-off from a late July storm flooded some high school classrooms from the backside of the building, delaying the start of the 2022-23 school year by a week. The 2024-25 school year begins Wednesday, July 24 for the Morenci Schools.

The rest of the MHS teachers include Julie Baker, Jennifer Chavez, and Garcia for English; Alexa Aguilera, Castillo, Sabyn Martinez, Gary Rees, and Renee Still for Math; Leonisa Calapini and Marilou Cortez for Science; and Baker and Kenneth Lester for History.

Additionally, Anthony Aguinaga (Welding/Construction), Sabrina Gonzales (Spanish), Lester (Government), Denita Marble (Culinary Arts), Terry Montoya (Special Education/Art), and Casey Woodall (Athletic Development) round out the faculty. Greg Verlander is the Industrial Electrician teacher on a separate campus.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Rain run-off flows unimpeded after the ditch between the high school building and the football field was cleaned. The initial Summer storm occurred on June 30.

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