The 24-25 School Year - What a Year for MUSD!

Across Marana Unified School District, the 24-25 school year has been nothing short of spectacular—our student-athletes shattered records and claimed championships, our schools earned top academic ratings, and our staff garnered prestigious awards. Read more about the outstanding things happening across Marana Schools.

• RJ Romero, MHS Senior: Wrestling State Champion
• MHS Dance Team National Champions
• Dezmen Roebuck, MHS Senior: Gatorade Player of the Year, 2024 Ed Doherty Award, MaxPreps player of the year, 5A Southern Arizona Player of the Year, 5A All Region First Team Wide Receiver, 5A All Region Second Team Punt Returner, Arizona high school football all-time leader with 352 receptions, breaking the state career receptions record with an astounding 4,239 yards! 
• MUSD doubles its number of A-rated schools, from 5 to 10 in one year
• MHS/MVHS Auto Club Top Tech 2nd place winners Jeffrey & Tyler
• MHS Football Team Regional Champs: Seed 1 in playoffs, Undefeated Season
• MVHS Mock Team Trial Places Sixth at State
• Luke Villareal, MVHS Senior: Accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy

• Megan Hawkes, TMS Social Studies Teacher: Legendary Teacher Winner
• Dan Contorno, MUSD Chief Financial Officer: MUSD Administrator of the Year
• Alicia Johnson, BE Behavior Interventionist:  MUSD Support Staff of the Year
• Valerie Ramirez, RRE Sixth Grade Teacher: MUSD Teacher of the Year
• Danielle Schroeder, MVHS teacher, and Lindsey Lara, PAL Preschool teacher: Raytheon Leader in Education Award Winners
• MMS 7th and 8th grade Softball Regional Championship winner
• BE, DE, EE, PRE, QRE, RE: Out of School Time Award of Excellence
• RRE: PBIS AZ Model School Award
• BE: PBIS AZ Model School Award
• Dennis Toia, RRE Teacher, Extra Yard for Teachers Recipient for the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
• Teresa Anthofer, MHS teacher, UA Teacher of the Year Finalist
• Elliot Beck, MVHS teacher, UA Teacher of the Year Finalist
• Nikki Tapia, CTE teacher: Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching finalist
• John Hepford, DMK8 teacher, Amanda Macedo, TPK8 teacher, Deizy Mexia, TPK8 teacher, Ayla Patton, TPK8 teacher, Adam Scafede, MVHS teacher, Karin Schaffer EE teacher:  $2500 Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers Grant
• Elliot Beck, MVHS Teacher: MEAD Teacher of the Year Award
• MHS/MVHS Welding Students: 1st Place winners at Skills USA competition

• Bryant Banzhaf, RRE 6th grade:  District Spelling Bee winner
• Shari Attabery, MUSD School Climate & Connectedness Coordinator: PBIS Leadership Award
• RRE: Received A+ School Rating
• MUSD Preschools: All community preschools are rated 4- or 5-stars by Quality First
• Jessica Leonard, BE Teacher: Tucson Local Media Best of Northwest Best Teacher
• MUSD: Tucson Local Media Best of Northwest Best Place to Work - four consecutive years
• Caitlyn Kauffman, MHS Principal: Tucson Local Media Best of Northwest Best Principal
• MHS: Tucson Local Media Best of Northwest Best School & Best Mascot
• BE: Tucson Local Media Best of Northwest Reader Recommended Best School
• Delia McCraley, MVHS Principal: Tucson Local Media Best of Northwest Reader Recommended Best Principal
• Dondi Luce, TPK8 Principal, Tucson Local Media Best of Northwest Reader Recommended Best Principal
• Christine McCarthy: TPK8 Teacher: Tucson Local Media Best of Northwest Reader Recommended Best Teacher
• Valerie Ramirez, RRE Teacher: Tucson Local Media Best of Northwest Reader Recommended Best Teacher
• MVHS: Tucson Local Media Best of Northwest Reader Recommended Best Mascot
• Jessica Hunt, MHS Teacher, Metro Education Commission Teacher of the Year award
• Mark Calton, MHS Teacher, Metro Education Commission Exemplary Educator award
• MHS Counseling Department: Metro Education Commission College Catalyst winner
• Soma Biswas, MHS teacher: ACS-Hach Professional Development Grant
• Charlotte Galvan- EE teacher: Tucson Values Teachers Award Winner
• MUSD: Founders’ Day parade, Judges’ Choice for best parade float

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• Michelle Machado, EE Teacher: National Board Certification
• Michael Forrester, QRE teacher: National Board Certification
• Anne Courthand, CTE teacher, National Board Certification
• Debbie Knickerbocker, MMS teacher: AAD Good Skin Grant
• BE, CTE, DE, DMK8, EE, MMS, PRE, RRE, TMS, TPK8: PBIS Level 4 Recognition
• GFE PBIS Level 3 Recognition
• Britnee Rynearson, MCAT teacher, Next Gen Personal Finance Certified Distinguished Educator
• Ava Gonzales, MVHS senior, AzATA Scholarship Recipient
• Majenna Kehret, BE teacher: Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Teresa Rodriguez, BE teacher: Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Kaitlyn Fullin, CTE teacher: Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Amanda Knutson, CTE teacher: Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Elisabeth Busser, DE teacher: Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Tabatha Foster, DE teacher: Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Hailey Stevens, DMK8 teacher: Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Erin Geyerr, DMK8 teacher: Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Kristen Quenelle, PAL Preschool teacher: Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Emma Lamoreaux, EE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator

• Cheyenne Ernest, EE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Maggie Youngling, GFE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Educator
• Samantha Uhe, GFE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Leesa Schmidt, IE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Kathie Newton, IE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Kieri Palacios, MHS teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Rachel Vega, MHS teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Debbie Knickerbocker, MMS teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Todd (Christopher) Johnson, MMS teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Genesis Buckhalter-Horne, MVHS teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Judith Abella, MVHS teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Dana Eiynck, PRE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator

• Michele Clevenger, PRE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Christine Vincent, QRE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Melissa Licudine, QRE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Jennifer Parson, RRE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Becca Hammer, RRE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Brenna Yunkherr, RE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Alina Ramirez, RE teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Catherine Bounds, TMS teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Megan Hawkes, TMS teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator
• Amanda Macedo, TPK8 teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Early Career Educator
• Amanda Harbison, TPK8 teacher, Delta Kappa Gamma Veteran Educator