We have a strong staff of caring, nurturing educators. All of Kiva’s staff members combined have over 500 years of experience in educating our young people.

 

 

 

Nick has lived in the Phoenix area for twenty-six years.  He graduated from Brophy College Prep and earned his Bachelor of Science in Philosophy from Santa Clara University.  He met his wife, Lori, at Santa Clara and they are the proud parents of two children, Caroline and Michael. Nick earned a Master of Elementary Education (M.Ed.) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Arizona State University and completed his administrative certificate course work at Northern Arizona University.  He spent seven years teaching kindergarten, 1^st grade and 4^th grade in the Osborn School District before moving on to Scottsdale Unified School District in 2006.  He worked at Copper Ridge Elementary School for three years as an assistant principal before coming to Kiva.  When he is not at Kiva Nick can be found running with his dog Sammi through the Phoenix Mountain Preserve or the canal while listening to The Beatles.

 

 

 

Robert joined the Kiva family in 2010. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Labor Studies and a Master’s Degree in Educational Curriculum and Instruction. He earned is his Advanced Graduate Degree in School Administration in 2006. As a teacher, Robert taught history, economics and business at the high school level. This will be his 6^th school year as an Assistant Principal for SUSD having started at Saguaro High School as the Assistant Principal for Student Services. When he is not working with the Kiva students he spends his time with his family. Originally from New York, Robert and his wife moved to Arizona in 1998. He is a proud father of two young girls and coach of their softball team. Robert is a musician who records and performs whenever possible.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present." -Master Oogway, “KungFu Panda”

 

 

 

 

Shannon Blair is the School Psychologist at Kiva Elementary. She has worked at Kiva for 7 years and has worked for Scottsdale School District for 14 years.   She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Developmental Psychology and Master’s Degree in School Psychology at Eastern Washington University in Cheney Washington. She met her husband of 13 years while living in the Cheney/Spokane Washington area. Shannon grew up in the small town of St. Peter Minnesota but has called Arizona home for 14 years.

Shannon has been the School Psychologist at several SUSD schools including, Pueblo Elementary, Mohave Middle School, Chaparral High School, Sierra Vista Alternative School and currently shares her time between Kiva and Cochise Elementary. She is also a Central Region Director for the Arizona Association of School Psychologist. As a Regional Director she is part of the AASP Board and serves on several committees.

Shannon enjoys spending time with family and friends, swimming, golfing, practicing yoga and watching football.

 

 

 

 

Kristi started at Kiva in August of 2004 , this is her 8^th year teaching at Kiva. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. She keeps an old school photo of her Grandmother on her desk. Kristi’s Grandmother was a fourth grade teacher for over thirty years.

Kristi was born in Fort Worth, Texas but lived in Oklahoma her entire life until moving to Arizona in 1998. She moved to Arizona with my husband, Trent and our son, Joshua. Kristi taught first grade in Oklahoma for 8 years, then 3 years in the Cave Creek School District before coming to Kiva. She loves first graders and Kiva!! 

When Kristi is not teaching, you will find her hanging out with her family, hiking, taking road trips, reading, or watching movies. She also enjoy listening to all kinds of music and loves going to concerts.

A few of Kristi’s favorite quotes…

“Only a life lived for others, is a life worth while.” ~ Albert Einstein

“Teachers teach more by what they are than by what they say.” ~ Unknown

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” ~Abraham Lincoln

 

 

 

 

Karen Brisbane, B.S, has fourteen years of experience teaching at the intermediate level in the Arizona public school system.  During her teaching career, Mrs. Brisbane implemented a looping model, keeping the same class over a two year time period in grades four and five. She also taught a multiage class with students in grades four and five. Mrs. Brisbane conducted instruction in English in a dual language classroom while her counterpart conducted instruction in Spanish. In addition, to her classroom teaching experiences, Mrs. Brisbane has conducted various professional development programs. These have included the use of formative and summative assessment to improve student learning and training in the use of interactive white boards to assist with the integration of technology to enhance the classroom curriculum and to assess student growth. Mrs. Brisbane has served as an on-site Six Traits writing coach and Sally Ride teacher trainer. She has also presented on the state and national levels in the area of The Use of Formative and Summative Assessment to Improve Student Learning in Mathematics.

 

 

 

Joan was born in Inglewood, California. During the early fifties, when she was three years old, her family moved to Arizona. She has many fond memories of her childhood growing up in Scottsdale. Oh, how Scottsdale has changed! Joan decided to become a teacher early on in life. Upon graduating from High School, she was a Sunday School Music Director and taught Sunday School classes and 4-H horsemanship classes. 

Joan loves music! While attending A.S.U. she played clarinet in the A.S.U. Concert and Marching Bands and remembers the many pregame and half-time shows as well as the performances on the Gammage stage. She even played clarinet at the very first Fiesta Bowl game!

She earned her B.A. Ed from A.S.U. and later returned to earn her Master of Arts in Education from Arizona State University with a Specialization in Reading Education, and Early Childhood Education. She continued her education by completing a M.A.ED at Northern Arizona University focusing on Science and Gifted Education classes.

Joan has taught in the Scottsdale Unified School District for over 34 years. During her thirty-plus years of teaching, she taught at Loloma Elementary (Kindergarten), Tavan Elementary (First Grade), Mohave Elementary (Fourth Grade), Cocopah Elementary School (Eighth Grade) and thirty years at Kiva Elementary School (First and Second Grade).

She enjoys working with the young learners and our Kiva family, spending time with family, horseback riding, gardening, cooking, music and watching A.S.U. football. GO Devils!! She also enjoys horseback riding and shares many hours of riding in the desert, forests and preparing for horseshows with her sister Sue. 

 

Madelynn Susanne Cardell was born in Inglewood, California, but has lived in Arizona since 1955 when her father, an aeronautical design supervisor for Garrett AirResearch (now Honeywell), was transferred to Phoenix. She attended Tavan Elementary and Arcadia High School, both in the Scottsdale District.

Through the years, Sue has had the opportunity to enjoy many different learning and work experiences. She has been a Sunday school teacher, Veterinary assistant, professional horse trainer, Arabian horse ranch manager, ladies sportswear clerk, Cub Scout leader and 4-H horse project leader. She also enjoyed working with her father as he taught her how to rebuild car engines and do “you name it” building projects around the house. All of these “side” jobs revolved around her primary interests -- teaching and learning. 

She earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and her M.A. Ed. at Northern Arizona University. She has a Reading Specialization from A.S.U., Early Childhood Endorsement, and ESL Endorsement.

Sue has taught 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th grade in the Scottsdale District since 1983. Prior to working for SUSD, she taught at ASU for 11 years and Scottsdale Community College for 5 years.

Her favorite saying is: “Be the best you can be!”

 

Sheila was born and raised in southern California, attended Long Beach State University and graduated with a degree in Liberal Studies. She then went on to get her Elementary Education degree. After graduation, she taught in the Paramount Unified School District in Lakewood for five years and then moved to Fullerton, California. She taught second and third grade for the Placentia Unified School District for five more years.  In 2001, she got remarried and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and was hired to teach fifth grade at Kiva. Mrs. Fullerton has three children: a step-daughter Sydney and daughter Taylor that both attend Saguaro and a son, Justin that is in sixth grade at Kiva. In her free time, she enjoyed movies, the beach and spending time with family.

 

 

 

Elizabeth is a fourth generation native to Arizona.  She attended Kiva, Mohave and Saguaro.  She has been a kindergarten teacher at Kiva for fourteen years.   She received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary education and her Master’s in early childhood education from Northern Arizona University. Elizabeth has been married to her husband Chad for ten years and together they have two children Landry and Bennett.  When she is not teaching Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her family, reading, going to the movies, and her favorite place is the beach

 

Whitney was born in Kansas City, Missouri, with a twin sister named Christina.  After high school, she moved to Arizona to attend A.S.U., where she received a B.S. in Psychology.  Whitney worked in business for many years, before deciding to pursue a career in education.  She returned to school for her Master’s in Education in 2002.  Whitney taught Kindergarten in the Creighton School District for two years, and then taught first and second grade at Tavan Elementary School for three years.  She’s been teaching at Kiva Elementary School since 2008. Whitney have a daughter, Lilly.  They spend most weekends on the softball field and love going to the movies.   They have three dogs named Mia, Roxy and Duke.

 

Josh Gullekson joined Kiva this year and is a native of Arizona, graduating from Arcadia High School.  He received his BA in Sociology from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN.  After moving back to Phoenix and doing some different things, Josh went back to school at ASU and received his Post-Bac Physical Education teaching certification.  This is his fourth year in the district.  He loves to spend time with his family and has 2 boys, Ben(6) and Luke(4).  Other interests include golf, basketball, fishing, and watching sports and movies.

 

Katie Hart is a native of Arizona and started teaching at Kiva in 2006. She double majored and has a Bachelor’s of Science for Music Education general and choral music and Vocal Performance from Arizona State University. She has been singing and performing for the last twenty years. Katie grew up in Phoenix Arizona attended Sunnyslope High School and graduated her senior year from Barry Goldwater High School. She has always taught at Kiva which is where she met her wonderful husband Trent and they have a beautiful and energetic daughter Isabella. When Katie is not teaching, she can be found refurbishing old furniture, or some other odd craft project, hiking, and spending time with her family and of course incorporates music into all of that. 

 

 

 

 

Trent grew up in Hobart Indiana, a suburb just south of Chicago. He spent 22 years of his life in the Chicago-land area where he attended Purdue University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. Trent spent the next four years traveling to various parts of the country before calling the Phoenix area his new home. 2005 marked the start of his teaching career at Kiva where he has spent the last 7 years as a 6^th grade Social Studies and Math teacher. Trent was named the 2009-2010 Scottsdale Arts in Education Outstanding Educator of the Year. When he is not teaching you can find him in the great outdoors hiking, biking, camping, and fishing. Trent is the lucky husband of wife Katie (also a Kiva teacher) and father to his adorable daughter Isabella.

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest, til your good is your better, and your better is your best” -Quote by: St. Jerome

 

Traci grew up in Iowa and received her B.S. degree at the University of Iowa. She moved to AZ. 24 years ago to do her student teaching in the Paradise Valley School District. She received her Master’s degree at ASU in 1999.  Traci taught in the Paradise Valley school district, the Creighton School district, and has been in the Scottsdale district for the past 7 years. When not teaching physical education, Traci enjoys running, watching college football, horse shows and spending time with her husband Tom and two daughters Alex and Sydney. 

Cherie Kujawa (Quee-ah-vah) is an Arizona native and has enjoyed spending the last 18 years in the Scottsdale area. She grew up in Litchfield Park and graduated from Agua Fria High School. Cherie then headed south to Wildcat country and graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in Family Studies. After deciding not to pursue a career in social work, Cherie continued her education and earned a post-bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Chapman University. Cherie has also obtained an ESL endorsement as well as a Reading endorsement from Arizona State University. Cherie has spent the last 15 years teaching. She started teaching in the Washington School District and after 3 years joined the Scottsdale School District and the Kiva Staff. She has spent 5 years teaching 2^nd grade and 10 years in 1^st. When Cherie is not busy at school, she enjoys spending time with her husband Matt and daughter Layla. Going to the movies, getting together with friends, reading, taking walks with her dog Gigi, and watching her terrific two year old explore life, keep her extremely busy!   

 

Kimberly Lemon has worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist at Kiva Elementary School for several years.  She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech and Hearing Science at the University of Arizona and her Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders at Arizona State University.  She holds an ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology.  Kimberly is a fourth generation Arizona native and SUSD alumni (Cochise, Cocopah, and Chaparral).  Both of her parents attended Kiva back when it was a K-8 school.  She works part-time at Kiva and spends the rest of her time taking care of her two year-old daughter, Madison.  Her hobbies include spending time with family and friends, running with the jogging stroller, reading, shopping at Nordstrom, and taking road trips to the beach.

 

Jennifer Liebhaber has been the gifted program specialist at Kiva since 2000.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Northern Arizona University and earned a Master’s degree in Education from Arizona State University.   Before coming to Kiva she worked in the Creighton and Tempe school districts.  She is so thankful to have found her home at Kiva.

 

Mrs. Liebhaber was named the Charros Teacher of the Year for Kiva in 2009 and was nominated for the Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented (AAGT) Teacher of the Year in 2010.  Mrs. Liebhaber enjoys playing with technology in the classroom – you will often see her using interactive whiteboards, video cameras, and other “toys” with her students.  Mrs. Liebhaber has presented at the AAGT conference on numerous occasions, and enjoys working with teachers almost as much as working with kids. 

 

 

Paula Leikam (pronounced LIE- KAM) has been teaching for 20 years. Prior to joining Kiva she had the pleasure of teaching a variety of elementary grade levels at public schools in Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Texas. She joined Kiva’s teaching staff in 2005.

Ms. Leikam received her Bachelor of Arts in Education degree from the University of Nebraska and her Master’s Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University.  She has endorsements in English as a Second Language, Early Childhood, and Reading Specialist and K-12 Endorsement. Additionally, she is an Independent Facilitator of the Becoming a Love and Logic Parent Curriculum. 

Ms. Leikam has three beautiful daughters, Brooke, Whitney, and Michaela. A few of her hobbies include running, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Ms. Leikam considers herself a lifelong learner and believes you are never too old to learn something new.

 

 

Alison Meyer has lived in Scottsdale since 1972 where she attended Kiva Elementary. She graduated from University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Family and Consumer Resources and later went on to earn her Teaching Certificate and a Master’s Degree in Education. She returned to Kiva as a teacher in 1997, teaching 5^th, 2^nd, and 3^rd grade, and has loved every minute of it. She has two daughters who also attended Kiva. One is currently at Mohave, the other is at Saguaro. When Alison is not in her classroom, you can find her courtside at Mohave and Saguaro volleyball games cheering on her girls.

Sue Ellen has fourteenth years’ experience as a Teacher Librarian in the Scottsdale School District. She received a Bachelor’s degree at Oklahoma State University and a Master’s degree in Library Science at San Jose State University. She also holds  an Arizona Teaching certificate with Library Endorsement. Sue Ellen has two children attending Tulane University in New Orleans. She enjoys traveling, reading, and cycling.

 

2011-2012 is Mercedes Murrieta’s first school year at Kiva. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Ottawa University, Cum Laude. She is continuing her educations towards a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration. Mercedes is a native to Arizona but attended high school out of state. She came back to live near her family and be back in her home town.  She has played music since 4th grade in the Mesa School District  and always desired to teach and share music with others.  She has taught privately for 3 years before coming to the public schools.  Her major instrument is viola but enjoys learning about all instruments and types of music. 

What does she do when she’s are not teaching?  She practices yoga, reads all kinds of books, spends time with her dogs, and plays in a string quartet that performs in the valley.

 

 

 

 

Nicole Nielson (formally Gardner) was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. She attended school in SUSD at Coronado High School, Class of 99! Go Dons! Nicole has Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Arizona State University and is highly qualified to teach all levels and areas of special education as well as middle grades math. This is her fourth year teaching in the Scottsdale District as an LRC teacher spending time at Ingleside Middle School as well as Copper Ridge Elementary and Desert Canyon Middle School teaching 3^rd-8^th grades. She has recently been married to her wonderful husband, Justin, and has a daughter, Kacey, and a son, Nathan. When she is not teaching at Kiva, she spends a lot of time with her family as well as volunteering with Scottsdale Pop Warner. She is a board member as well as a head cheer coach for her daughter’s team and the Little Scholar Director. Her husband is also a board member and football coach for their son and they spend a lot of time with this fantastic organization. Please feel free to contact her with Pop Warner questions! 

 

 

 

Casey Nosky has taught for 14 years in California, Massachusetts, and Arizona. She has taught in SUSD for 10 years and at Kiva for 5 years. She was born and raised in Palo Alto, California. She is a Northern California girl through and through. Casey is a huge Stanford fan and loves to root for the Cardinal no matter what the sport – football being her favorite. Casey is married and has an daughter and a son at Kiva. She received her BA in History at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. She played varsity soccer and swam on the varsity team. She received her Master’s in Education from Boston University and lived in walking distance of Fenway Park; home of the Boston Red Sox. Casey loves to cook, bake, read, hang out with friends and family, go to the movies, and spend as much time at the beach as possible!

 

Diana Ranby came to the Scottsdale School District after graduating from UCLA with a BA in history. Her graduate year she completed her teaching degree in elementary education. She continued with additional graduate work at ASU and Stanford.   She has her ESL endorsement and continues to participate in the District’s professional development classes. She has taught K, 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th, 6^th grade throughout the Scottsdale School District for over 30 years. She has two grown boys who graduated from Saguaro and are employed in the finance world. When she is not at Kiva, she can be found visiting her granddaughter in North Carolina, participating in book clubs, traveling, or backpacking in the Grand Canyon.

 

Miss Sandoval grew up in East Phoenix and graduated from Arizona State University ( B.A.E., M.Ed.). Currently, she is certified to teach Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, English as a Second Language, and Visual Arts (K-12). Marisa has been teaching in the Scottsdale Unified School District since 1998. This is her third year teaching at Kiva Elementary School and she is enjoying the process of building a meaningful art program for our school. It is her hope that each child will leave Kiva with a great love for Art.

Cindy came to Kiva in 1996 to teach Extended Day Kindergarten. She began teaching Kindergarten at Kiva in 2001. Cindy came from Kentucky to attend ASU and has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Structured English Immersion, Early Childhood, and Art K-12. Before studying elementary education, she received a BFA degree in photography as well as a degree in Secondary Education. Cindy began her teaching career teaching high school photography and reading. She also has 17 years of experience teaching preschool age children. She and her husband, an ornamental blacksmith, met at ASU and have two sons who are attending college in Arizona. When not teaching Cindy enjoys the outdoors, reading, attending movies, and is a “foodie”, enjoying eating and preparing great food with family and friends.

 

Carla was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and attended Ohio State University, but graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from University of Illinois in Champaign, Urbana. After graduation she taught at middle school math in Chicago for six years. In 1979, she moved to Arizona with her husband Scott to raise their three children. She was a stay at home mother for fifteen years. While her children were attending Cherokee, she started volunteering in the computer lab and eventually went back to teaching sixth grade at Kiva in 1994. Carla has since received her Master’s degree in Education with a reading endorsement.

During her free time, Carla enjoys reading, playing tennis, hiking with her dog Riley, or playing with her three grandchildren.

 

 

 

Amy Smith joined the Kiva Community in the fall of 2010. She earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from ASU. Amy earned her Master of Elementary Education (MEd) with a Reading Endorsement from NAU. She has a combined 14 years teaching experience in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and second grade. Amy and her husband are both natives of Arizona and the proud parents of two fabulous children, Emily and Chase. When she is not teaching, Amy can be found enjoying a good book or on the soccer field cheering on her two children.  

 

 

 

Crystal Sneed – Kindergarten Teacher 

Crystal Sneed has taught for the past 15 years. She is a Native Arizonian and graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education. She received her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Arizona University. She currently holds endorsements as an Early Childhood Educator, Reading Specialist and English as a Second Language.  She has been married to her husband Bill for 17 years. Bill is a Phoenix Fire Fighter. They chose to move to Scottsdale 11 years ago to place their children in Kiva Elementary. They are the proud parents of two wonderful boys, 14 year old Blake who attends Saguaro and 11 year old Cole who attends Kiva. Crystal started teaching kindergarten at Kiva in 2008. She has always loved Early Childhood and loves teaching this grade level. Her hobbies include watching one of the boy’s events such as football, baseball or running track. She also enjoys hiking, biking and reading a good book.

 

Brenda was born in Wichita, Kansas, but spent many years of her childhood in Bitburg, W. Germany.  As a child in an Air Force family, Brenda has lived in many different places.  She eventually landed in Arizona.  She attended Alhambra High School.  While working her way through college, she obtained her broker’s license and began working at Prudential.  She met her husband, Craig, during this time and became a stay-at-home mom for 14 years.  They have two children, Daniel and Brittany.  She is looking forward to celebrating her 25^th Anniversary in Spain this summer!  Before coming to Kiva, Brenda worked in IT for 10 years.  She maintains ownership in an IT firm.  In her spare time, she reads, takes college courses and Bondurant driver training, and travels.   

 

Anna grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago. She always wanted to be a teacher, from the time he was a first grade student. Anna LOVED my first grade teacher. She graduated from Bradley University with my B.A. in Early Childhood Education with a double major in Spanish. Anna taught first grade on the west side of Chicago for 5 years. During that time, she earned my Master of Education in Early Childhood Education. In 2004, she moved to Arizona for a fresh start. Anna began teaching for the Scottsdale school district at Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center in a multi-grade 1st and 2nd grade classroom. After 3 years at ANLC, she moved to Kiva. Anna loves Kiva, teachers and staff with whom she work, parents of her students and she know she has found my home here. Most of all, Anna cares for and loves my kiddos.  

 

 

Nicole was born in San Pedro, California but considers herself a native since she moved to The Valley when she was one year old. Growing up, Nicole attended school in Paradise Valley and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University; Go Sun Devils! Nicole is also endorsed in Early Childhood Education and enjoys learning about child development. Nicole completed her student teaching in Brighton, England and has been teaching at Kiva since 2005. Nicole taught 1st grade for 3 years and is currently teaching kindergarten. Nicole met her husband, James, in 2001 at Arizona State University and they are the proud parents of their adorable daughter Ruby. When Nicole is not teaching her amazing kindergartners, you will find her going on many family adventures all over our beautiful state of Arizona and trying new and interesting restaurants. Nicole is also an avid reader, hiker, has a love for music and is a major bargain hunter!

 

 

Bonnie York is an Arizona native who proudly attended both Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University. She received her bachelors of Science in 1991 and began her carreer in the Balsz School District. She started teaching in Scottsdale before having children but took time off to be a mom when her three boys were young and taught pre-scool music at her children’s preschool. Bonnie is now back teaching band at both Mohave MS and Kiva. Bonnie loves camping and is a “Lego-maniac”.

 

Rachel Ziegler, originally from Minnesota, has lived in Arizona for 10 years.  Rachel graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision.  Starting with her student teaching, Rachel has been at Kiva for six years.  This is her fifth year teaching fourth grade and she absolutely loves the Kiva community.  When not teaching, Rachel enjoys hiking Camelback Mountain with her dog Remy, attending yoga classes and cooking.  Rachel also loves to travel and spend time with her friends and family here in the valley.

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” – Gandhi