This year, Mountain Ridge has 7 new teachers, and a new assistant principal! The members of the newspaper staff interviewed these new members to get to know them a little bit…

Dr. Chisholm

How long have you been teaching?

• Chisholm: This is my first year teaching.

If you have taught before, where and how long?

• Chisholm: I did a full year student teaching in the Scottsdale Unified School District last year. Before that, I was a practicing chiropractor for 19 years.

Where were you born?

• Chisholm: I was born in Davenport, Iowa, but grew up in Michigan.

What college did you go to?

• Chisholm:  The first time around, I went to Life University in Marietta, Georgia. To get my teaching degree, I spent a couple of years at ASU. (Go Sun Devils!)

What are your first impressions of Mountain Ridge?

• Chisholm:  This is my dream job… it was my goal to work here, so I’m just grateful for the opportunity. I can tell that this school has a supportive administration and staff – they seem like a family and I’m glad I get to be part of it.

What classes are you teaching this year?

• Chisholm: I’m teaching World History and American/AZ History.

What is your philosophy on teaching?

• Chisholm:  Every student can learn, every student has potential (they just have to tap into it). I love history, but I’m here to support students.

List four adjectives to describe yourself.

• Chisholm: Funny, charismatic, compassionate, and kind.

If I wasn’t teaching, I would be…

• Chisholm:  Bored. Or on vacation! 😉

Mr. Cimino

How long have you been teaching?

• Cimino: This is my first year teaching!

Where were you born?

• Cimino: I was born in Oceanside CA.

What college did you go to?

• Cimino: Grand Canyon University

What was your first Impression of Mountain Ridge High School?

• Cimino: Wow! I already love it here.

What classes are you teaching this year?

• Cimino: I teach ELA 1-2 as well as ELA 3-4. 

What is your philosophy on teaching?

• Cimino: My philosophy behind teaching is to actively, engage the students in every aspect of their learning possible.

If I wasn’t teaching…

• Cimino: I would be sea turtles in Florida, or guiding people in the sport of fly fishing.

Ms. Cole (Assistant Principal)

Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you born, where did you go to school?

• Cole: I was born and raised in Arizona, actually super close to the area. I went to elementary school and high school at like 75th and Greenway, so super close. I graduated from high school at Centennial High School and I’ve stayed on the west side pretty much my whole life, childhood and adult life, for the most part. Prior to this, I was in the Peoria School District, so not only did I live on the west side, but I worked on the west side as well.

How long have you been working in education?

• Cole: This is going into my eighth year. I was an English teacher prior to this,  and I taught there for six years, and then in my seventh year I was a teacher coach on a campus and I helped with science and english and then I came here.

What is your first impression of MRHS?

• Cole: It’s been fabulous so far. Everyone has been very welcoming and the campus is beautiful. I don’t know how it could be more beautiful beyond having a mountain right across the street and some of the amazing landscaping that you guys have. So it’s been very welcoming, it’s beautiful, everyone, staff and students, have all really fabulous and happy and excited to be here. I think that’s the biggest piece that has made this transition for me on to the campus so nice is because everyone else has been so nice.

What are you excited about for the upcoming school year?

• Cole: I think I’m most excited because, not only is it a big campus, but it’s a big campus that has so many opportunities for students outside of Mountain Ridge. So what comes next?…What I’m so excited about is being able to be a part of a campus where so many students are looking what’s next for them and are actively trying to make more opportunities for themselves as they move towards their junior and senior year of high school and for what comes after. It’s really the first campus that I’ve been on that has such a career and college focus from both the students and the teachers.

What are your goals?

• Cole: It’s to continue to expand those opportunities. I’m the assistant principal that oversees, CTE, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement classes and as a student in high school, only a bit ago, I remember I took AP US History because I loved the teacher. I had no desire to take an AP class but I wanted her as a teacher and so that was my first jump into that world and it was such a cool world. Same with dual enrollment. I had no idea what opportunities were there for me and so I didn’t take advantage of those opportunities as a student. Looking back and looking at the amount of college credits that students now, especially at Mountain Ridge, can walk away with is just outstanding. So I think one of my big goals is just to continue to help promote and grow those programs so that there are more opportunities for students on this campus.

What is an important source of inspiration for you?

• Cole: It’s helping to develop the students on this campus because eventually you guys are going to be the next group that’s making decisions and leading this community, and if you want to get really big and crazy, the world as you guys become decision makers for Arizona and for the west side. I think the inspiration in that comes from eventually some of you guys might be teaching my kids. I think that it’s so important to be able to impart good life lessons and good opportunities for students to be able to help develop students better and for students to be able to develop themselves better so that one day the inspiration is that my kids have the same opportunities that you guys have and some of the same people that touch their lives that you guys have.

What are four words that describe you?

• Cole: Excited to be here.

Ms. Galaviz

How long have you been teaching?

• Galaviz: 11 years

If you have taught before, where and how long?

• Galaviz: Last Year at Highland Lakes and Canyon Springs, before at  Paseo Hills elementary for 6 years, and before Paseo Hills, at Desert Foothills Jr. High at Washington District for four years.

Where were you born?

• Galaviz: I was born in San Luis Rio Colorado Sonora, Mexico.

What college did you go to?

• Galaviz: I went to GCC and then ASU West.

What are your first impressions of Mountain Ridge?

• Galaviz: Well organized high school. Its staff is very warm and welcoming, It feels like home to me.

What classes are you teaching this year?

• Galaviz: Spanish 1-2 only.

List four adjectives to describe yourself.

• Galaviz: Reliable, responsible, honest, and very diligent.

If I wasn’t a teacher, I would be…  

• Galaviz: An astronaut.

Ms. Hurd

How long have you been teaching?                                                                                                                    

• Hurd: “This is my third year teaching.”

If you have taught before, where, and how long?                                                                                                                                     

• Hurd: “I taught at Frontier last year and, before that at a school in Illinois.”

Where were you born?                                                                                                                    

• Hurd: “I was born in Perkin, Illinois.”

What college did you go to?                                                                                                                             

• Hurd: “Illinois State University.”

What are your first impressions of Mountain Ridge?                                                                                                                        

• Hurd: “Love it! My students are fantastic and the staff have been very welcoming.”

What classes are you teaching?                                                                                                            

• Hurd: “Biology.”

What is your philosophy on teaching?                                                                                                                         

• Hurd: “I want my students to experience science so I focus on hands-on learning. I like to emphasize problem-based learning so the students are the seekers of information instead of me just telling them.”

List four adjectives to describe  yourself?                                                                                                                   

• Hurd: “Cheerful, realistic, personable and empathetic.”

“If I wasn’t teaching I would be….”                                                                                                                      

• Hurd: “If I wasn’t teaching I would be a stay-at-home mom.” 

Ms. Sparks

How long have you been teaching?

• Sparks: This is my 7th year teaching English Language Arts.

If you have taught before, where and how long?

• Sparks: I’ve only ever taught at Mountain Ridge! I student taught for Mrs. Moya, and then I worked here for six years from 2008-2014 before taking time off to raise my small kids. I have four! Carter is 7, Jack is 3, and I have 18-month old twins named Elizabeth and Charlotte.

Where were you born?

• Sparks: I was born in Phoenix. I’ve also lived in Massachusetts.

What college did you go to?

• Sparks: I went to ASU twice. I received my Bachelor’s in 2008 and my Master’s in 2015.

What are your first impressions of Mountain Ridge?

• Sparks: It’s even better the second time around!

What classes are you teaching this year?

• Sparks: I’m teaching ELA 1-2 and ELA 5-6.

We are so excited to have these new staff members in our school! Welcome to Ridge! 🙂