As the first semester of the 2025/2026 school year ends, Gilbert Public Schools is highlighting the progress of some of its newest teachers and their students. These educators, working in various schools across the district, have reported significant academic and personal growth among their students.
Francie Perez, an English Language Learner (ELL) teacher at Meridian Elementary, has observed her students becoming more confident readers, writers, and communicators. She noted that her students are taking more risks and engaging in conversations while applying their learning to daily work. Perez said parents might be surprised by how much their children now understand about language fundamentals. “Their knowledge has expanded so much already,” she shared. She described her class as “a loving, caring, and confident community” and credited Meridian Elementary’s staff for making her first year positive and supportive. Looking ahead, Perez hopes to host an EL Family Engagement event next semester to connect with parents.
Christina Pjura, a fourth-grade teacher at Patterson Elementary, reflected on her students’ academic growth and relationship-building over the semester. “They love working with their classmates at our giant vertical whiteboards,” she shared. Pjura highlighted that her students achieved an 81% growth average on iReady diagnostics halfway through the school year. She and her students look forward to events such as Reading Around the World in February and STEM activities focused on weather and natural disasters after winter break.
Amanda Moe, a first-grade teacher at Highland Park Elementary, expressed satisfaction with how her class has grown together in a welcoming environment. Moe noted increased confidence among her students as they became more willing to share ideas. She appreciated Highland Park’s efforts in creating a positive atmosphere through frequent events: “Highland Park Elementary has my heart with all the incredible effort they put into constantly putting on events. This is what I love as a teacher, integrating the fun and memories into learning, because learning is fun and should be memorable.” Moe looks forward to second-semester traditions like Valentine’s Day celebrations and a trip to the zoo.
Rachel Solis, drama teacher at Mesquite High School, emphasized student ownership in productions as a highlight of the semester. The student-led production of Animal Farm drew large audiences: “What’s special about drama is that everything my students do takes courage. It’s not easy to go on stage and perform in front of a lot of people. I’m extremely proud of my students, their courage, and the leadership they’ve taken over their performances,” said Solis. Students have also been collaborating on writing and directing plays themselves; upcoming projects include a spring musical and original playwriting.
Tyler Lopez teaches science at South Valley Junior High where hands-on lab activities have allowed his students to practice scientific reasoning with real-world applications. Lopez noticed improved professionalism among his students: “Once my students started to understand the importance of science and collecting evidence, they matured into great young scientists who work together to solve problems,” he said. He also praised support from colleagues during his first year teaching at South Valley Junior High.
The experiences shared by these teachers reflect broader trends within Gilbert Public Schools aimed at fostering academic achievement along with social development throughout its classrooms.
