The Dysart Unified School District annually names staff members as heroes to recognize outstanding service to the district and the community.

This year, 56 staff members were named a Dysart Hero, after being selected through a peer nomination process. There were hundreds of nomination letters this year, demonstrating the hard work and dedication of Dysart’s staff.

Heroes were surprised with the awards by the Dysart Hero prize patrol, made up of district administrators and governing board members, in March.

Dysart Heroes received their honors during a ceremony and silent auction on April 20 at The Vista Center for the Arts. Superintendent Jim Dean was the master of ceremonies and read excerpts from the nomination letters.

A commemorative hero plaque, sponsored by the Dysart Education Foundation, was presented by Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Dr. John Croteau and members of the DUSD governing board. A take home meal was provided for each hero from Sharkos Catering.

The 2023 Dysart Heroes are as follows:

Certified/Classified staff

• Asante Preparatory Academy — Jennifer Maddox, Lindsay Smith
• Ashton Ranch Middle School — Jennifer Dawn, Kayla Trojanek
• Canyon Ridge School — Amanda Mutai, Ryan Robichaud
• Cimarron Springs Middle School — Brian Kirchner, Holly Berger
• Countryside Elementary School — Melissa Judd, Colene Hayden
• Dysart High School — Bailee Talbot, Renata Daniel
• Dysart Middle School — Taylor Whittaker, Estella Soto
• El Mirage Elementary School — Marissa Barber, Benjamin Bojorquez

• Freedom Traditional Academy — Kimberly Chavez, Amber Henley
• Kingswood Elementary School — Krista Rust, Shelley Franklin
• Luke Elementary School — Susan Goetz, Aurora Welsher
• Marley Park Elementary School — Christina Williams, Tiffany Valenzuela
• Mountain View School — Rachel Frazer, David Miller
• Rancho Gabriela Elementary School — Ashley Meyer, Deborah Holland
• Riverview School — Jacqueline James, Amanda Erickson
• Shadow Ridge High School — Rodney Moore, Beth Van Doren
• Sonoran Heights Middle School — Valerie Standlee, Robert Franco
• Sundown Mountain Alternative Education Program — Tamika Jones, Tom Pozniak
• Sunset Hills Elementary School — Dana Thomas, Julie Boisvert
• Surprise Elementary School — Erin Keller, Maria Gomez
• Thompson Ranch Elementary School — Crystal Fajardo, Betty Wilkie
• Valley Vista High School — Susan Lawler, Shi Abke
• West Point Elementary School — Nicole Truitt, Sherry Goodwin

• Western Peaks Elementary School — Jamie Bruner, Ana Diaz
• Willow Canyon High School — Jason Ward, Jessica Schreifels

District Departments

Christie Martinez, Community Education and Holli Tuttle, Finance/Career and Technical Education

Volunteer of the year

Bianca Reynolds, Western Peaks Elementary School

Administrators

• Stephanie Davis, El Mirage Elementary School
• Jessica Felix, Marley Park Elementary School
• Suzanne Smith, Student Information Systems

Dysart Hero Awards were sponsored this year by community partners including:

• Diamond Sponsors — Dysart Education Foundation, Valley Schools.
• Platinum Sponsors — 1GPA, CHASSE Building Team, Blumm & Viewsonic and Turboscape.
• Gold Sponsors — AG Parts WorldWide, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona and Wholesale Floors.
• Silver Sponsors — CHWP Expos, Dave Bang and Norcon Industries.
• Bronze Sponsors — EMI Health, Logicalis, Sun Life and Teledoc and Water and Energy Systems Technology.

The district thanks its schools and parent support organizations for providing silent auction items and to the Dysart Education Foundation for sponsoring Dysart Hero plaques and tote bags.