Keeping Up With the Classroom: Season II

Gilbert Public Schools (GPS) has welcomed over 200 new teachers and staff members for the 2025-2026 school year. This season of Keeping Up With the Classroom will follow the unique experiences of five teachers new to GPS, each representing a different pipeline from one of the district's comprehensive high schools. As the new school year continues, these five teachers share how their positive move to GPS has created a meaningful impact on their students and classrooms.

Tyler Lopez, Science Teacher at South Valley Junior High
At South Valley Junior High, Tyler Lopez brings five years of experience to the science classroom. Seeing an opportunity for a change in his previous role, Tyler attended a GPS career fair and left with a lasting impression. He says that he was “so impressed by the demeanor of the principal and the honesty of the science department” that he knew immediately he was talking to “good people."

Now in his new role, Tyler feels that he was truly welcomed on campus, especially with the support from his colleagues. Tyler says he is grateful for his team, which has constantly reassured him as he’s learned new systems and curriculum in his new role. This support has allowed him to feel less stressed and be more present with his students. As a result, Tyler says he has re-found his love for teaching science in middle school. 

For other new teachers, Tyler's advice is to embrace the support system. He says that when moments of stress arise, it’s comforting to know, “You've got plenty of people to help you.”

Amanda Moe, 1st Grade Teacher at Highland Park Elementary
Amanda Moe had a "pinch me" moment when she saw an opening for first grade at Highland Park Elementary. Drawn by her desire to teach closer to her Gilbert home and positive feedback about GPS, she applied. “What a blessing that decision was,” said Moe. In her first year at GPS, Amanda brings nine years of experience teaching various first-grade and multiage classrooms, having honed her passion for building connections with children.

Adjusting to a new curriculum and school routines, Amanda quickly found comfort in her new community. "Every single person I've come into contact with at Highland Park has been so nice," she shared, highlighting how her first-grade team embraced her by answering questions and offering support. This welcoming environment has allowed Amanda to fully embrace her joy of teaching - building relationships with students and seeing their confidence grow.

For new GPS teachers, Amanda advises being "open-minded, eager to learn, and confident that they will feel encouraged, supported, and inspired.” She assures them that while new roles bring changes, the staff's kindness and helpfulness make it "feel exciting and worth it."

Francie Perez, English Language Learner (ELL) Teacher at Meridian Elementary
Francie Perez brings over 22 years of experience as a bilingual elementary teacher to Meridian Elementary, where she now serves as an English Language Learner (ELL) teacher. Originally from Puerto Rico and having recently moved to Arizona from Colorado, Francie was drawn to Gilbert Public Schools after teaching the second grade elsewhere.

Francie says her transition to GPS and Meridian Elementary has been smooth and has exceeded her expectations. "The 'New Teacher Orientation' was welcoming, well organized, fun, and informative," she stated. Francie quickly found the school culture at Meridian to be equally welcoming and supportive. This strong support from district and school staff has helped her create a safe classroom and enabled Francie to focus on her primary goal, providing essential language development and academic support to students.

Francie’s advice for other new teachers joining the district is to "Take it a step and a day at a time, ask for help, and know that the district has your back!" Francie also added that she feels confident that GPS will be her new home for many years to come.

Christina Pjura, 4th Grade Teacher at Patterson Elementary
Christina Pjura brings 15 years of teaching experience from all across the country to Patterson Elementary. Having taught in New Jersey and California, she discovered her passion for teaching 4th grade after moving to Arizona. Christina says she loves teaching 4th grade because she feels she can truly connect with students as they grow into themselves.

Since joining Patterson, Christina has felt incredibly welcomed by her new colleagues, who "constantly" check up on her to ensure she's comfortable. She's also said she is impressed with the district's organized online portal, where she can easily access the curriculum. "It's much more organized than anything I've ever been a part of," she shared. This system, combined with a supportive team, has helped her feel prepared and confident, which has enabled her to better relay the information and teach her students.

If she were talking to another new teacher at Patterson Elementary, Christina would say, “You're going to love it here. Everybody's so warm and welcoming." She is particularly excited about the collaborative, hands-on environment of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, which allows her to be more creative with her students.

Rachel Solis, Drama Teacher at Mesquite High
After having spent the past 12 years working professionally as a Production Manager in theatre, Rachel Solis brings a unique perspective to her drama class at Mesquite High. Rachel earned a Master's in Art Education in 2023 and shifted her focus to teaching after being drawn by a desire to work directly with students. Her positive experiences with GPS as a parent and through her husband's previous teaching role solidified her decision to join when a drama position opened.

Now in her new role, Rachel is excited and admits to being surprised by how much more she's "fallen in love with teaching even these first few weeks." She quickly felt welcomed by the district during new hire orientation and by her colleagues at Mesquite High, noting that "everyone has been so nice and helpful and it feels like a really fun place to work." This strong support has allowed her to focus on her students, fostering an engaging and safe environment for them to explore the dramatic arts.

For teachers new to the district, Rachael says to “Listen to all of the advice" and credits the onboarding experience, supportive administration, and uplifting colleagues for her positive start.

The experiences of Tyler Lopez, Amanda Moe, Francie Perez, Christina Pjura, and Rachel Solis offer a compelling look at the positive start to the school year for our new teachers. Their stories of a welcoming community, supportive colleagues, and a genuine passion for their students set a strong foundation for the year ahead. Keep up with their classrooms or read more stories in this series at GilbertSchools.net/GOLD.