Keeping Up With the Classroom: Season II, Part III

A school year is a long journey full of learning and growth. In our classrooms, this is visible every day, from a first grader finally mastering a complex sentence, a junior high student operating a robot, or a high schooler finding the courage to step into the spotlight. However, this learning and growth is not just for students. Teachers also spend the year learning and growing, adapting to new curriculum, mastering classroom management, and becoming an important part of their school communities.

In this final installment of our Keeping Up With the Classroom for this 2025/26 school year, we check back in with our teachers to see how their first year at GPS has come full circle. From the launch of a first-of-its-kind unified arts program to the heartwarming moment a student realizes their own potential, these stories highlight the professional and personal milestones that have shaped these educators’ first year in the GPS Family.

Amanda Moe, 1st Grade Teacher at Highland Park Elementary
At Highland Park Elementary, first-grade teacher Amanda Moe has watched her students transition from the basics of writing at the beginning of the school year to becoming confident young authors. Reflecting on that growth, Moe finds it "heartwarming and relieving" to see how far her students have come.

"Writing is my absolute favorite subject to teach because you see their ideas on paper start to make more sense," Moe says. "Their confidence builds, and they start to enjoy writing because they are getting more comfortable, knowledgeable, and confident with it."

Moe gives credit to the Fundations curriculum for this progress, noting that its emphasis on consistent practice in phonics and spelling helped her students up the rigor and build writing stamina. This stamina is now on display through their end-of-year project, a professionally published class book. Students have moved through every step of the writing process, from initial research on animals to final edits, resulting in handmade habitat dioramas.

Moe says her first year at the school was shaped by the incredible Highland Park community. From the Daddy Daughter Dance and Trunk n' Treat to the First Grade Musical, she shares that she was pleasantly surprised by a new event every month.

By building deep relationships with families and her first-grade team, Moe has created a classroom where students now ask every morning, "What’s the fun stuff for the day?" Looking toward next year, she is excited to learn more and continue to grow as an educator. "Knowing the flow of the year will allow me to incorporate even more of my own teaching style into our yearly first-grade extravaganzas."

Francie Perez, EL Specialist at Meridian Elementary
For Francie Perez, the school year has been a journey of shared growth. While her students were expanding their language skills, Perez was intentionally expanding her own expertise. She notes that the most significant change since August 2025 is the wealth of knowledge she has gained, which has helped her support her students' academic progress.

"I feel so much more confident in my ability to help my young learners progress in their learning and language skills," Perez shares.

Perez recalls a recent moment when a second-grade student turned to her and proudly said, "I'm smart!"

"It touched me in a profound way," Perez says. "I love knowing that I make a difference in children’s lives."

Perez says the caring, giving, and loving community at Meridian has positively shaped her first year at the school. She notes that the support of her school and EL colleagues has been an essential part of her development. As the school year approaches its end, Perez is already looking toward the future.

"For the upcoming school year, I am excited to learn so much more so that I can continue to elevate my students' learning," she says.

Tyler Lopez, STEM Teacher at South Valley Junior High
At South Valley Junior High, STEM teacher Tyler Lopez is wrapping up the year with a BattleBots project. After a month of lessons on robotics and the engineering design process, students are now building custom robots for competition.

"A self-directed student experience with all students fully engaged and invested in their learning experience? Couldn't ask for a better place to be," Lopez says.

Reflecting on the progress in his classroom since the beginning of the school year, Lopez notes that the most significant change is the growth in relationships. What began as a room of strangers has become a space where students drop by daily to share stories. He says that very little means more to him as a teacher than when a student shares how much they enjoy the learning environment.

Lopez credits the SVJH science department and leadership for providing a collaborative environment that helped him navigate a new curriculum and culture. It has also been a landmark year personally for Lopez, who celebrated his wedding this past April. Looking toward next year, he is ready to take the confidence he has gained to continue creating positive changes for his future students.

"I am more confident now than ever in my ability to take all of that knowledge and create changes for the better."

Rachel Solis, Drama Teacher at Mesquite High
For Rachel Solis, the Drama Teacher at Mesquite High, this school year has been a series of firsts. Most notably, the school launched its first-ever Unified performing arts class, made possible through a partnership between the theater and choir departments.

"It has been so fun seeing the kids memorize their lines and learn the dances and music," Solis says. This inclusive learning environment has already had a significant impact on student participation. Solis shares that one student in the unified class, who was previously hesitant to perform, personally reached out to share his excitement about being in an upcoming show.

Solis has seen a similar growth across her entire department throughout the school year. Students who began the year as quiet or shy are now taking on leadership roles, ranging from directing shows to designing masks and props. 

Meanwhile, Solis says she’s noticed growth within herself. "I've grown in every area, and I’ve learned a lot about everything from classroom management to lesson plans," she said, reflecting on the school year. 

Solis also credits the supportive culture at Mesquite High and her collaboration with the choir teacher and auditorium manager for helping her navigate the year. Looking toward next year, she is already preparing for the fall musical and is eager to adapt her new ideas to further the department’s growth.

Thank you to Amanda Moe, Francie Perez, Tyler Lopez, and Rachel Solis for sharing their stories throughout this year. Their journeys are just a few examples of the thousands of dedicated teachers across Gilbert Public Schools who go above and beyond for our students every day.

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we invite our entire community to join us in thanking all of our educators for their passion, resilience, and commitment to student success.

Learn more about Gilbert Public Schools and find the school that’s right for your student by visiting our School Finder tool. To see our incredible teachers and staff in action, schedule a tour at GilbertSchools.net/Tour.