Cesar Miranda
Principal, Nogales High School
Mr. Miranda was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and his master’s degree from Northern Arizona University. Mr. Miranda taught for eight years before becoming assistant principal of Nogales High School (NHS) for two years. He then became principal of Coatimundi Middle School in Rio Rico for two years. One of his greatest accomplishments as an administrator was being a part of Coatimundi’s A+ School of Excellence award in 2015. He is excited and honored to return to NHS as principal. Mr. Miranda is married to his high school sweetheart. They have one energetic, loving son together.
As principal of Nogales High School, Mr. Miranda’s main goal is to maintain a safe learning environment for all students and staff. He understands the importance of collaboration and open communication when working with peers, students, and community members. Mr. Miranda has a very positive outlook on life and tries to instill that positive energy to everyone around him. Parents/legal guardians entrust NHS with their most prized possessions every day. It is the responsibility of the educational institution to give children the best education possible. He understands that responsibility and takes his job very seriously.
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Kevin Kuhm
Assistant Principal, Nogales High School
Mr. Kuhm has served as a Teacher, Coach, Athletic Director and now Assistant Principal during his time in Education. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and his master’s degree from Northern Arizona University. Mr. Kuhm has been at Nogales High School for four years. He was the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach before becoming the Assistant Principal during the 2017-2018 school year. He is excited and honored to be the Assistant Principal at Nogales High School. Mr. Kuhm's wife is a graduate of Nogales High School and they have a beautiful, energetic daughter.
As the Assistant Principal of Nogales High School, Mr. Kuhm will work diligently to raise student achievement. His ultimate goal is for Nogales High School to become an "A" school as rated by the Arizona Department of Education. Additionally, Mr. Kuhm will encourage students to maximize their high school experience through participation in co-curricular activities. He hopes to achieve these goals by doing his part to maintain a positive culture at Nogales High School through developing and sustaining meaningful relationships with students, parents, staff members and community members.
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Renee Travers
Assistant Principal, Nogales High School
Graduated from NHS in 1996
I started as teacher's aide at Bracker Elementary School from 1996-1997, and then was a substitute teacher for NUSD and SCVUSD from 1997-1998. While working on my education I was the Director of the Abstinence Program and Risk Rebounders with Child and Family Resources from 1999-2003. I received my AA from PCC, and BA from Prescott College. I began teaching at Calabasas Middle School as a 6th grade math/science teacher, and also coached volleyball and track. I then received my MA from Grand Canyon University in 2007 and became Dean of student at San Cayetano Elementary from 2007-2008. I then became Dean of Students/Athletic Director at Coatimundi Middle School from 2008-2010. I then became Principal of Peña Blanca Elementary from 2010-2013. Finally found my way back home to NHS.
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Angel Ortega
Athletic Director, Nogales High School
Mr. Ortega was born and raised in Douglas, Arizona. He graduated from Douglas High School in 2008. He received his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics in 2014 from Grand Canyon University, and his master’s degree in Education Administration and Supervision in 2017 from the University of Phoenix. Mr. Ortega began his career in education as a long-term substitute teacher at the middle school level. In 2011, he worked at Coronado High School in Scottsdale, Arizona as a campus security officer/baseball coach. In 2012, he moved back to Douglas and taught in the Math department for six years. Mr. Ortega spent nine years as a football and baseball coach at DHS. He spent his administrative internship coordinating several athletic events, helped administration with school accreditation, and conducted several classroom observations/teacher feedback conferences.
As Athletic Director, Mr. Ortega’s goal is to continue to build Nogales’ strong reputation as a highly-regarded athletics program in Southern Arizona. He will continue to work closely with student-athletes at Nogales High School to prepare them to be hard-working young-adults and model citizens in the community.
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Berenice Rodriguez
Principal, Pierson High School
As the newly appointed principal of Pierson High School, Berenice Rodriguez is excited to join the team and along with her staff, work diligently to develop a culture of success. It is extremely important to her to work with the entire school community and to build strong relationships with staff, students, parents and all stakeholders.
With her experience as a principal in a previous district, as well as her assignment as an Arizona Turnaround Coach with the Arizona Department of Education and her overall 18 years in education, Mrs. Rodriguez has had numerous opportunities to develop the caliber of leadership skills that will contribute strongly to her success in meeting the objectives of this position. Mrs. Rodriguez received her undergraduate degree in education from Prescott College and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Walden University. With an exemplary track record as an instructional coach, educational planner, effective administrator, and dynamic instructor, Mrs. Rodriguez brings to PHS academic administration, proven program development capabilities, and an absolute commitment to creating a learning environment that supports students from diverse economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds in their pursuit of success.
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Dr. Roman Soltero
Principal, Wade Carpenter Middle School
Dr. Roman Soltero has dedicated his career to community service. He has experience as an elementary and middle school teacher. In addition, he has served as an elementary and middle school administrator in the Tucson Unified School District. He served as an educator in the Tucson area for 18 years. As principal at Wade Carpenter Middle School, Dr. Soltero is part of a great team focused on collaboration, optimum student achievement, building strong community partnerships, and making every decision based on what is best for students.
Dr. Soltero was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. He had the opportunity to serve as council member for the City of South Tucson from 1998 to 2007, and completed internships with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington, D.C. and with the Pima County Board of Supervisors under the direction of retired Supervisor Dan Eckstrom. He received his B.A. in General Studies/Business Administration from Northern Arizona University in 1994, and M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University in 2000. He completed his Ed. D. in Educational Leadership with a Law Minor from the University of Arizona in 2009. The title of his dissertation was The Superintendent’s Role in Promoting Relationships with Selected Stakeholders Groups in a Large Southwest Urban School District
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Mariebeth Silva
Assistant Principal, Wade Carpenter Middle School
Mariebeth Silva is the assistant principal at Wade Carpenter Middle School Born and raised in Nogales, Mrs. Silva is a proud product of the Nogales Unified School District as she attended A. J. Mitchell, Mary L. Welty, Wade Carpenter Jr. High, and Nogales High School. After graduating from NHS, she attended the University of Arizona and graduated with a BA in Psychology in 2008. She immediately began her teaching career at Wade Carpenter Middle School where her father taught for over 20 years.
Mrs. Silva began her career in education knowing she had big shoes to fill but met the challenge with enthusiasm and passion. She encouraged, nurtured, and taught seventh graders to appreciate learning as a significant step to achieving academic and social success. While teaching, she also completed her master's degree in Secondary Education in 2011 and obtained her Administration certificate in 2013 from the University of Arizona.
In 2013, Mrs. Silva accepted her position at Wade Carpenter as Assistant Principal. It is a beautiful thing when a career and passion come together. She continually strives to work as a team to develop, inspire, and model the effective leadership skills required to lead students, teachers, and staff towards excellence.
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Dr. Joan Molera
Principal, Desert Shadows Middle School
Dr. Joan Molera is the principal at Desert Shadows Middle School. Her duties at Desert Shadows include curriculum, instruction, supervision, evaluation, staff development, budget, correspondences, retention /promotion, parental involvement, community relations, co-curricular activities, library services, and health services. Dr. Molera's focus is student achievement in reading, writing, math, science, and character education. Committees meet regularly to review data and refine instructional practices based on these goals.
Dr. Molera has been committed to NUSD #1 for over 30 years as a teacher, curriculum leader, coach, and administrator. After earning a bachelor's degree from Cornell College in Iowa, Dr. Molera moved to Nogales in 1987. She earned a Masters in English from the University of Arizona in 1992 and earned her principal certification from Northern Arizona University in 1999. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Arizona in 2015. Her dissertation was titled Intended and Received Language Arts Curricula in a Standardized Era: Misalignments and Negotiations in Border Community Schools.
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Christopher Miranda
Assistant Principal, Desert Shadows Middle School
Mr. Miranda is the assistant principal at Desert Shadows Middle School. He has been in education for over 14 years. He began in 2004 as a computer technician for Desert Shadows Middle School. For eight years he taught Computer Maintenance, Network Technologies, Business Management and Administrative Services as Career Technical Education (CTE) at Pierson High School. Additionally, he taught Computer Information Systems (CIS), and Business (BUS) courses at Cochise College.
Mr. Miranda earned a Bachelor of Science in 2007 in Information Technology and a Master's in Business Administration with a concentration in Technology Management (MBA/TM) in 2010 from the University of Phoenix. He pursued further studies in education, enrolled at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, and completed the Educational Leadership program from the Arizona State University in 2014.
Mr. Miranda believes that all students can and must be academically successful. He strives to provide a safe learning environment so all students learn to their fullest potential.
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Paul E. Carlson
Principal, Lincoln Elementary School
Mr. Paul E. Carlson is very excited about being chosen as the new principal of Lincoln Elementary School in the Nogales Unified School District. Mr. Carlson believes in creating and maintaining a positive school culture, in which every member of the school community knows that they are valued and everyone is expected to contribute their best efforts toward continuous improvement. Having been an enthusiastic educator since 1986, he is well-acquainted and fascinated with the teaching and learning processes and understands how to move these forward.
Mr. Carlson holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of South Dakota, a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota, a master’s degree in Special Education-Gifted from Northern Arizona University, and principal certification from the Arizona Department of Education. He started as a teacher at Lincoln Elementary and continued to teach for 17 years. Since 2003, he has worked as a literacy specialist/coordinator, a position which has involved working closely with teachers to help them improve their teaching skill and understanding of curriculum and assessment as well.
Mr. Carlson feels honored to have the opportunity to continue working with Lincoln School’s wonderful staff, students, and families in the capacity of principal. Please feel free to come by the school to meet him or if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas to help Lincoln be the best school it can be.
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Aissa Celeste Bonillas
Principal, Mary Welty Elementary School
Aissa Bonillas was born in Nogales, AZ. She attended Mary L. Welty Elementary, Wade Carpenter Middle School, and Nogales High School. Ms.Bonillas graduated from NHS in 1999. She went on to continue her education at the University of Arizona, graduating in 2003 with a double major in Political Science and Secondary Education and a minor in Spanish. Ms. Bonillas began working at Nogales High School in August of 2003, teaching Spanish for five years and AP Government for one year.While teaching at Nogales High School, she also coached the dance team from 2003 to 2005. Ms. Bonillas received a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership - Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix in 2007. She also served as the Honors Coordinator from 2007 to 2009, overseeing the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate program. Ms. Bonillas then became the Assistant Principal at Nogales High School in 2009.
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Christina Valdez
Principal, Challenger Elementary School
Ms. Christina Valdez is the newly appointed principal at Challenger Elementary School and has dedicated her career to the life of service to others. As a leader she strives to bring out the best in students, teachers, and staff and create leaders among leaders. Ms. Valdez believes in providing high quality education while building meaningful relationships with students, staff, and students' hearts before you can capture their mind.
Ms. Valdez holds a bachelor of arts in journalism with a minor in business from the University of Arizona, a master's in elementary education from University of Phoenix and principal certificate from Northern Arizona. Ms. Valdez began her career as a reporter for the Tucson Citizen newspaper and for USA Today in Virginia. Wanting to make a difference in the lives of youth, Ms. Valdez changed careers and became an elementary teacher with a focus on educating second language learners. As a teacher and administrator in Tucson for the past 14 years, she has worked in turnaround schools and as part of the leadership team has been successful in students reaching high academic success. Ms. Valdez is excited about her new role as principal and believes that the Challenger community is a special place that has amazing parent and community support. She is enthusiastic about continuing the rich traditions of Challenger including that of becoming a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence once again!
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Sandra Licet Jimenez
Principal, Coronado Elementary School
Sandra Licet Jimenez is the principal at Francisco Vasquez de Coronado Elementary School. Mrs. Jimenez believes in providing quality instruction while at the same time creating a positive school climate and culture for all students.
Mrs. Jimenez holds a bachelors of arts in elementary education with a minor in sociology from Prescott College, a masters of business administration from the University of Phoenix, and a masters of education in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. She started her teaching career at NUSD #1 in the year 2000. Prior to her leadership role as principal of Coronado, she was a reading specialist for 10 years, and classroom teacher for five years.
Among her many leadership roles throughout her teaching career, Mrs.Jimenez has collaborated as school improvement coordinator, structured English immersion specialist, and assessment coordinator. She was also the driving force behind Coronado’s successful National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence application submission. She believes that teamwork is the ultimate way a school can be successful in reaching the goal of helping students attain their full potential. She has two young sons with her husband of 12 years.
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Michelle Shuman
Principal, A.J. Mitchell Elementary School
Michelle Shuman is the principal at A.J. Mitchell Elementary School. Ms. Shuman strongly believes that every child has the ability to learn and grow. As principal, she ensures students experience a nurturing environment so that they can grow academically, socially, and emotionally. She knows that teachers and school staff are the key to having a successful school, and does whatever she can to support their miraculous daily efforts. Working with parents as partners in the education of A.J. Mitchell students is a large part of how she supports her teachers and students.
Ms. Shuman earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in 1990. She began her career immediately after graduation at Nogales Unified School District as a student teacher at A.J. Mitchell Elementary School, under the leadership of former Lincoln Principal, Dr. Lucina Romero. She worked at A.J. Mitchell for eight years as a primary grade teacher in the bilingual programs from August 1991 through June 1999 and received the top teacher recognition as 1996-1997 Teacher of the Year. She went on to obtain a Masters degree in administration and supervision from the University of Phoenix in 1998. She transferred to Robert M. Bracker in 1999, where she worked as a second grade teacher and reading specialist until 2003. Michelle was also selected as Bracker Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year for School Year 2001-2002 and won the district-level Teacher of the Year that same year. In the fall of 2003, she became the district coordinator for the highly successful Reading First program. Michelle worked with principals, teachers, and students at four Reading First elementary schools. She previously served as principal at Robert M. Bracker Elementary School for nine years. She is very proud of the impressive accomplishments of her staff and students. In 2007, the school received the prestigious federal recognition of Blue Ribbon School, based on the tremendous academic growth of the students over a five-year period.
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Timothy Colgate
Principal, RM Bracker Elementary School
It is with great pride and excitement that Mr. Colgate takes over the reigns as the newly appointed principal of Robert M. Bracker Elementary School. Mr. Colgate received his undergraduate degree from Chadron State College in 1993 and his master’s degree from Grand Canyon University in 2013. He has been in education for 22 years, the past 15 years with the Nogales Unified School District. He began his NUSD tenure, right here at Bracker as a physical education teacher in 2001,under then principal Dr. Lucina Romero. Mr. Colgate left Bracker in 2002 and started working at Nogales High School as the athletics director and held that position until taking on this fantastic opportunity.
Along with the Dolphin staff, he said they will work hard to continue the legacy of success established at Bracker by building strong relationships with parents, students, staff, and community partners. Mr.Colgate states that Bracker will focus on character education initiatives, 21st Century skills, fostering a nurturing safe environment for children, use of data to inform instruction, consistent implementation of newly adopted direct instruction strategies to increase students’ achievement, and provide exciting and challenging enrichment opportunities for all students.
During the course of the year, it is his hope that everyone will work together to provide the students of Bracker the best possible opportunities in preparing them to be successful now and in their future. As principal, his door is always open and hopes that you will come in and introduce yourself. Please feel free to stop in, or call to make an appointment, to get to know him personally, discuss any concerns, suggestions, or ideas to help make Bracker as successful as possible.
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