Her Story
About liz
I've been in education for 25 years, inspired by two powerful forces in my life - my mom, who was an 8th grade dropout but always pressed education as my guiding force, and my father, who was a teacher. Right now, my day job is serving as a micro for Maricel Gifted and Talented Microschool, where I work with 250 gifted and talented kids. My mornings usually start with follow-ups on calls related to my various endeavors. I'm also the board president for the state of Arizona for AZAEYC, and I serve as PTO president of my son's school, where we're currently working on things like Teacher Appreciation Week. I'm on the Mayor's Commission for Youth and Education Committee, so a lot of initiatives find their way into different areas of my life. This is Week of the Young Child, so we're doing a lot of focusing on activities. Right now we're working on graduation and making sure kids are ending strong. I co-authored a bill that's been going through the Senate to help middle schoolers get high school CTE credit, which Arizona does not currently allow. It hasn't gone through yet after 2-3 years of trying, but I'm going to keep at it because I consider that an accomplishment just the fact I co-authored a bill and tried to push it through. I go every day to my job because when I say start with a heart, it's the heart for kids - that is what drives me to get in the car to drive to work.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with liz
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The greatest pieces of advice I've received throughout my career are two things: never stop learning, and if one door closes, try another door. These have guided me through my 25 years in education and helped me navigate the challenges and opportunities that come my way.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My greatest advice to young educators entering the field is to start with a heart. You know, when you teach a child something and they feel empowered and intelligent, that is priceless. There's so much value in this work. I don't go every day to my job for any other reason - when I say start with a heart, it's the heart for kids. That is what drives me to get in the car to drive to work. Even though there are many issues with education, it is still an incredibly rewarding career.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, one of the biggest challenges we're facing in Arizona is several school closures happening, which has been the most detrimental this year. Several things are contributing to this - people aren't having as many kids, but we also have a large population in charter schools here, and I'm in public education. The way we're pivoting around these challenges is by bringing new programs and still trying to attract the kids that are out there and bringing them to your program. So just improving education really is my methodology. On the nonprofit end, we're also trying to get kids that are younger excited about education, because no one wants to go into the field due to how much we have made of all the issues with education. But it is still an incredibly rewarding career.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think the values most important to me are the basic ones we talk about in preschool - integrity, honesty, and trust. I also believe strongly in developing that positive spirit, maintaining positivity, and being an optimist. These values guide everything I do, both in my work with kids and in my personal life.
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