)
Dysart Celebrates 53 Staff Members as Heroes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 04/22/2025
DYSART SCHOOLS - Dysart Unified School District annually names staff members as Heroes to recognize outstanding service to the district and the community. This year, 53 staff members received the honor of being named a Dysart Hero, after being selected through a peer nomination process. There were hundreds of nomination letters this year, truly demonstrating the hard work and dedication of Dysart’s staff. Heroes were surprised with the awards by the Dysart Hero Squad, made up of district administrators and Governing Board members, over the course of several days in March.
The Dysart Heroes were honored during a ceremony on April 16, 2025 at Happy Trails Performing Arts Center. Dr. John Croteau, Superintendent of Dysart Schools, 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 for Education Services, Dr. Shelley Isai and members of the Dysart Governing Board. Attendees enjoyed dinner and a silent auction along with the awards ceremony.
2025 Dysart Heroes:
Judith Albin, Kingswood Elementary School
Lindsay Ames, Countryside Elementary School
Micaela Beck, Thompson Ranch Elementary School
David Bennett, Luke Elementary School
Kamyle Bernard, Educational Services/Curriculum
Clayton Bewley, Willow Canyon High School
Brent Boyer, Dysart High School
Aaron Brown, Dysart High School
Karena Calabro, Kingswood Elementary School
Jessica Carleton, Marley Park Elementary School
Dylan Cherwinski, Countryside Elementary School
Dell Clark, El Mirage Elementary School
Esther Connealy, Shadow Ridge High School
Kimberly Corallo, West Point Elementary School
Melissa Dines, Canyon Ridge School
Linda Espinoza, Western Peaks Elementary School
Samantha Gurskis, Rancho Gabriela Elementary School
Sharon Harrigan, Western Peaks Elementary School
Heidi Hartt, Riverview School
Norma Hernandez, Surprise Elementary School
Sara Hill, Sonoran Heights Middle School
Margaret Holmlund, Willow Canyon High School
AnneMarie Johannes, El Mirage Elementary School
Olivia Johnson, Canyon Ridge School
Tauna Lohrmann, Asante Preparatory Academy
Kim LoMazzo, Administrator (Willow Canyon High School)
Kendell Long, Mountain View School
Ricardo Lopez, Sundown Mountain Alternative Program
Nicole Loupe, Luke Elementary School
Julie Loutensock, Cimarron Springs Middle School
Harry Lundberg, Asante Preparatory Academy
Josefina Macias Guzman, Thompson Ranch Elementary School
Ashley Malinkey, Marley Park Elementary School
Linda Martinez, Ashton Ranch Middle School
Suzanne Maves, Freedom Traditional Academy
Brandi McKim, Sunset Hills Elementary School
Mary Mendivil, Dysart Middle School
Sarah Monnet, Rancho Gabriela Elementary School
Cequita ONeal-Ransom, Sundown Mountain Alternative Program
Julie Porretta, Surprise Elementary School
James Reay, District Volunteer (Thompson Ranch Elementary School )
Renee Rodarte, West Point Elementary School
Monica Rodriguez, Mountain View School
Kathryn Schooler, Sunset Hills Elementary School
Thornton Stanley, Valley Vista High School
Justyna Strzeczkowski, Freedom Traditional Academy
Jamie Valenzuela, Riverview School
Julie Van Zile, Shadow Ridge High School
Angel Vasquez, Dysart Middle School
Delaney Welsch, Valley Vista High School
Andrea Wilson, Ashton Ranch Middle School
Phillip Wilson, Information Technology
Mark Young, Sonoran Heights Middle School
The Dysart Hero Awards were sponsored this year by generous community partners including: Diamond Sponsors: ENS AZ
Platinum Sponsors: 1GPA, Chasse, Dysart Education Foundation, Prime Therapeutics, Valley Schools
Gold Sponsors: Emcor, Dave Bang Associates - Park + Playground Outfitters, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona, Wholesale Floors
Silver Sponsors: Bel-Aire Mechanical, Brock, Colonial Life
Bronze Sponsors: Biddle & Brown Fence Co, Bluum, EMI Health Dental, Logicalis, Sun Life
Special thanks to our schools and Parent Support organizations for donating silent auction items and to the Dysart Education Foundation for sponsoring our Dysart Hero plaques.