East Valley High School - Teachers & Staff

I knew I wanted to be an educator after taking Mr. Ostrand's Government class my senior year of High School.
- Mr. O definitely ranks up there, but I had a Mentor teacher (Mr. Witt) while I was student teaching who was a phenomenal educator and an even better human. 
- EVHS has a traditional approach to Education which aligns with both my personal and professional values, but the culture of helping students achieve their highest academic and character potential is what makes coming to work every day so great!
- English is our Language! Knowing how to manipulate, maneuver, and wield it so that we can make our way in the world (the way we want to) is imperative to human existence.  Being able to help students, read, write, and speak more effectively is what drives me!

- I have been fortunate beyond measure for the blessings in my life- I have a beautiful wife and two sons that I adore. When I'm not on campus I can be found coaching one of my boys' many sports teams. We dabble in lots of sports, but play baseball almost year-round. I will be entering my 3rd year at EVHS and am encouraged and excited for the continued growth of our school under Principal Baker and the phenomenal staff he has assembled. 2022-2023 looks to be our best year yet! GO PANTHERS!

The first time I thought about being a teacher was when I got my first job as a math tutor at age 15. I loved helping others with their math homework...but I never wanted to do my own. I guess being a math teacher wasn't for me.  I am thrilled to be teaching Social Studies. My favorite teachers were Mr. Gunn - Spanish, Mrs. Reid - History, Mr Heck - Shakespear, and Ms. Nichols - Greek Mythology.  Each of these teachers passionately shared with me what they loved and I loved what I learned. East Valley High School's focus on the golden rule is how I live my life. I must be the person that I expect others to be. I love that I get to show youth what true freedom is and how knowledge of the past can make their futures grow. I am a proud mother who loves the freedoms that are here in this wonderful country. I love most things but especially language, music, and dance. If you know any corny jokes I am all ears. 

Growing up, I was surrounded by amazing teachers and coaches. They helped instill in me a love of good books and the fruits of service.  I have tried to raise my family the same way.  My favorite teachers always made me feel special and made excellence a priority in and out of the classroom.  I believe that creating a positive environment is crucial for learning to take place.  I am excited to help my students cultivate a love of mathematics and to join the EVHS team! 

I knew that I wanted to become an educator when I was a junior in high school. My good friend James, who was the football team manager, had physical special needs that enabled him to be able to participate in sports. His will and desire to be the best version of himself inspired me to become an educator.

My freshman year English teacher Mrs. Edel became my favorite teacher for several reasons. Her belief in me started on day one of entering high school. Despite the size of the mountain that stood in front of me, she taught me strategies and methods to better move around it.

My personal values as an educator includes motivating and inspiring all students to reach their full potential through teaching, learning, and life lessons which aligns to East Valley’s mission and vision.

What I love most about my role is having the ability to be creative and innovative through my teaching and relationship building with my students. I seek to change the lives of students through my discipleship and leadership.  

When I retired from my chiropractic profession, I had a strong desire to work with young people  to try to help them become more than they might think they can. Now, in my 11th year of teaching, I am thankful 

I made that decision.

My favorite teacher was one of my high school teachers who helped me to instill a stronger belief in myself.  He showed compassion and patience when working with me, and it has made a profound difference in who I believed I could become and he helped me overcome some fears I had.

East Valley High School has the mission and vision to help every student succeed.  That goes right along with my feelings about our students.  I want to help them  be all they can be.  My desire is to love and help every student to graduate and go no to accomplish their desires in life,

I have a deep desire to love and let my students know I love them and I am there to help them in any ways that I can. I want them to know they are of value and they can succeed.

I come to school every day with a wish to make a difference in the life of as many of my students as I can.

Mrs. Zuccaro graduated Summa Cum Laude from ASU with her BM in Music Theatre and Minor in Justice Studies. Her theatre career spans two decades, and her favorite roles include Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Kate/Lucy in Avenue Q, Mary in The Secret Garden, Lucy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Natalie in Love Makes the World. As a teacher and director, she has worked on dozens of productions with theatre companies and schools in Arizona and Minnesota. She is the Founding Artistic Director of Places! Productions (a local non-profit), a member of National Association of Teachers of Singing, and runs a private voice studio in Queen Creek. Allison is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the staff and students of East Valley High School in the performing arts department!  

I never chose education, rather it was the other way around and education and being an educator chose me. This became evident when in my teens, I realized that I had a propensity and ability to teach, probably due to the fact that I never had music and the things that I was passionate about come easy to me. So it required a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work to achieve the results I needed. So this in turn needed an understanding of what was wrong so I could figure how to fix it. This I was able to recognize in others and my key to teaching is recognizing, sharing and correcting. Not necessarily from one who is naturally good at things, but rather not so good at things.

 My favorite teacher - I think you are expecting me to say my music teacher. In fact it was my 10th grade English teacher. He showed me how to use words to create, escape and inspire. Through the doors that he opened for me I am able to have a vehicle to express my emotions, my stories and share my passions.

My role is not the thing I focus on at East Valley High. Rather the combined role each every staff member brings to the table in this wonderful school.

I am living the dream! what is not to love

Music and the experience that my students and I live everyday through making and performing music is made possible through one key ingredient and that is having fun. The shared love of music, would not only be impossible without us having fun, but also quite pointless.

Even though I had been filling sketch books since I could hold a crayon, it was when I took my first official art class in the 7th grade with Mrs. Watson that I knew I wanted to be an art teacher.  She introduced me to all sorts of wonderful art supplies I'd never even heard of. Art class was where I learned the possibilities in creating were limitless, which is what I strive to impart to my students. This will be my seventh year teaching at East Valley High School and I love the small class family-feel of our campus and it allows me and my students the opportunity to explore many wonderful creative endeavors we might otherwise not be able to manage in a large crowded classroom.  My students compete each year in state and county student art competitions and have won numerous ribbons.  Guiding my students through the creative process and seeing their confidence and pride grow is my very favorite thing about my role as East Valley's art teacher.    

I was born and raised in San Jose, California, but I have spent the past 24 years in the Chandler/Gilbert area. I have been married for almost 28 years and have 6 children.   I proudly served this country as a United States Marine, and then served my community as a Phoenix Police Officer. I just felt there was more I could do by impacting youth at an earlier age. I then decided to go back to school to get my degree in education from Northern Arizona University. After earning my bachelor’s degree in education, and with a few years of teaching under my belt, I chose to pursue my Master’s degree in leadership, along with my Principal Certification, from Northern Arizona University. I spent a few years as an elementary teacher, teaching both the 5th and 6th grades. I spent four years teaching math at Benjamin Franklin High School, serving as the math department head, and helping out with HS administration. I then was blessed to return to the elementary school and was an administrator there for 2 years.  This will be my second year with East Valley High School. I love being a part of the East Valley High School family and am excited for what the future holds. 

It wasn't until I was in college, working on my Biology degree, that I had an interest in teaching.  Science is one of those subjects that can be very boring or very fun and interesting when being taught.  I wanted to make sure my love of science came across to others as a fun and interesting topic, and what better way than to teach.  At that point I extended my degree to include Elementary Education.  Having some amazing teachers, and role models, in my college classes, I continued my teaching education to include special education and eventually to become an administrator.  After teaching different grade levels and holding a variety of administrative positions, I realized my heart is really in the field of special education. I was offered a position at East Valley High School as a Special Education Director, where I immediately felt at home.  I love the small, family feeling and how all of the staff promotes excellence in all students.  Watching the students succeed brings joy to my heart.  I am fortunate that in my role as a Special Education  Director I am part of the administration working with all staff and students.  I also get to ensure that all students receive the opportunity to learn and succeed.  I am also blessed to be in my 28th year of marriage with three wonderful, successful grown children, 4 amazing grandchildren and 3 loveable dogs.  

My true realization of becoming an educator rose from the North Dakota flood of 1996.  I had the opportunity to work with students daily and allow them to finish up their school year.  The true joy I felt working with students made me realize that I needed to change my major to an educational focus.  The opportunity to work with students daily has provided me with experiences that I will remember and cherish.

Coach Purpur provided me a path for my future and allowed me to learn the value of an education.  His “B” average requirement to play hockey made me strive for higher learning outcomes and he stressed the importance of college. 

“We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence therefore is not an act but a habit.”  Aristotle

Education that challenges and values individual learning is paramount to my educational philosophy.  Each student has the opportunity at EVHS to become the best version of themselves through respect, kindness, empathy, and civility.  

What do you love most about your role? 

I get to work with young people everyday in a community that promotes teamwork, family, personal and academic success.

I ride a Harley Davidson motorcycle, surf, skydive, love to travel, enjoy meeting people, and I enjoy home renovation projects.