Introducing the STAR Program Teachers!

We are happy to announce our STAR Teaching Staff! I hope you enjoy reading their personal bios and learning a little about the Kyrene teachers who will be working with our STAR students this summer. If you have any questions for our teachers, please leave a comment. We would love to hear from you.

My name is Carl Nasuta and I teach 7th grade social studies at Aprende Middle School.
I hold a B.A. in History and Secondary Education from Northeastern Illinois University. I earned my Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University in 2005. Next school year, I will be the 7th grade Student Advisor at Aprende Middle School. I have been in public education for over 15 years and I’m excited to be part of the STAR Summer Program. In my free time I enjoy family time and raising my sons Matthew (6th grade) and Nick (sophomore at Desert Vista). My hobbies include football, golf, and swimming in the backyard.

My name is Susan Sosa and I teach eighth grade science at Pueblo Middle School. I grew up in Brecksville, Ohio and graduated from Walsh University with a BS in Education. I have a master's degree in curriculum, instruction, and assessment from the University of Phoenix. I moved to Arizona after growing tired of the long, cold Ohio winters and I absolutely love it here. This will be my fifth year teaching at Pueblo and my fourth year teaching STAR. I love this program! I have a daughter who will be a senior at Mt. Pointe High School and the two of us enjoy anything that has to do with the outdoors. My first love is teaching! I am fortunate enough to be able to teach and share new ideas with you during our time together at STAR and I am looking forward to an awesome summer together!

Hi – my name is Nancy Zimmerman and I am originally from Chicago, Illinois. I graduated from Western Illinois University with a B.S. in Education. I moved to Arizona in 1985 while working for a computer firm – Sun Microsystems. I began working in the Kyrene School District as a substitute teacher in 1998 and this will be my 9th year teaching at Pueblo Middle School. I have one son who is currently a freshman at ASU in the mechanical engineering program. We both love sports – skiing, hiking and snowboarding to name a few. Traveling is my passion and I have had the opportunity to experience hiking in the Grand Canyon, kayaking in the Caribbean and swimming with manta rays in Tahiti!

Olivia Seawell - I have been a teacher in the Kyrene School District since 2002. I have taught at Kyrene Middle School and presently I teach Physical Education at Milenio Elementary School. I have been a part of the STAR Summer Program for three years. In addition to STAR, I have worked with the ACE Program at Kyrene Middle School for six years. This year at Milenio, I brought the ACE Junior program to our school for both fourth and fifth grade students.

Pat Woulf – I have over 20 years experience teaching adults and students and have been a teacher in the Kyrene District for 9 years. During this time I has taught elementary and middle school students. Currently, I am a 6th Grade Science Teacher at Aprende Middle School. I am also one of the ACE Club Coordinators at Aprende and really enjoy working with the program. At Aprende, I am also a Site Council member, a team leader, and a coach for the Track Team. This is my fourth year working with the STAR program and I am happy to be back this Summer.

Olivia M. Parry – I am the fifth child of seven in my family and I truly love being from a large family. I have lived in Arizona most of my life and hope to remain here in the warm Arizona sun. Currently, I work as a Behavior Intervention Teacher for the Kyrene School District. I work closely with staff around the district on implementing proactive behavior strategies. I enjoy working with staff but love seeing the impact positive behavior support has on children. I love spending time with others, especially my large family. I have twenty-two nieces and nephews with more expected to arrive soon. I also enjoy traveling in Latin America and wish I could take a year off to travel the world. My motto in life is it is perspective changes everything.

My name is Robert Harding. I have worked with the STAR Summer Program since it first began, more than 10 years ago and am proud to have been part of the original program design. I have a passion for this program and look forward to it each Summer. During the school year I teach Character Education in the Kyrene Alternative to Suspension Program (KASP).

Jennifer Dennis - I am the Social Worker at Lomas Elementary School. I love my job and working with students in small group settings to help them become successful at school. I have been a part of the STAR program for six years and look forward to it every year. I have seen first hand the positive effect this program has on students and the transformation students make in 16 days is what keeps me coming back. I am excited to be part of STAR again this year.

My name is Patty Benster. I work at Centennial Middle School as the ISI Coordinator. I have also worked at Ninos Elementary School in the Kyrene School District as an Instructional Assistant. This summer will be my fifth year with the STAR Summer Program. I enjoy working closely with and helping students and am excited to once again be part of this wonderful program. I look forward to meeting you all soon.