GATE Pull-Out Program

Young explorers from Mrs. Ramirez's class at Carrillo Elementary dive into our Astronaut Academy! From testing and predicting how tops and yoyos might behave in space to tackling a physical fitness challenge, these students are reaching for the stars while learning hands-on about life beyond Earth!



First and second graders at Bloom Elementary wearing their paper bag astronaut helmets, crafted in Mrs. Root's class during an Astronaut Academy lesson on the phases of the moon.



Mrs. Finfrock’s Fruchthendler Elementary GATE Pull-Out students, our Cosmic Cadets, proudly display the NASA logos they designed as part of their Astronaut Academy Unit. Creativity is truly out of this world!

Mrs. Brown's students embraced each step of the engineering design process as they designed, measured, and tested their custom shoes to cross the lava field. From sketches on paper to the final walk across, their teamwork and creativity were on full display!


Mr. Young's students put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test by designing and building shoes to cross the treacherous lava field as part of our GATE Survivor unit. Using the engineering design process, they crafted unique solutions to survive the challenge!



Mrs. Gallus's Manzo Elementary students take on the challenge of building hurricane-resistant shelters for our Survivor unit. Their creativity and engineering skills shine as they design structures built to weather the storm!


Explore the creativity and collaboration of our students as they dive into the fascinating world of Rube Goldberg machines. Thanks to Mr. Young, Mrs. Gallus, and Mrs. Lee for capturing these moments of innovation in action!



Enter Ms. Kelly's classroom, where students are deeply engaged in the realm of Rube Goldberg machines. Through hands-on experimentation, they're crafting intricate contraptions that showcase the principles of simple machines, including fascinating lever designs. Explore their journey as they engineer and innovate, igniting a passion for discovery and invention.



Discover the ingenuity of Mrs. Ramirez's students as they dive into the world of Rube Goldberg machines. Through hands-on exploration, they're incorporating the fundamentals of simple machines into their imaginative designs, sparking curiosity and innovation in the classroom.



These photos of students in Ms. Durazo's class capture the creativity and ingenuity of her students as they explore the world of Simple Machines through their Rube Goldberg projects. From their design work to their innovative solutions, her students have impressed us with their dedication and problem-solving skills.



As marbles and miniature cars glide down inclined planes, these budding engineers explore the magic of inclined planes. Their Rube Goldberg machine, a symphony of forces and angles, comes alive. Each component reveals the intricate dance of cause and effect, fueling their curiosity. Whether in Mrs. Katinas's class at Drachman Elementary or Lineweaver Elementary, these students share a common language—the language of engineering design, where creativity meets problem-solving.  



Ms. Katinas's students are on the right track to become an entrepreneur as they prepare for selling their wares at a fair market price.



Step into Mrs. Finfrock's classroom at Fruchthendler Elementary School and witness the creativity and collaboration at play! As part of our comprehensive financial literacy unit, students across our Gate pull-out program delved into the world of entrepreneurship with enthusiasm. From conceptualizing their crafts to bringing them to life, Mrs. Finfrock's students showcased their skills and ingenuity every step of the way. Here, they proudly set up their displays, having crafted and marketed their handmade creations to fellow classmates. Beyond the crafting process, they learned invaluable lessons in budgeting, marketing, and teamwork. We celebrate the spirit of innovation and empowerment in our classroom.




Mrs. Brown's students dive into the world of financial literacy, mastering budgeting and setting savings goals for a brighter financial future. Pictures show students playing Pit, Monopoly Bid, working on a savings chart, bean budgeting, and their completed vision board.



Students in Missy Root's class are learning what it means to make a budget and still have some money left over for saving.

Students from Mrs. Katinas and Mrs. Moritz's classes at Drachman and Wheeler Elementary are learning about saving money. The students created some very cute banks with the idea of setting a savings goal within their budget. 


Ms. Gallus's class is exploring the concept of opportunity costs through a lively game of Pit! Students strategize and trade wisely, applying their lesson learning to make the best choices in this dynamic, hands-on experience. If they are lucky, cornering the market on a particular commodity might just earn them some extra cash. However, if they are not careful and get stuck with a bear or even a bull, that could be a problem.




Step into the world of Ms. Kelly's students in this engaging series of images, where young minds allocate 20 jelly beans monthly to meet personal needs and desires. From contemplating moving out to strategizing while staying at home, these snapshots capture the essence of thoughtful decision-making. Join Ms. Kelly's class on a journey of financial planning and self-discovery, navigating the delicate balance between wants and
needs on a limited budget.

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Ms. Lambert's GATE Pull-out students from Myers-Ganoung, Diets, and Sewell shine as they navigate the intricacies of distinguishing needs from wants, employing diverse perspectives in their rankings, and exploring the profound layers of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Their excellence extends to a stellar beginning in the study of financial literacy, unraveling its intricate connection to power.




In Ms. Gallus's classroom, a hive of creativity is buzzing as students passionately bring their Extraordinaire designs to life. Engaged in the hands-on process, some of these budding innovators have taken the exciting step of constructing scaled physical prototypes. These prototypes serve as tangible manifestations of their imaginative ideas, showcasing the depth of their dedication and the promising potential of their innovative projects.



Check out the thoughtful work of Mr. Young's students, who have carefully considered the needs of their Extraordinaire characters. The hard work and attention to detail in their designs are evident, showcasing the effort they've put into creating characters with purpose and depth.



Explore the amazing world of creativity with Mrs. Moritz's students at Steele and Wheeler Elementary. Captured in these images are moments from the students' engaging journey in crafting unique projects selected from a menu of creative choices. Witness the Power of Creativity come to life as each student actively participates in the design process, showcasing their individuality and innovative spirit.



In Ms. Ramirez's class, students are diving into the Power of Creativity unit by selecting projects from a diverse menu. This approach allows each student to tailor their project to their interests, fostering a sense of ownership and individuality. As the projects unfold, they promise to be a vibrant reflection of the students' diverse talents and perspectives.

At Blenman, Ms. Lee's students are embarking on a creative journey, designing fashion that complements the extraordinary abilities of their characters, known as extraordinaires. With a focus on enhancing these unique powers, the students are weaving a tapestry of style and supernatural prowess.



Step into the vibrant worlds of Holladay, John B. Wright, CE Rose, and Pueblo Gardens, where Ms. Peterson's students channel their creativity into designing for their extraordinary character. These pictures capture the dynamic process as students bring their characters to life through vivid sketches and thoughtful designs, showcasing the magic that happens when imagination meets inspiration at CE Rose.

In Ms. Root's classes at Fruchthendler and Bloom, students are actively engaged in crafting their Extraordinaire designs. They are investing thoughtful consideration and attention to detail as they work on their creative projects.




Students in Mr. Chuc's class at Davis elementary are hard at work learning more about the Extraordinaire that they have selected as their client before beginning a building that enhances their unique power. 




Students under the guidance of Ms. Katinas at Lineweaver have produced posters showcasing the implementation of our GATE strategy, S.C.A.M.P.E.R. Each letter in this strategy represents a distinct method of innovation, where students engage in activities such as substituting, combining, adapting, modifying, putting to another use, eliminating, or rearranging to create something novel. Additionally, the students are utilizing hexagons as a visual tool to delve into the concept of power, aligning with our universal theme for the year, and doing a team building exercise.




The students under Ms. Peterson's guidance at CE Rose and Pueblo Gardens are currently crafting designs for a selected Extraordinaire client. Before embarking on the creation of a building, these students first delve into understanding the unique characteristics of their client, gaining valuable insights into their preferences and needs. Subsequently, armed with this knowledge, they apply their skills to bring the envisioned structure to life.




Sewell students of Ms. Lambert are utilizing their insights into the extraordinary individual they've chosen as their client to craft a building that augments their capabilities, whether it be their talent, leadership skills, or influence over others.




The students in Mrs. Brown's class are engaged in researching their Extraordinaire clients. Cultivating empathy for these characters is crucial, as it enables them to discern their clients' requirements and, in turn, devise inventive solutions.




Ms. Finfrock's GATE Pull-out students at Fruchthendler Elementary! From crafting blueprints to envisioning skyscrapers, their creativity knows no limits. They're designing a building fit for an Extraordinaire. Every line, every detail, and every vision is a testament to their incredible talent!




Late October 2023 - Our new unit, Extraordinaires, focuses on the GATE strategy of S.C.A.M.P.E.R., to promote creative thinking. This technique is used widely in the design world to generate new and unique ideas, products, designs, etcetera. As an introduction/review, students were tasked to solve a problem using one element of S.C.A.M.P.E.R. Below you will see the sketch from a pair of third-grade students who were asked to create a substitute for their teacher who must also have at least one superpower.

September 2023 - Using the GATE strategy of FFOE (fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration), students created symbols of themselves. Students brainstormed ideas that were important to them, created symbols to represent those ideas, and combined the ones they liked best to create a unique art piece. 

 

August 2023 - Hexagonal Thinking: Students work together to organize their ideas about power using hexagonal thinking and connect ideas together.

Pamela Brown

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I graduated from the UofA in 2007 with my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and from ASU in 2019 with my Master's degree in Gifted Education. This is my 9th year teaching GATE pull-out classes and my 18th year teaching. When I'm not at school, I enjoy every moment I get to spend with my family and keeping up with my 6 year old son, Ryan! I love going to the movies with friends, evening walks, and doing puzzles. My favorite thing about summer is camping in Colorado and leaving our heat behind for a bit. Last I love going to Dutch Bros with Ryan and getting our morning drinks before school...yum!

Sites: McCorkle, Safford, Tolson, Vesey
 

Josh Chuc

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This is my sixth year as a GATE Itinerant  teacher. I originally learned about GATE through my mom who was also a former GATE Teacher!

I earned my bachelors degree from the University of Arizona and my masters from Northern Arizona University. I am bilingual and enjoy science. I also have a baby daughter that I love spending time with!

Sites: Davis and Tully
 

Mary Davis

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I graduated as a Music Major from the Uof A in 1987. Later I returned to school and received my post baccalaureate in Elementary Education K-8. I have been a GATE Itinerant Teacher for the past six years. I’ve taught General Music, Elementary grades 2nd-5th, and Middle School Language Arts, Math, and Art.. I have three children and my hobbies are hiking, yoga, reading, and traveling. I love Hawaii and have returned there many times.

Sites: Bonillas, Kellond, Dietz, Booth Fickett
 

Glenn Dobbin

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I have been teaching since 2009 and have been with the GATE Department since 2013. Before venturing into teaching, I did a lot of work with youth in other capacities, like social services.

I enjoy working for the GATE Department. I like the variety of lessons. In my free time, I'm an active dad running my son and daughter to various sports practices.

Sites: Soleng Tom and Gale
 

Kelly Finfrock

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I graduated from Prescott College with my BA in Elementary Education in 2004. I've worked as a classroom teacher in elementary for over 10 years and after receiving my Gifted and Talented Endorsement began working at TUSD in 2020. I love being a GATE Teacher and getting to work with so many different classes, grades, and students. When I'm not teaching or taking classes I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and photography.

Site: Fruchthendler
 

Brigette Gallus

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I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and went back to school to get my Masters in Educational Technology. This is my 18th year working in TUSD. I have taught grades K-6 at different sites. This is also my 9th year working as a GATE Itinerant Teacher. I enjoy spending time with my two golden retrievers, hiking, traveling, watching the Green Bay Packers win and going to Zumba classes.

Sites: Robins, Ochoa, Manzo, Johnson, Lawrence
 

Cristina Hanna

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Hello, my name is Isabel C. Hanna! I have been teaching for 19 years in TUSD and I still love what I do. I have taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade but this is my first-year teaching in the GATE itinerant program. I graduated with honors from the University of El Paso Texas with my bachelor’s in education. I grew up in El Paso, Texas but I have been in Tucson for a while now. In my free time I love gardening, baking, cooking, going on walks, and spending time with family and friends. I am excited for this new journey within the GATE department since I can provide more interactive lessons with students in a space where they can share all of their ideas!

Sites: Miller, Oyama, Holladay, Grijalva, White
 

Julie Katinas

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I graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a Bachelor’s of Journalism and with an elementary education degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. After working in public relations for ten years and as a community volunteer for another ten years, I began my teaching career. I worked in the general education classroom for 8 years with students from kindergarten to fifth grade and then I began my specialization of gifted education. It has been a joy to teach gifted students for the last 11 years in both Dallas and Tucson. I love reading and set a personal goal of completing at least 100 books each year. I also enjoy gardening, decorating, entertaining and fashion. Traveling is a passion of mine and I have visited 9 countries. History is another love of mine and last summer I was a museum docent and an historical interpreter (tour guide) in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Sites: Lineweaver, Lynn Urquides, Drachman
 

Susan Kelly

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I have been teaching students in grades K – 8 for 35 years! Teaching GATE is a fantastic job for me, because it is challenging, and I am always learning something new. I love to investigate ideas, spend time outdoors gardening, or hiking, play with my dogs, and ride horses. I have 2 amazing daughters, 22 and 26, who never cease to amaze me. I am energized curiosity and inventiveness of my students and excited about our sessions together.

Sites: Van Buskirk, Banks, Davidson, Maldonado, Maxwell
 

Elias Kotzambasis

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This is my 21^st year teaching in TUSD, 2nd year as GATE Itinerant. I have grown up/old here in Tucson as I have been here for over 50 years. I have 2 grown children that are married, and I am eagerly awaiting grandchildren!!

Sites: Henry, Miles, Ford, Marshall
 

Emily Lambert

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I graduated from the University of Arizona in 1998 with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. I got my Master's degree in Early Childhood Education and a Reading Endorsement from Northern Arizona University in 2002. I began with my GATE Endorsement at Erickson Elementary as a Cluster Model teacher. In 2013 I got my National Board Certification as an Early Childhood Generalist. In 2023 I completed my Maintenance of Certification. I have been in the GATE Department as a Pull-Out teacher for the last ten years. I spend a lot of time outside of school attending sporting events and spending time with family.

Sites: Collier, Myers Ganoung, Roberts-Naylor, Sewell
 

Jennifer Lee-Titus

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I was born and raised in Tucson and received my B.A. in Political Science and Post Baccalaureate in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona. I am a National Board certified educator.  I have been teaching with TUSD for over 25 years in K-2 and have been working with GATE for 5 years now. 

I’m a mother to two daughters who both were in GATE and I now have a granddaughter. I love to travel as much as possible and spend my time reading about new places to travel. 

Always looking forward to new experiences!

Sites: Borton, Blenman, Mission View
 

Miriam Mack

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I have a bachelor’s of anthropology from UA, am trained as a field archaeologist, and have a master’s degree in geosciences from the UA. I also have a master’s degree in teaching (elementary) from SUNY Cortland. As you can see I have a lot of interests!

I have been an educator for over 18 years. I taught high school sciences, 1st and 5th grades, and middle school ELA and social studies. I was a GATE teacher at Mansfeld Magnet Middle School for four years, and this is my third year in the GATE itinerant program. I love the genuine thirst for knowledge, creativity, and curiosity that our GATE students display in the classroom!

Aside from teaching, I enjoy knitting, roller skating, doing the NYT Spelling Bee, hanging out with my dogs, Peaches and Sophie, and traveling. My last big trip was to the Big Island in Hawaii, and I was thrilled to see lava glowing in the crater of Kilauea before the sun came up. 

Sites: Sam Hughes, Robison, Hudlow.
 

Daisy Michel

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¡Hola! I’m Mrs. Michel or Ms. Daisy. It's my third year as a GATE itinerant teacher. I really enjoy working with our GATE students and making instruction interactive, thoughtful, and engaging. I also worked at Hollinger in 1st-3rd grade Dual Language Self-Contained GATE classes. I earned my bachelor's degree in Bilingual Elementary Education and a Master’s in Gifted Education from the University of Arizona. I’ve been happily committed to serving TUSD’s community of gifted and talented students for many years.

I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing board games, and being outdoors; there is nothing like a nature walk to feel refreshed.

Sites: Wright, Cavett, White, C.E. Rose, Sam Hughes
 

Judith Moritz

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This is my tenth year with the GATE department.  I have been with the district for thirty-three years mostly teaching middle school grades. I have my master's degree in educational leadership. As a parent and a grandparent, I realize the challenges of raising children in an ever-changing society. That is why I value the GATE program's emphasis on thinking strategies and habits of a scholar using a problem solving approach. I love working with students and seeing how they bring their enthusiasm and creativity with them to every lesson. I am blessed to be in a position where I can learn with your children and watch them develop their strengths and passions.

Sites: Dietz, Dunham, Steele, Tucson Unified Virtual Academy, Wheeler
 

Myrna Ramirez

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I’ve been a teacher for many years and I still enjoy my career very much. I graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Arizona. I was born in San Diego, CA but moved to AZ when I was an infant….so I am almost native. 😊 I’ve been with the TUSD GATE Dept for many years.

On my free time I enjoy cooking, home projects, spending time with family and friends. Because of our beautiful weather, I enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, walking and biking.

Sites: Carrillo and Hollinger  
 

Missy Root

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I graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona in Family Studies and Education. I began my teaching career with Mesa Public Schools and while teaching, I earned my Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. Over the past 25 years, I have taught all ages- from kindergarten to college! I'm thrilled to be part of the GATE team and look forward to working with young children again. 

When I'm not teaching, I enjoy reading, playing tennis, and hiking with my husband and three kids.

Sites: Fruchthendler and Bloom
 

Cassandra Valenzuela

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I was born and raised in Tucson, received my Bilingual Elementary Education B.A. at University of Arizona, and Masters in School Management at Alcala de Henares University, Spain. I've taught 2nd grade and also 1st/2nd Dual Language. I'm happy to start my 6th year teaching as a GATE itinerant teacher. I adore working with students, motivating them to grow, and helping them connect with the world around them.

I enjoy quality time with family and friends, reading, painting/drawling, yoga, running, weight lifting, hiking, cooking yummy food, and monsoon season.

Sites: Rosruge, Pueblo Gardens, Warren, C.E. Rose
 

Garrett Young

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I was born and raised in San Diego, California. I received my B. S in Geography at Northern Arizona University; earned my post-baccalaureate in Elementary Education at University of Arizona; and completed my Masters in Educational Leadership at N.A.U. Tucson.

I have been teaching in the TUSD Gifted and Talented Program for 23 years - and love it! When not engaged in changing the world through teaching GATE students, I enjoy playing guitar, traveling and gardening.

Sites: Borman, Whitmore, Cragin, Howell

Please contact us with any questions or concerns:

• GATE Department
• [email protected]
• (520)225-3605

Conflict Resolution for Us

Description of the steps to resolve a conflict within the department.

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