Lake Havasu Unified School District
Quarterly Newsletter-Volume #1-August-September 2022
Guiding Principles
Our Guiding Principles affirm how Lake Havasu Unified School District #1 will engage each student with a focus on scholarship, character, and humanity – so that all students may graduate with the academic and social skills necessary to become responsible citizens and contributing members of society.
Email: communications@lhusd.org
Website: www.lhusd.org
Location: 2200 Havasupai Boulevard, Lake Havasu City, AZ, USA
Facebook: facebook.com/LHUSD1
Governing Board
The Governing Board is the policy-making body of the school district. It has the authority and responsibility to provide an educational program for students living within the district but must work within the framework of State and Federal law.
A board member's first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of the students attending the public schools.
(see policy BCA - Board Member Ethics)
As a unified district we are working to build a cohesive and high-quality education at all grade levels. What you do in your classroom every day makes a difference and supports our mission of graduating every student with the academic and social skills necessary to become responsible citizens and contributing members of society.
Between the school day, extra-curricular activities and other events, many students spend as much time with us, or more, than they do at home. They arrive at our schools each morning; some ready to learn and others preoccupied or not as prepared as we might like. Each day, and for every one of our students, we have the ability to make their day great or simply make it better. It is a choice! Our frame of mind, enthusiasm, compassion, humor, and appreciation of all that we have will be projected onto our students and the experiences they have each day. We must recognize the setting and relationships we create matter more than we often realize; in fact, these can matter more than any content we will ever teach or any grade we will ever assign. Thank you for everything you do each day to support our students and families!
Dr. Rebecca "Becky" Stone
Communications and Community Outreach
Terry Fleming, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent and GB/Student Discipline Hearings
Andrea Helart, Communication and Community Outreach Coordinator
Expanding our Outreach!
Technology Team
Sean Baker, Technology Supervisor
Technology Team
Austin Chinen-Smith
Computer Technician
CTE / High School, Smoketree, Starline
Alexis Clark
Software Support and
Information Management Specialist
Gina Flores
District Website Manager and
Food Services Support
Rick Logsdon
System Administrator
Pete Medley
Network Manager
Matt Oliver
Computer Technician
High School
Russell Rosen
Computer Technician
Jamaica, Oro Grande, and Thunderbolt
Susan Schendel
Computer Technician
Help Desk
Melanie Jones
Computer Technician
Nautilus and Havasupai, Bells, Intercoms, Telephones
Stacy Angus, Administrative Assistant
Laura Moulton, Human Resources Specialist
- New Hire Pre-Boarding
- Employment Verification
- Loan Forgiveness
- Human Resources Account Setup
- Educational Advancement
- Certificate Renewal
Erin Horvath, Human Resources Specialist
- New Hire On-Boarding
- Recruitment
- Initial Certification
- Employee Separations
- Unemployment Claims
Vivianna Rowe, Sub Coordinator
- Recruiting & Hiring for Substitutes
- Absence Management
- Leave Accruals
- Sick Leave Committee
- FMLA
- Fingerprinting (volunteers, subs, employees ONLY)
A great sub goes a long way!
Barbara Green, Administrative Assistant
- Front Desk Operations
- Employee Recognition
- Maintenance of Files
- Tax Credit Assistant
- Fingerprinting (Employee renewals)
Staff FMLA Process Guidelines
Recognize an Awesomizer in our District!
Business Offices
Mike Murray, Director of Business Services
Business Services Team
Payroll/Benefits Specialist
Grants
Benefits/Payroll Specialist
Accounting Specialist
Accounting Specialist/Tax Credit
Accounts Payable Specialist
Benefits/Payroll Specialist
Purchasing Specialist
Naomi Morgan, Administrative Specialist
Dollar for Dollar -Understanding How We Serve Our Schools
Maintenance Department
Thomas O'Connor, Maintenance Supervisor
Maintenance Team
Maintenance Specialist
Brandon Reynolds
Groundskeeper, Athletic Fields
Brian Tremaine
Electrician
Mike Kimball
DO FSP
Keith Little
Groundskeeper
Ken Lopez
Groundskeeper
Lewis Stephan
Carpenter
Matt Keele
Plumber
Edward Welch
HVAC
Steve Sylva
Groundskeeper
Adam Walkinshaw
Groundskeeper
Travis Bauer
HVAC
Lillian Gordon, Administrative Assistant
Transportation Department
Bobby Keirns, Transportation Supervisor
Driving in Style!
Sandy Silverman, Dispatcher
Transportation Team
Debbie Ueberroth-Bus Monitor
Christy Dewitt-Bus Monitor
Joanne Collins-Bus Monitor
Michelle Rojas-Bus Monitor
Barbra Thatcher-Bus Monitor
Ava Abraham-Bus Monitor
Ralph Carmona-Activity Driver
Fred Case- Activity Driver
Nancy Platte-Activity Driver
Linda Mevissen-Activity Driver
Howard Cooper-School Bus Driver
Neva Crawford-School Bus Driver
Cecile Goldsby-School Bus Driver
Gregory Mortland-School Bus Driver
Marci Robison-School Bus Driver
Paula Smith-School Bus Driver
Julie Streeter-School Bus Driver
Terri Swan-School Bus Driver
Robert Ueberroth-School Bus Driver
Dave Wijnhamer-School Bus Driver
Bevery Fix-School Bus Driver
Angelina Wert-School Bus Driver
Jorge Chacon-School Bus Driver
Warehouse Department
Todd Hess, Warehouse Supervisor
Keith Snitker, Driver
Jack Parnell, Warehouse Assistant
Food Services Team
Christopher Gallaga
Food Service Director
928-854-5411
Anne Taffe
Child Nutrition Supervisor
928-854-5413
Gina Flores
Food Service Technologist
Titan Family Portal
Lake Havasu District Nursing Team
Lake Havasu High School
Tammy Dutton
Thunderbolt
Kaitlyn Weber
Jamaica Elementary
Jill Hoopes
Oro Grande Elementary
Megan Turner
Starline Elementary
Carmen Kress
Smoketree Elementary
Paula Struvee
Nautilus Elementary
Kathryn Segedy
Havasupai Elementary
Assessment
Career and Technical Education
Curriculum
English Language Learners (E.L.L.)
Gifted Program
HavasuOnline
Professional Development
Gail Kulp, Student Achievement Specialist
Jaime Festa-Daigle, Director of Student Achievement
Director of Student Achievement
Title IX Coordinator (students)
Related Policies
Cinthia Salguerio, EL Coordinator
Student Achievement Team
Roger Burger
HavasuOnline Principal
Tania Gray
Curriculum Coach
Jackie Murphy
Instructional Technology Coach
Christie Olsen
Professional Learning Coach
Larry Olsen
Math Master Coach
Jamie Thuneman
Assessment and Accountability Coach
Marsha Becker
CTE Coordinator
Jamie Brennan, LHHS
Staff Assistant
Student Services Team
The staff of the Student Services Department believes that all students can learn skills that will enhance the quality of their lives regardless of developmental disabilities, socio-economic status, race, gender, or cultural considerations.
Our purpose is to provide a safe and caring environment that encourages the acquisition of knowledge.
In partnership with the parents and community, we accept the responsibility to teach all of our students so they are able to achieve their potential.
Jonathan Moss, Director of Student Services
- Student Services
- Emergency Planning
- 504 Plan Coordinator
DO Staff
Tessa Cross
- Synergy training and support
- AT support
- Kurzweil support
- APlus support
Mikyla Gilmore
- Student Record Retention
- Records Request
- Student Transportation
- Medicaid
- E.S.Y. Coordinator
Roberta Hayes
- Specialist, Staff/Travel/Ordering
Krystle Weinstein
- IEP or 504 meeting scheduler for all LHUSD schools except Smoketree Developmental Preschool
Rebecca Pehling
- Teacher on Assignment
Denise Atkins
- Psychologist Assistant
Psychologist Team
- Auditor, AA
Doug Pehling (LHHS and OG)
- Psychologist
Ryan Olsen (Starline and Thunderbolt)
- Psychologist
Kara Skowera (Nautilus, Jamaica, Havasupai)
- Psychologist
Monica Marks (Smoketree)
- Psychologist
Child Find Services
LHUSD will ensure that all children with disabilities, between the age of birth (0) through twenty-one (21) years, within the boundaries of the District, including children with disabilities who are homeless or wards of the state, and children with disabilities attending private schools or home schools, regardless of the severity of their disability, and who are in need of special education and related services are identified, located, and evaluated.
The district will inform the general public, private schools, and all parents within its boundaries of the responsibility of the availability of special education services for students aged three (3) through twenty-one (21) years, and how those services may be accessed including information regarding early intervention services for children aged birth through two (2) years.
Child Find Screenings are conducted at Smoketree Elementary Preschool, Smoketree Elementary Annex Building for children ages 3-5.
Call Joann Walker at 928-505-6033 to schedule an appointment or send referral form with the parent’s signature to Smoketree Developmental Preschool.
Bonnie Breazeal, Payroll/Benefits
Kari Dunlop, Benefits/Payroll Specialist
Cheri Tropple, Benefits/ Payroll Specialist
Certified
Tristan Jandrew, Teacher, LHHS
Teoni Kosters, Speech Therapy Assistant
Kristen Friesz, Teacher, Nautilus Elementary
Classified
Kaitlyn Weber, Nurse, Jamaica Elementary
Dana Rickard, Paraprofessional-Reading Intervention, Starline Elementary
Kristen Mortenson, Office Assistant, High School
Honoring our Alumni~
District- Thomas O'Connor, Maintenance Supervisor
Our district would like to take the time to honor our new District Maintenance Supervisor, Thomas O’Connor.
Thomas has a background in building trades and came to us after working in both California, and the Grand Canyon serving as a Maintenance Supervisor for the hotel industry. He worked for the local Head Start programs here in Lake Havasu, and then started with the Lake Havasu Unified School District in April of 2022, initially joining our HVAC crew. He immediately began making an impact with our team.
Though he started as our District Maintenance Supervisor just this past July, he has really been a positive and proactive addition to our district team. Multiple administrators and staff have shared how much they appreciate Thomas and all that he and his team have done to get our campuses up and running. He has hit the ground running for each school site during a busy start to the year. No matter the size of the job; he is always ready, willing, and able to attend to it. He has been very responsive and communicates updates in a timely manner. He clearly understands the sense of urgency that we are under and works as part of the problem-solving team when things are broken and waiting to be fixed. He takes his job seriously because he knows it will affect students and staff. He is motivated to make the changes needed and is reliable when we need him. He handles it all with a friendly demeanor and professionalism. His positive attitude and focus on safety for our staff and students is appreciated. As one of our administrator’s so eloquently stated, “Thomas is the type of human that we all want to have on our team.”
District-Mikyla Gilmore, Homeless Liaison, Medicaid Coordinator, Special Education Transportation Coordinator.
Mikyla Gilmore serves as our District Homeless Liaison, Special Education Transportation Coordinator, Medicaid Coordinator, and assists with CPR/First Aid certification for our LHUSD#1 staff when needed. She began her journey with LHUSD#1 in 2018 and has served in various roles for our Student Services department over the last four years. She works tirelessly with the rest of the department to meet the needs of our diverse student population. She always keeps the needs of the students and families first and does her best to utilize our team and local community partners to serve our families and staff each year. She is also a wife and mom of a son who attends school at Thunderbolt. So, she contributes as much as possible as a parent as well. Her heart is always in the right place, often giving back and stepping up for others. This summer, she even took time to assist with deep cleaning and painting to update the offices in her building for her team. She is a true team player, and we are thankful to have her on our LHUSD team!
Thunderbolt-Naomi Severson, Physical Education Teacher
Naomi Severson shows compassion, determination, and sportsmanship. We thank her for the intense energy, support, challenging workouts, and being a remarkable teacher and trainer! Mrs. Severson is always willing to help with whatever is necessary to help classes run smoothly whether that be covering a class, attending a meeting, or creating lesson plans. We thank Mrs. Severson for choosing to be a part of the Thunderbolt team and for believing in our school and community.