Alice Vail Middle School

Jason is a 25-year veteran of Tucson Unified and has spent the majority of his teaching career at Alice Vail Middle School. Funny enough, he studied and got a degree in elementary education but has only ever thought in middle schools and has no plans to leave those grade levels. 

Just as he found himself teaching in middle school, he also sort of naturally found he was good at teaching math. Through it all, he has found that students respond well to him, and he’s found his niche – so he has no plans on doing anything or going anywhere else. 

“I’ve told people for forever that I’ve had bad days, but I’ve never had a bad week as a teacher,” Jason said. “And that’s what I want for my students.”

A devoted Cubs fan and Swiftie, Angela serves as Alice Vail’s elective AVID teacher for 7th and 8th grade students and the school’s AVID site coordinator. In her classroom, students get to focus on social-emotional learning and break down current events, alongside also learning about high school and higher education opportunities. 

The purpose of AVID is to close the opportunity gap to help students prepare for college and career readiness. At the middle school level, Angela doesn’t really get into the nitty gritty of what it takes to get into college but instead focuses on the opportunities that are available. That way when it’s time for a student to make a decision regarding where to go to high school or go to college, they are able to make an informed decision. 

“It’s kind of one of those spaces that we try to come into where kids might have the potential and they might have the drive, but they’re just lacking the structures to help them be successful,” Angela said.

Madeline is a multi-sport athlete and heavily involved in Alice Vail Middle School. The teenager plays soccer and track, while taking GATE classes, being in AVID, and is an office aid. Madeline likes being so heavily involved with her school because it makes her feel like she’s being helpful. 

She also connects to the staff, particularly the front office staff who she works with closely as an office aid, because her mother is a teacher at Lineweaver Elementary. 

“It just makes me feel better about my community and makes me happy for high school,” Madeline said. 

Madeline plans on completing a JTED program for paramedicine in high school and work as a paramedic throughout college but eventually would like a career in astrophysics.