By Tess Morrow — OwlFeed

Follow me on twitter.com @TessMorrow

There are many teachers at Agua Fria that were once students here also, walking through the same hallways and learning in the same classrooms that we do now. They all have favorite classes, subjects and memories as students here and they were more than happy to share some of them with us!

Ms. Laura Phillips

Teaches: Yearbook and Photography

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 2007 and was a student at Agua Fria all four years

Favorite classes/subjects as a student: Photography, art and theatre

Clubs/Sports they were in: Yearbook

Favorite event/memory at Agua Fria: Doing backstage work for plays in theatre, such as putting sets together and “getting to see the play come to life.”

Why/how they chose to teach at AFHS: She got a degree in photography and advertising. When the time came to get a job, she found an opening here at Agua Fria for a photography class.

Mr. Josh Murray

Teaches: Two sections of English 2, and one section of English 3 AVID.

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 2010 and was an Owl all four years.

Favorite classes/subjects as a student: Honors biology and journalism

Clubs/Sports they were in: Cross Country, NHS and Student Council

Favorite event/memory at Agua Fria: A very hilarious re-enactment of the death of Franz Ferdinand in his world history class his sophomore year

Why/how they chose to teach at AFHS: “I think there is so much potential here, and I love teaching regular classes to help those kids.”

Ms. Sarah Gilliand:

Teaches: Special Education

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 2001 and was an Owl all four years.

Favorite classes/subjects as a student: Photography, English and “maybe math”

Clubs/Sports they were in: Tennis

Favorite event/memory at Agua Fria: Football games

Why/how they chose to teach at AFHS: “To give back to the community that gave so much to me.”

Ms. Nora Marstall:

Job at AFHS: Library clerk

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 1978 and was an Owl all four years.

Favorite classes/subjects as a student: English

Clubs/Sports they were in: None

Favorite event/memory at AFHS: The bonfires

Why/how they chose to work at AFHS: “Agua Fria used to be a very small school, and I wanted to come back and see all the old traditions are still here.”

Mr. Mark Van Buren:

Teaches: Construction Technologies

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 1985 and stayed all four years

Favorite classes/subjects as a student: Photography and science

Clubs/Sports they were in: Soccer, Cross Country, Swimming, Yearbook

Favorite event/memory at AFHS as a student: The baseball state championship game in 1984. He was able to photograph some of the players and they won the game.

Why/how they decided to teach at Agua Fria: He retired from the Air Force in 2007. After that he took a job working maintenance here and in 2012 Dr. Bentz offered him a teaching job.

Ms. Andrea Hudson:

Teaches: Honors biology and general biology

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 2000 and was an Owl all four years

Favorite classes/subjects as a student: Senior English class and math

Clubs/Sports they were in: Volleyball, Softball and NHS

Favorite memory/event at AFHS as a student: Football games

Why/how they decided to teach at Agua Fria: “I love Agua Fria. I feel familiar with it. The kids and teachers have respect and tradition.”

Ms. Laurie Davis:

Teaches: German

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 1977, and stayed all four years

Favorite classes/subjects as a student: P.E. and English

Clubs/Sports they were in: Swim. She started swim in 1973 and two years later they won state.

Favorite memory/event at AFHS as a student: Going to the football games

Why/how they decided to teach at Agua Fria: Her old German teacher called her and told her she was moving to the math department a Agua Fria, so there was an open teaching spot for German. She has been a teacher at Agua Fria for 32 years now!

Ms. Jan Counts:

Job: Principal’s secretary

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 1974 and was an Owl all four years

Favorite classes/subjects as a student: Business classes and shorthand

Clubs/sports they were in: Pompom girls, Girls League (a sports program for girls)

Favorite memory/event at AFHS: Traveling with the band. Also, when she danced as the lead in the school musical, Oklahoma, for the drama department. It was a three-week production and it was one of the first things filmed at Agua Fria.

Why/how they decided to teach at Agua Fria: She lived in Japan when her husband was in the Navy. She used to work as a librarian. Her friend told her about an open job in tech support.

Ms. Stephanie Vaughn:

Job at Agua Fria: One of the assistant principals

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 1985 and was an Owl all four years

Favorite classes/subjects as a student: English

Clubs/sports they were in: Basketball, volleyball, softball, track, and Interact club

Favorite memory/event at Agua Fria: Her sophomore year when she built the sophomore class float.

Why/how they decided to teach at Agua Fria: “I always wanted to be a teacher, my parents both were. My English teacher motivated me to start teaching.”

Roger Warner:

Teaches: Used to teach American history, but now teaches art

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 1974, was an Owl for his junior year

Favorite classes/subjects  they were in as a student: Woodshop

Clubs/sports they were in: Wrestling

Favorite memory/event at Agua Fria as a student: The tardy policy that his old Woodshop teacher had. You either had to take a squat or jump off the second story in the classroom where the wood was kept. Mr. Warner once jumped off and cut his chin.

Why/how they decided to teach at Agua Fria: He has always been a West side person. “Agua Fria is a good fit for me.”                                 

Mr. Anthony Cluff

Teaches: World History teacher  and Varsity football coach

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 1990 and was an Owl all four years.

Favorite classes/subjects when they were in as a student: Weight training, Arizona American history

Clubs/sports they were in as a student: Football, baseball and wrestling.

Favorite memory/event at Agua Fria as a student: Winning two state championships in varsity football.

Why/how they decided to teach at Agua Fria: “I like the atmosphere here and the mixture of kids.”

Ms. Andra Counts

Teaches: She is a transition specialist in the Transition school to work program here at Agua Fria. The program is called “Changing Gears”. It is for special needs students who are looking to learn skills to find possible careers and colleges for the future, as well as learning to be a team with their group. “I love my job!”

Graduated/years stayed: Graduated in 2001. “I was the first class that got to decide whether to go to Millenium or Agua Fria after they seperated the campus my sophomore year. I chose Millenium at first, but then ran to Agua Fria!”

Favorite classes/subjects when they were a student: English, Geometry, Spanish, Choir.

Clubs/sports they were in as students:Basketball, Volleyball. She was also in Varsity Spirit Line, NHS.

Favorite memory/event at Agua Fria as a student: Friday night football games, and being in cheer. “Being in cheer was the most challenging and most rewarding experience of my Highschool career.”

Why/how they decided to teach at Agua Fria: She graduated from NAU in 2005. She fell in love with working with students who required more support in the general education classes. “I have to say that I have worked in all four of the district campuses, and by far Agua Fria has the best kids!”