Jill Forsythe, Douglas High School English and Literature Teacher, was named the 2009 Cochise County High School Teacher of the Year on Friday, April 3rd, at the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center in Sierra Vista.   Forsythe, who has been teaching for twenty years, was one of three teachers nominated for the title. 

Jill Forsythe was recently named Cochise County High School Teacher of the Year , while Eduardo Molina won the district elementary teacher of the Year.

Along with her teaching position, Forsythe heads the department at DHS, coordinates English Advanced Placement, and serves as a mentor teacher in her school district.  According to DHS principal, Bonnie Lopez, Forsythe’s “enthusiasm is contagious—always providing the best learning opportunities for all students.”

Douglas Unified School teachers Eduardo Molina Jr. and Mark Ruiz were also honored at the annual banquet.  Molina is a fifth grade teacher at Faras Elementary School and has been teaching for 8 years.  Ruiz, a fourth grade teacher, has been teaching at Joe Carlson Elementary School since 2005.  Both were nominated in the Elementary School category.

Forsythe received a $500 cash prize for winning in the High School category.  Each Teacher of the Year nominee received a plaque and $100.

The teachers weree honored during the regular meeting of the Douglas Unified School District Governing Board on April 7.

In other action, the Board:

• Approved donations of a document camera from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for use at Ms. Forsythe’s class at Douglas High School; school supplies at a value of $202 to the Early Learning Center from Wal-Mart; and a pickup truck with a value of $1,000 donated by Leanne Marston to the DHS auto shop class.

• Approved district fundraising activities for the Huber Middle School yearbook club; and DHS girls volleyball, soccer and basketball teams.

• Approved the second reading of the “Professional/Support Staff Undifferentiated Leave.”

• Approved the hiring of substitute teachers Margaret Schmitt, Aixa Gonzales and Donald Huish, Jr.

• Approved coaching hires of Steve Ortiz and Richard Ross, Ray Borane assistant baseball coaches, $883;  and Carlos Chavez, DHS assistant softball coach (JV) $633.

• Approved salary adjustments for certified staff Brad Lindsay and Lee Hayes incorrectly placed on salary schedule.

• Approved the hiring of summer school administrators and teacher at a rate of $200 per day for administrators and $150 a day for teachers. Administrator is Jan Gallagher; and teachers are Edmund Garcia, Jessica Castillo, Roselia Melgoza, Donna Howard, Linda Aguirre, Claudia Perez, Elizabeth Cuevas, Ana Ballesteros, Sydney Fimbres, Oscar Mariscal, Chris Moore-Backman, Carlos Chavez, Eduardo Molina, Judy Riddle, and Celena Estrella,

Also administrator Andrea Overman and teachers  Rodna LaMadrid, , Donna Colson, Leticia Hernandez, Sally Hamilton, Oscar Romero and Gustavo Enriquez.

And, administrator Cliff Dunlap and teachers Rosela Arvayo, Pat Kehl, Cindy Gage, and Ana Samaniego.

Also, administrator Rene Villalva and teachers Connie Scherden, John Necas and Maria Rea.

And, administrator Martin Muecke and teachers Richard Ross, Melissa Rodriguez, Virginia Mendez and Sheila Ayrom.

• Approved addenda in the amount of $3,000 for Janice Fritsche for extra duties/responsibilities for occupational therapy district-wide; and $5,000 for Dan Bates for as summer administrator for Douglas High School.

• Approved volunteers Jose Tapia, Ray Borane Middle School baseball coach; Diana Salazar, DHS special ed; Nancy Barcelo, DHS Library; Glen Ortiz, Middle School baseball coach; and Edith Rodriguez, Faras Elementary School.

• Accepted the resignations and retirements of Margaret Waag and James Selchow, end of 2009-10; and Heather Shake, resigning at end of current school year.

• Approved the hiring of Maria Ordaz, instructional aide, Ray Borane, $9.12 per hour; Nidia Arely Del Rio, parent liaison for Ray Borane, $9.12 per hour; Summer School security staff Carlos LaMadrid, $11.20 per hour, Eddie Trevizo, $10.15 per hour, Robert Rodriguez, $9.90 per hour, Mayelina Aleman, $10.15 per hour, Jesus Acedo, and Katie Clemente, $9.90 per hour.

• Approved the hiring of 2009 Summer school instructional aides at a rate of $15 per hour. Hired were Shannon de la Torre, Rebecca Gonzales, Irene Rojas, Maria Quirrin, Frances Villa, Araceli Fragoso, Crystal Vega, Mary Laborin, Elsa Sanchez, Cecilia Pickell, Miriam Carbajal, Maria Velasco, Aurielle Flasschoen, Paula Terrell, Erica Leyva, Kristi Moran. Jennifer Nalley, Ana Rodriguez, Maria Gonzalez and Deanna Moss.

Also, Susie Fuentes, Cynthia Sanchez, Carmen Galaz, Ana Saavedra, Hilda Padilla, Vanessa Monge, Maria Velasco, Gloria Hoffman, Betty Miranda, Alice Molina, Maritza Mason, Delia Romero, Cindy Ross, Lisa Ramirez, Ana Rivera, Nydia, Arely Del Rio, Patricia de la Torre and Guadalupe Maytorena.

School secretaries hired include Blanca Rojas, Sylvia Moulinet, Sonia Cruz, Delia Romero and Lisa Ortega.

• Accepted the resignation of Luis Alvarez, and instructional aide at Clawson School.

• Approved the Cochise College Science Club students to mentor/tutor elementary and/or middle school students.

• Approved renewal of the Intergovernmental agreement with Arizona State University College of Teacher Education and Leadership.

• Approved out-of-state travel for Career & Technical Ed teachers Lourdes Mora and Ken Cormier; CTE (DECA store) instructional aide Maria Figueroa; and DHS DECA students Chantal Jiminez, Hector Rosales, Miriam Herrera, Armando Corrales, Chrystal Maldonado and Sheyla Valdez  to attend the DECA International Career Development Conference in Anaheim in April.

• Approved out-of-state travel for DHS students and staff chaperones to travel to Western New Mexico University in Silver City for college visitation.

• Denied a request from Tere Trahin for an extended leave of absence.

The next regular board meeting is May 5.