Earlier this summer, the Queen Creek Unified School District (QCUSD) welcomed over 100 new certified teachers during new teacher orientation for the 2024–2025 school year. The event was designed to help new educators familiarize themselves with the district's policies, resources and community before the new school year kicked off with students on July 22.
Among the new arrivals to the district are teachers Mark Newell and Heather Andrews.
Newell, who has 29 years of teaching experience from Michigan, decided to join QCUSD to experience teaching in a different environment and bring his expertise to another community. He said he was drawn to QCUSD because of the district’s values in creating a supportive and collaborative culture for teachers.
"Queen Creek is a growing district on the rise, and I wanted to be part of it. I can't wait to build new relationships,” said Newell. "Meeting new people and getting involved in the school and community is what I'm most excited about."
Newell is teaching ninth and 10th grade English at Eastmark High School and is also looking forward to coaching golf. He emphasized how building strong relationships with students, their families and the community brings the most success.
"The first thing you do is build a relationship," Newell said. "If you do that, you'll see the students buying into their future, and that's the key."
New teacher orientation also featured teachers like Heather Andrews, a recent master’s graduate from Arizona State University. Andrews is teaching first grade at Gateway Polytechnic Academy and is "incredibly grateful for the opportunity to jump right into teaching."
She is excited to bring in a growth mindset to her classroom and students.
"I hope my students gain confidence and are ready for their next steps," said Andrews. "They're going to learn kindness, respect and integrity, which they'll use inside and outside the classroom."
New teacher orientation brought in seasoned and new teachers that are all eager to make a positive impact on their students and the community. As QCUSD continues to grow, the district continues to provide an environment for both students and teachers to excel.
