Gale Elementary School

Bella is a first-year teacher at Gale Elementary, while Jenny is in her third year at the eastside school. Together, they are the 4th grade team. The pair collaborate on just about everything for their classrooms, including planning and lessons. 

For Bella, working in a team is beneficial, especially as a first-year teacher. 

“It’s incredible,” Bella said. “I feel very peaceful, [but] if she’s ever not able to be here, I feel very overwhelmed. I feel very grateful [to Jenny].” 

Jenny first came to Gale as a parent, which led her to substitute at the school while mostly being a stay-at-home parent. But three years ago, she made the jump to teaching full-time again.

After teaching 1st grade at Gale Elementary for 21 years, Briana served as the school’s reading interventionalist for two years. Now, she’s in her first year as the official Curriculum Support Provider – a role she had been helping with over the last few years. 

Briana came to Tucson from Yuma, where she previously taught. Her husband was in the military and when he got out, they decided to move to the Old Pueblo because Briana’s parents had already moved over to the city. Before moving, while visiting her parents, Briana would drive around the eastside, close to where her parents live, looking at schools.  

“I just remember driving past Gale and it was just that cute, quaint school with the red brick and the pretty trees outside,” Briana said. “And I was like ‘oh my gosh, I want to work there.’”

Lexi and Ami first met and worked together 13 years ago. Ami, who is a Gale alum, first came to the eastside school eight years ago. Lexi joined her four years ago. Together, they have 37 years of experience in education. 

“I have always said that I would rather work in a yucky grade level with someone that I work well with than to not because it’s effortless,” Ami said. “It really is effortless because we have the same philosophies.” 

Having already worked together was another plus for the team. 

“That’s what made it so seamless, that it was a choice to work together,” Lexi said. “It wasn’t something that was just put together. It was a choice for us to work together, and we did.”