Midvale Campus Staff

Tracy Laos – Midvale 4-5

I grew up in Omaha, NE and moved to Arizona after high school to attend and graduate from ASU with a BFA. I am married and have 4 children, 3 sons and a daughter. We enjoy getting away from the Arizona heat by visiting the beach and camping in the mountains. I became an educator because I enjoy watching and assisting students gain knowledge and confidence in their abilities. I believe everyone has gifts and talents and it’s a privilege to be able to witness the students realize this themselves.

“Educators should walk the walk and never stop learning themselves!”

Roy Gorris – Midvale Social Studies

After finishing high school and post secondary adult education I was drafted in the Dutch Army. As an infantry non commissioned officer I trained alongside U.S. Forces. Very impressed by their efficiency and professionalism I decided to immigrate to the United States some 24 years ago. Shortly after I immigrated I decided to join the U.S. Army not in the capacity of an infantry crew member but in the field of Aviation. Aviation has been my passions for well over 45 years. Fast forward , multiple deployments to Iraq , Afghanistan and South Korea just to name a few I retired and decided to pick up my educational journey.
I have an Associates , Bachelors in Science and an Master’s in Business Administration and am working on my Doctorate in Business Administration.  I also hold a certified teaching license in Business (K 6 thru K 12) , Emerging Technologies (K 9-12) and a pending Marketing (K 9 -12) cert.

Daniel Garcia – Midvale 8-12 Math

I believe students learn science by doing science, and that my classes are a medium through which my students will learn life skills that are critical for their success in college and future careers. As our students must be prepared to work cooperatively in a global and technological society where many of them will eventually hold jobs that do not yet exist, I emphasize critical thinking and problem solving, using our science content to develop good evidence-based reasoning and communication skills. 

Xiuqing Sun – Chinese Teacher

I went to China Communication University and have a degree in Media Management. In China I taught Chinese to foreigners before I moved to the U.S.

I’ve been teaching Chinese at TIA since 2012. I have traveled to Thailand, Japan, Korea, China and around the U.S.  I cannot give a direct translation but my favorite quote is something like this; “If I walk with two other people, I can learn from at least one of them.” It shows humility and the willingness to learn from different people, regardless of their age, background or beliefs.

Anthony Harden – Midvale Instructional Coach

More than 25 years ago, a shortage of substitutes in my daughter’s school district landed me on a teacher path. Prior to earning my post-degree certification in Elementary Education, I worked in broadcast journalism, public relations, and the nonprofit sector. I hold teaching licensure in Arizona and New Mexico, with a certification in TESOL (Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages) and an endorsement in Performing Arts. My undergraduate degree is from the University of Arizona, and I have a Masters in Educational Leadership from Western New Mexico University. My classroom teaching experience includes second, fifth, and sixth grade, and I have spent more than a dozen years in instructional coaching and district positions.

“Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend.  Inside a dog it is too dark to read” – Groucho Marx 

Lydia Fierro – Midvale NSLP Aide