Holladay Elementary School

Sarah Barker is a first-year Tucson Unified employee but came to Holladay Fine Arts Magnet Elementary School with an extensive history of having worked for different schools at various other local school districts. When the position opened up at Holladay, Sarah said she was drawn to it because she loves the holistic approach the school offers students. 

“Also, that we’re able to reach the kids with their creativity through the arts, through the visual and performing arts,” Sarah said.
 
Besides her duties as the Magnet Site Coordinator, Sarah also runs two of the Creative Arts After School Programs the school offers: for Lego and technology. Building Legos has been a huge part of Sarah’s life as it used to be a hobby she shared with her siblings and now shares with her six children.

Chelsea has always loved implementing arts into her life and her classroom. So, when an opportunity to work at Holladay Fine Arts Magnet School opened up, she knew she had to come to the southside school.  

“The fine arts magnet aspect of Holladay is my favorite part,” Chelsea said. “I love that the students love coming to school and they love it. They love the arts aspect of it, and so that makes me excited to teach, when they’re excited to learn.” 

Chelsea has always incorporated arts into her own life and would continue to do so in her classroom even if she weren’t at a fine arts school. She believes art keeps students engaged and helps them learn while having fun, which perpetuates a good relationship between students and classwork. 

Even before working for Tucson Unified School District, people would always ask him what he did at TUSD. He and his wife were so heavily involved with volunteer work with the District, that people assumed he worked for it. Now, he’s in his second year working as the School Community Liaison at Holladay Fine Arts Magnet School. 

“I said, ‘You know what? Let me get over here and see what they’re like,’” Steve said.  

When Steve found an open position at Holladay, the southside school was going through a major front office transition. The principal and a couple of front office employees were new, but after he interviewed with Shakenya Humphries, and liked what she had to say, he knew he was in the right place. Now, he loves that he is able to help students and families through his role at Holladay.