Tucson Business Radio

NFTC Talks K-12 Education in Tucson: NFTC Ep 6

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From Left to right: Greg D’Anna,  Dustin Williams, Arlene Benavidez, Amber Smith (Chamber), Michael Guymon (Chamber)

  GUESTS:

Dustin Williams

Superintendent 
Pima County Public Instruction
(520) 724-8213
schools@schools.pima.gov
Website: http://www.schools.pima.gov/
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook | Twitter|

Dustin Williams is a lifelong Native Tucsonan.  He graduated from Amphitheater High School in 1992 and began working with local youth- coaching youth softball in the Frontier Little League- a job he maintained throughout his university studies. He entered the University of Arizona in 1992 and began studying business and accounting and considered joining his grandfather’s accounting firm.

Ultimately, Dustin’s coaching experiences lead him to the epiphany that he wanted to work educating Tucson’s youth thus inspiring him to change his major to Education.  While completing his degree in education at the University of Arizona he continued working with students and the community in Flowing Wells 21st Century after-school programs.  Dustin described his involvement in the program as, “truly the best way to get first-hand teaching experience.”

Dustin began his career teaching elementary education in Tucson. During his tenure, several accomplished leaders and administrators mentored Dustin and encouraged him to pursue his passion for education and explore his natural ability to lead and inspire students. Dustin followed his heart and decided to become an administrator and enrolled in the Northern Arizona University program in Tucson where he successfully completed a Master’s in Education.

Upon the completion of the program, Dustin accepted a position as Assistant Director of a Native American Charter school called Ha:san Preparatory & Leadership School. He accepted the position and began working to improve the school’s cultural diversity and academic test scores. In his first year as A.D., the school’s AIMS scores showed a 30% combined increase in the areas of reading and writing and an increase of 8% in mathematics. During his time at Ha:san, he truly learned about the beautiful culture of the Tohono O’odham people and will forever be grateful that the community embraced his leadership.

Dustin has traveled full circle and most recently taught 6th-grade math at Mansfeld Middle School in the Tucson Unified School District.  His passion for Public Education has energized him to take the next step in his life. Dustin Williams was elected the Pima County Superintendent of Schools and is excited about the future. He is committed to improving the public education systems throughout Pima County. Dustin invites you to contact him to discuss ideas about student achievement. He needs input from you. Together, “we can do better.”

Arlene Benavidez, Executive Director
Metropolitan Education Commission
(520) 670-0055 x11
Arlene@metedu.org 
Website: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/metedu
SOCIAL MEDIA:  Facebook | LinkedIn |

Arlene has a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education with a Student Affairs concentration from the University of Arizona; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a minor in Spanish from Arizona State University.

Arlene’s career in higher education began in 1996 as the senior regional coordinator for Northern Arizona University’s Office of Admissions in Tucson, where she was responsible for the recruitment of high school students from the southern region of Arizona.  She then moved to The University of Arizona in the Office of Early Academic Outreach where she managed the Academic Preparation for Excellence program in 42 middle and high school sites serving over 2000 students. During that time, she was on the implementation team for two GEAR UP educational grants for the Dreams Come True (Amphitheater School District) and Building the Future (Tucson Unified School District) college preparation projects.

Currently, Arlene is serving as Executive Director for the Metropolitan Education Commission, where she oversees operations and programming; and works alongside government, educational, business and community leaders to advocate for a quality and affordable education from pre-school to post-secondary; and offer programs that promote youth leadership, civic engagement, workforce development, and higher education pathways.

During Arlene’s 23-year tenure in higher education, she has gained the reputation of being a consummate professional and a mission-driven, service-oriented leader.  She sees herself as a catalyst for systemic change and she looks for opportunities that will lead to greater impact and improve the lives of all people from all backgrounds.   

Greg D’Anna 
Director of Public Relations, JTED
(520) 209-2407
gdanna@pimajted.org
https://pimajted.org/
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook| LinkedIn | Twitter |

Greg D’Anna is the Director of Public Relations for the Pima County Joint Technical Education District (JTED). For the past 11 years, he has helped build Pima JTED’s brand in Southern Arizona, sharing student and teacher success stories, as well as program information, during live presentations, in printed publications, and on the web. Greg started his career in public relations and marketing 32 years ago. He has worked for the University of Arizona Cancer Center, Pima Community College and the Sunnyside School District. He and his wife Lori are both native Tucsonans. Greg earned his degree in Journalism, Media Arts, and English at the University of Arizona.

About Your Hosts

Tucson Metro Chamber
465 W. St. Mary’s Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-792-1212

Amber Smith, the president, and CEO of the Tucson Metro Chamber, Amber Smith leads the Tucson Metro Chamber in implementing the goals and visions of the Chamber’s Board of Directors to champion an environment where business thrives, and the Tucson community prospers. Focusing on growing business through workforce development, talent attraction, and public policy, the Tucson Metro Chamber helps make Tucson the ideal destination for business success.

Amber serves in several leadership positions including as President and a founding board member of the Southern Arizona Defense Alliance, a board member on the Pima Community College Foundation, Advisor on Startup Tucson and Board Member on Cradle to Career. Amber’s mission is to bring together the right groups to have a collective impact.

Amber graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from Eller College. Amber began her career working for Senator McCain where she became adept at retaining professionalism and decorum when discussing controversial matters.  Government relations professional by trade, Amber skillfully navigates challenging policy matters while finding common ground. Collaborative by nature, she continues to build relationships between the public and private sector to achieve mutually beneficial goals.

Connect with Amber on LinkedIn.

Tucson Metro Chamber
465 W. St. Mary’s Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-792-1212

A native Tucsonan, Michael Guymon’s twenty-one-year professional career has primarily centered on political strategy, business development and advocacy, and organizational management. As Vice President for the Tucson Metro Chamber, Michael is responsible for developing and implementing the Chamber’s local public policy and workforce development/attraction programs and initiatives.

Michael’s previous positions include Vice President of Regional Partnerships for Sun Corridor Inc.; Executive Director of Metropolitan Pima Alliance; Chief-of-Staff to Tucson City Council Member Fred Ronstadt; Asst. Vice President for Governmental Affairs for the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce; and political consultant to The Bridges, a 360-acre mixed-use, infill development that will include Tech Parks Arizona, GEICO’s regional headquarters, housing, and a 111-acre commercial development.

Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Arizona.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn