Officers and Representatives

Madison District Classroom Teachers' Association

Where Madison teachers belong!

MDCTA Executive Board

2009-2010

President: Cheryl Allen

Cheryl is a 32 year veteran teacher of Physical Education. She graduated from Missouri Southern State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and later earned her Master's in Physical Education from Drury University. Cheryl taught 20 years of high school in Missouri and served as the President of the Ozark National Education Association for five of those twenty years. She moved to Arizona in 1997 and quickly became involved in the MDCTA as a site representative and SPC chair. Cheryl was elected to the MDCTA Presidency in 2001. Cheryl is also a member of the Interest Based Negotiations Team.

Vice President: Christopher Sheehan
Chris is currently teaching 7th grade science at Madison Park School. He also mentors the robotics program at Madison Park School. He recently received the First Lego League Mentor of the Year award for the state of Arizona, 2009. Chris mentors the Middle School Science Bowl Team as well. The team won the state title and represented Arizona at Nationals in 2009. They earned a very respectable 6th place finish nationally. Chris has been the MDCTA VP since 2006. He also participates on the Interest Based Negotiations Team and is a true-blooded "dirt bagger" from the University of Arizona.

Treasurer: Pam Duty
Pam is currently in her 5th year at Madison Park School teaching READ180 to 7th and 8th graders. She is a veteran teacher with prior experience in the Gilbert district as well as All Saints Episcopal Day School. Pam also brings special skills and experience to the board as she has served as an administrator, past association president, as well as, former Board of Director member for the AEA. Pam is a native Texan.

Recording Secretary: Lauren Blitzer
Lauren is a Kindergarten teacher at Madison Camelview. Last year she served as Camelview's Association Site Leader. Lauren grew up in NewYork and attended college in Illinois.

Communications Manager: Mary Konczal
Mary serves MDCTA in two capacities. As the Communications Manager, she is responsible for communication on the MDCTA website. She also serves as Madison Park's Site Leader. Mary teaches 8th grade science. She is originally from Ohio, the buckeye state.

Members at Large:

Yolanda Abel is in her ninth year teaching kindergarten at Madison Camelview. Yolanda has been a Site Leader, served on the District Professional Council and currently serves on the Interest Based Negotiations Team.

Michele Rutin teaches 1st grade at Madison Rose Lane. This is her first year as part of the MDCTA Executive Board.

Lindsay Farr teaches technology at Madison Park. This is her first year as part of the MDCTA Executive Board.

Jennifer Zachary teaches Kindergarten at Madison Camelview. Coming from Michigan, she recognizes the need for strong leadership within the Association and was elected to the E-Board as a Member at Large and also will serve as the Site Leader at Camelview this year.

Legislative Chair: Beverly Giacobbe
Bev teaches 8th grade social studies at Madison Meadows. Originally, from Colorado, Bev is in her 6th year of teaching. She is currently working towards a Masters in Educational Leadership at NAU. Her passion is politics and she serves the Madison Education-Political Action Committee as its treasurer.

Professional Rights and Responsibilities Chair:

Thomas Ramirez
Thomas instructs 6th graders at Madison Park in mathematics and language arts. This will be his third year to serve MDCTA in this capacity.

MDCTA Site Leaders

2009-2010

Madison Camelview Elementary School:
Jennifer Zachary
She teaches kindergarten at Madison Camelview. Coming from Michigan, she recognizes the need for strong leadership within the Association and was elected to the E-Board as a Member at Large. This is Jennifer's first year representing Camelview as Site Leader.

Madison Heights Elementary School:
Leah O'Toole
Leah is a 4th grade teacher at Heights. She has been teaching two years and loves it!

Madison Rose Lane Elementary School:
Amanda Halpern
Amanda is in her seventh year teaching at Rose Lane. She graduated from Arizona State University.

Madison Simis Elementary School:
Cheryl Allen
Cheryl serves Simis as Site Leader and serves the entire district as MDCTA president.

Madison Traditional Academy:
Susan Weistart
This is Susan's second year serving as MTA's Site Leader. She currently teaches 4th grade and has been a teacher for 20+ years. She is certified in both regular and special education and holds a gifted endorsement.

Madison #1 Middle School:
Lisa Vaaler
Lisa is native to Phoenix and has been teaching 6th grade science and social studies at Madison #1 for nine years. In addition to being a Site Leader she is also the advisor for #1's Environmental Club.

Madison Meadows Middle School:
Megan Kottwitz
Originally from Colorado, Megan is in her 12th year of teaching; 8th year at Madison. She is currently the 6th grade team leader at Madison Meadows and teaches science. In addition to being a site leader, she also is in charge of SPC at Meadows and serves on the Executive Board as the DPC chair. Megan says that MDCTA is a great way to stay active and up to date on all that is happening in education today.

Madison Park Middle School:
Mary Konczal
This is Mary's second year serving as Site Leader for Park School. She received her Site Leader certification from AEA on Novemeber 14, 2009. She also holds the office of Communication Manager on the executive board. Mary teaches 8th grade science and coaches girls softball. She is in her fifth year of teaching, a transplant from corporate America where she spent 20+ years in materials management.

MDCTA