Hello, Bobcat families!
My name is Tracie Paugh, and I'm thrilled to be teaching sixth grade ELA! This will be my 20th year of teaching, and my fifth with DVUSD at Sonoran Foothills. In addition, this will be my fourth season coaching cross country, and I would be honored if your child would consider joining our 2024-2025 Bobcat Cross Country Team! Overall, I am excited to have the opportunity to work with you and your child this year in whatever capacity!
I was born and raised in Wisconsin-GO BREWERS! GO PACKERS! GO BADGERS! I spent my early years residing in northern Wisconsin and my middle & high school years living in a town called Onalaska located on the Mississippi River. I hung out with the "River Rats" and spent a lot of my free time fishing and boating on the river. After high school, I attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where I obtained my Bachelor's Degree in Education. After graduating from college, I accepted a position as a camp counselor and outdoor educator in Gypsum, Colorado, where I spent the summer and fall whitewater rafting, rock climbing, horseback riding, and mentoring young people from all over the country.
In 2005, I took a leap of faith and moved to Arizona. In the Verde Valley, I taught ELA, history, and yearbook to students in grades 5, 7, and 8. My family then relocated to Prescott, Arizona, where I was the lead ELA teacher for grades 6-8. In the spring of 2020, we moved to Anthem. My family members are my husband Justin, daughter Leilah (15), and our sweet golden retrievers, Autumn (5) & Ellie (2).
In my free time, I enjoy spending quality time with my family. We like hiking on many types of trails throughout Arizona. We also enjoy camping in Flagstaff, kayaking around Watson and Lynx, and playing pickleball at the ACC. As you can see, we are up for everything lively and outdoors! When I'm not designing engaging lessons for my students or spending time with my family, I enjoy reading a variety of genres, particularly MYSTERY/SUSPENSE, and running races across the state.
Enough about me! I want you to know that I have a passion for teaching and believe that students come first! I also understand that they need to learn what a growth mindset is and enjoy what they are learning along the way. My years of experience have taught me that students need to be understood, respected, and have the ability to move and collaborate with their peers. They also need to know the "why" behind everything and how their learning connects to the real-world in order to be fully engaged and take ownership of their education.
Furthermore, I am excited about the upcoming academic year! My main goal is for us to work together to deliver the finest education possible for your sixth-grade students. Your child will succeed in ELA if he or she does his or her best, has a growth mindset, and completes the assigned tasks. Finally, I want you to understand how crucial it is that we have open lines of communication. Please contact me at any time at Tracie.Paugh@dvusd.org.
Thank YOU for ALL YOU do!
