Mrs. Cawley - Science

Hello! I’m Mary Ann Cawley, and I am excited to be your child’s 8th Grade Science & STEM Teacher this year. This school year marks my 24th year in education and my 12th year at Sonoran Foothills School. I am honored to continue inspiring students through science, STEM, robotics, and agricultural literacy while helping them discover their potential as innovators and problem-solvers.

Originally from the Philippines, I grew up in Oman, where my parents worked as nurses. I completed my elementary and high school education in Oman before returning to the Philippines to continue my studies. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a pediatrician, which led me to earn my Bachelor of Science in Biology with a focus on Human Biology from De La Salle University in 2001. After beginning medical school, I discovered that my true passion was not only understanding science but also sharing that knowledge with others. This realization inspired me to pursue a career in education.

In 2003, I completed my Master’s Degree in Education with a major in Early Childhood Education at De La Salle University. My teaching journey began at a private school in the Philippines, where I taught for five years before moving to the United States in 2008.

After relocating to Arizona, I taught 8th-grade science at Somerton Middle School near Yuma for 7 years. During that time, I also taught STEM courses for grades 6–8, served as a Robotics Coach, worked as a Science Lead Adviser, developed science curriculum for migrant students, and taught GED Science courses. These experiences strengthened my belief that students learn best when they are actively engaged in meaningful, hands-on experiences.

Throughout my career, I have continued to grow as an educator through professional learning opportunities, including participation in national STEM and agricultural education conferences. I am passionate about integrating agricultural literacy into science and STEM education to help students understand where their food comes from, appreciate agriculture's role in their daily lives, and explore future opportunities in agriculture-related fields.

Some highlights of my teaching career include being named Yuma County Teacher of the Year for the Junior High/Middle School category in 2013 and leading my Robotics team to represent Arizona at the FIRST LEGO League World Festival in St. Louis, Missouri. I was also a finalist for the 2014 Arizona STEM Teacher of the Year Award, received the Most Valuable Teacher Award from the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, and earned the FIRST LEGO League Coach Award in Arizona in 2018. That same year, I was honored as the Arizona Diamondbacks Teacher of the Year and received an Honorable Mention for the Arizona Science Teachers Association (ASTA) 2019 Teacher of the Year Award for the Middle School category.

I was also named Teacher of the Year by the Deer Valley Education Foundation, received the Arizona Agriculture Literacy Award in 2022, and was recognized as Teacher of the Month by a local law firm. These honors reflect my commitment to creating engaging learning experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my husband of 12 years. He is passionate about motorcycling and gardening, and as he often says, “He handles the planting while I take care of the cooking!” We also share our home with our lovable four-year-old cat, Starling.

I am thrilled to be part of your child’s educational journey. My goal is for every student to develop a love and appreciation for science while becoming a confident, critical thinker, problem-solver, collaborator, and innovator. I hope to inspire students to see the connections between science and the world around them and encourage them to explore future opportunities in STEM-related fields.

"Perfection is not attainable, but in the pursuit of perfection we can catch excellence."
— Vince Lombardi