MASSA Summer Series Newsletter
June 5 - 9, 2023
UPCOMING EVENTS
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
MASSA Leadership Team
Norma Derby
Executive Principal
My name is Norma Derby and I have been an educator for 26 years, the last 7 years of which have been as the proud principal of MASSA. I am honored to accept the position of Executive Principal of AMS-Prince and AMS-MASSA for the '23-'24 school year. I graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso, where I began my career as a Special Education teacher. I received my master’s degree in Educational Leadership in 2014 from Northern Arizona University.
I am a wife to my husband, William, of 19 years and a mother of three: a 24-year-old son, an 19-year-old daughter, and a 9-year-old son. I love to spend time with my family, travel, cook my favorite childhood recipes for the holidays and play with my Aussie-doodle, Penny.
Alicia Morris
Resident Principal
My name is Alicia Morris and I have 13+ years educational experience working with K-8 students in Mississippi, Arizona, and France. I am originally from Phoenix, but graduated from The University of Arizona with Bachelor’s degrees in Business Economics and French and from Arizona State University with a Master’s degree in Educational leadership. I have served as Assistant Principal of Academics at MASSA for 5 years. I have a spouse who has devoted his career to being a teacher and a young, energetic son who loves to keep his parents on their toes!
Melissa de Leeuw
Assistant Principal, K - 2
My name is Melissa De Leeuw and I have been an educator for 28 years. I am originally from Seattle, Washington and have spent the last 14 years teaching in Qatar, China, Germany and Brazil. I has three grown children and two grandchildren. I enjoy travel, reading, cooking and the outdoors. I am excited to start a new adventure in Tucson with the MASSA community.
Kimberlin Garcia
Assistant Principal, 3 - 5
My name is Kimberlin Garcia and I have over 13 years of teaching experience in the classroom. I am originally from a small community in northern Arizona on the Navajo Nation, but I have considered Tucson my home for the past 16 years. I graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in Elementary Education. I obtained a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership: School Leadership K-12 from NAU. My hobbies include spending time with my family, watching movies, playing sports GO WILDCATS, and I am a huge Beyonce fan!
Rod Edmond
Assistant Principal, 6 - 8
My name is Rod Edmond and I have over 6 years educational experience working with middle school students in Arizona and Texas. I graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Sociology. I am excited to help foster a positive learning environment and to collaborate with staff and parents to create a path to educational achievement for all scholars.
Marcela Dominguez Chavira
Head of Operations
My name is Marcela Dominguez Chavira, I was born and raised in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico. After completing my high school education, I decided to pursue my university studies in Business Administration in Guadalajara, Jalisco where I lived for almost 10 years.
I have been residing in Tucson, Arizona for almost four years. Gotta say, I totally love the desert! My husband and I are avid adventurers, constantly seeking out new places to visit and engaging in outdoor activities.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Connect with Ms. Alicia, Resident Principal