Bloom Elementary School

Theresa first got to know Bloom when, after moving to Tucson from California, her daughter started attending the elementary school. She first volunteered, then initially started working at Bloom more than 13 years ago as a paraprofessional, but moved into a teaching position five years ago.

Currently, she works with students from kinder through 2nd grade. “I was volunteering in [my daughter’s] class and I was in the teaching program for GenEd, but then the principal offered me a position as ParaPro,” Theresa said. “I loved it. It was amazing.”

While working as a ParaPro, Theresa took on an internship program before moving on to working in the Ex Ed classroom. She loves being able to hold onto her students for three years because she is able to see their growth – socially, emotionally, and academically.

Lisa is in her seventh year as the school counselor at Bloom. She loves working with the students at the eastside school, especially because most of her day-to-day is filled with lessons. She visits with each class and works on teaching them vital skills, like social skills, how to get along, how to be safe, and more.

"I just love being in the classroom, listening to kids sharing their perspective on what’s happening in the world and then just working with them on teaching them these critical skills,” Lisa said.

Outside of work, Lisa is an avid reader, and also likes to play piano, hike, run, and swim. But really, if she could just read all day, she would.

Kristina is a 32-year employee of Tucson Unified, and has spent the last 24 years at Bloom Elementary. When she worked at a previous site, some teachers she worked with had moved to Bloom and kept telling Kristina how great the school was. So, Kristina was sold on the idea, moved over to teach at Bloom and hasn’t left the eastside school since.

“The kind of cozy nature of the school, the dedication of the staff to help kids grow and learn – it’s just been home,” Kristina said of Bloom. She also loves working with first graders.

Kristina believes this age group is hilarious, and they are at a stage in life when they have a strong desire to learn. “They want to know things; They are like the biggest little investigators of the world,” Kristina said.