District Administration — Tucson International Academy

From Midwestern Farm Girl to World-Traveling School Superintendent

If your first impression of Dr. Jennifer Herrera is what you read on her resume, you will be very surprised when you actually meet her in person. On paper, she is a highly educated, fiercely driven, world-traveled, savvy business person. When you meet her in person, however, you'll discover she is a warm, down-home, farm-raised, joy-filled, kid-loving woman. All of the degrees and drive were just a way for her to do what she loves most–to educate children in the richest, most growth inspiring atmosphere imaginable.

Trailblazer at a Young Age

Jennifer Ellen Smith was born in Oxford, Ohio. She grew up in nearby Brookville, Indiana, where her dad farmed and worked in business and her mom was a teacher. Jennifer was the only girl in her family and her two older brothers soon discovered that the best use for a sister is to make her go first. First to test if the rope swing over the creek worked, first to jump off the hayloft, first to see if the bull in the pasture could be outrun. So being a trailblazer was something Jennifer learned early on and has embraced all her life.

Down on the Farm

Jennifer loved growing up on a farm. She loved the animals, the open air and the adventures around every corner. But growing up on a farm also involves a lot of chores, which instilled Jennifer with an incredible work ethic. Jennifer was also an avid student and was fascinated by other cultures and lands. Discovering she was prolific at learning other languages fueled this passion. Combined with her deep Christian faith and desire to be a missionary, world travel seemed inevitable. As much as she loved life on the farm, deep down she knew someday she would be leaving to pursue her own dreams.

Pursuing Her Passions

But first things first. Jennifer pursued her education with enthusiasm. She loved school and was active in and out of the classroom. She participated in many different sports and started to exhibit her leadership skills when she was elected student council president in high school. When Jennifer was just 14 years old she traveled to Mexico City on a trip organized by her high school Spanish teacher. It was on that trip that Jennifer's confidence and proficiency in speaking Spanish really took hold. So when Jennifer continued on to Ball State University, she chose to study Elementary Education with a bilingual endorsement. When it came time to do her student teaching, Jennifer jumped at the opportunity to teach in the small border town of Nogales, AZ.

Citizen of the World

Jennifer describes herself as a citizen of the world, meaning she feels she could live anywhere. But in southern Arizona, Jennifer discovered two things. She often had the opportunity to speak Spanish, which she loved, and she saw many people living in poverty, which deeply touched her heart. Her childhood dream of doing missionary work was renewed. It was during this time while at church that Jennifer also met her husband, Wences Herrera. They were married in 1989.

Never Stop Learning

The Herreras eventually moved to Tucson where Jennifer continued teaching and working at church. She also continued on with her own education. She received her Master's Degree in Multicultural Bilingual Education at The University of Arizona. She went on to earn her doctorate degree. But being as other-focused as Jennifer is, she soon had to pursue a way to use her gifts and education to help others.

Tucson International Academy is Born

Combining her love of education, linguistics, ministry, and multicultural studies, Jennifer opened the doors to Tucson International Academy in 2002. The first campus was located on Broadway and has now expanded to include 3 more campuses. And it truly is a family affair. Jennifer is the school superintendent, Jennifer's husband Wences is a co-founder of the school and also teaches Spanish. Their daughter attended TIA her whole life. TIA is the amazing school that it is today because of the passion, hard work, vision and other-focused heart of its beloved founder and school superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Herrera.

Co-founder of Tucson International Academy and Spanish Language instructor at multiple TIA campuses.

How Principal Valerie Enriquez Broke the Trend

Have you ever wondered how your family dynamics affect your future? It used to be that financial status or even ethnicity were large contributors to what future opportunities a person could have. Now, according to a New York Times article, marriage is one of the greatest factors. The article reveals that when it comes to children born and raised in single-parent families, "a large body of research shows that they are more likely than similar children with married parents to experience childhood poverty, act up in class, become teenage parents and drop out of school." Fortunately for all of our kids at TIA's campuses, Principal Valerie Enriquez is a tremendous example of someone who has broken that trend. She shows her students that they are the ones who can determine their own destiny and not become a statistic.

Ms. Enriquez's Childhood

Ms. Enriquez was fortunate to have a gem of a mother who, although a single mom, challenged her to break the family pattern and plan her own future. "I cooked, I cleaned, I got my sister ready for school and even though my mom worked two jobs she always tried to keep me on the right track to pursue my dreams," Ms. Enriquez.

According to Child Trends, a nonprofit research center that studies children at all stages of development, 41 percent of births in the U.S. occur outside of marriage, yet only 10 percent of these births occur among people who have a college education. While 60 percent of unwed births come from persons without a college education. What that means, according to the data, is Principal Enriquez was more likely not to go to college. She was also six times more likely to become a single parent herself and repeat the trend with her own kids because she was being raised in a single-parent home!

You Determine Your Destiny

Even though all that sounds like a vicious cycle, Valerie, who had all of these challenges against her and still broke the cycle. How? She believed that you determine your destiny. As a result, she became the only person in her family to go to college. If there was a goal, she aimed for it and hit it with pinpoint accuracy. She wanted to be a teacher, which she had accomplished at only 21 years of age. In fact, on her 21st birthday, she didn't go out and celebrate the typical right of passage into adulthood (party and get wasted) but stayed home and graded papers!

Ms. Enriquez did have a lot of inspiration. Everyone in her family was involved in education. Her mom was an administrator. Her aunts and even her grandmother were lunch ladies. This inspiration was not enough though. Ms. Enriquez needed to have a passion to change her destiny. She always tells her students, "Don't let anything get in the way of your dreams." Nothing got in the way of her goals, for after she reached her goal to be a teacher, she aimed for being a principal. Under the guidance of Principal Montemayor, she opened the Midvale campus as their first principal.

"Li'l but Feisty"

There's a reason that Ms. Enriquez's nickname is "Li'l but Feisty." She fights for her goals and so far she has hit every one of them. Now, her goal is to have her K-12 students excel, pass the AIMS test, and eventually go to college. When her students say, "We can't pass the AIMS," her reply will be, "Yes you can; you ARE going to pass the AIMS."

Rich works remotely for the Academy from his home in Indiana. He lives with his wife, Mary, and their dog, Bella. Rich enjoys volunteering for local charities and religious organizations in his hometown. He and his wife enjoy traveling and gardening and spending time with their children.

Rich has over 30 years of experience working in Healthcare and Clinical Research as a finance and business manager. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Indiana University in 2002.

"Sharing my organizational and office skills and dedication will help TIA achieve its goal of being a world class charter school."

"Using my positive attitude, personal and professional experiences, and my willingness to work, my life mission is to continue to grow professionally and continue to develop a consistent approach with a humble confidence."

I am impacting the lives of both students and their families while focusing on my future goals. I am highly experienced in my profession. I am determined to look for ways to find solutions and make things happen.

I enjoy learning, attending cultural events, and meeting new people to stay refreshed and enthusiastic about my educational career.

I experience success in my mission when I have a collaborative, stable work environment, and when I can spend quality time with my family outside of school. One of my biggest priorities is making Tucson International Academy a valuable school setting for all families.

"My name is Arlene Canez, and I have had the great privilege of serving this school community since 2009. Over the past 16 years, I've worn many hats, each one deepening my appreciation for the heart, resilience, and potential of our students, families, and staff."

From the classroom to leadership roles, every step of the journey has been grounded in my commitment to student growth and success.

As principal, my goal is to foster a vibrant, welcoming, and respectful learning environment where each student is encouraged to think critically, dream big, and treat others with kindness. I believe in the power of strong relationships, clear communication, and shared purpose.

It is an honor to lead a school that values both academic achievement and character development. I'm proud of how far we've come and excited for all that lies ahead.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education.

Jem Deliarte is a seasoned educator with a Bachelor of Secondary Education in English from the University of St. La Salle – Philippines in 2014. He has pursued advanced studies, earning post graduate credits in Master of Arts in Education with a specialization in Linguistics (2014-2016), and is currently completing a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Management at the same institution.

Jem has substantial international experience, including working as the head of the International Programs Section at a Japanese corporation in Miyazaki Prefecture (2014-2016). In this role, he oversaw study abroad and faculty exchange programs across Japan, the Philippines, Europe, and the United States. He also led the International English Department, where he developed curricula for technical-vocational courses in areas such as business, culinary arts, global education, automobile, general education, and healthcare.

From 2016 to 2018, Jem worked as a college professor at the University of St. La Salle – College of Arts and Sciences in the Philippines. During this time, he also moderated the senior high school's Yearbook Publication and established Official English Publication. From 2018 to 2022, Jem served as a full-time high school faculty member in Bangkok, Thailand.

Jem Deliarte holds multiple professional teaching licenses: He passed the Philippine Regulatory Commission Examination for Professional Teachers in 2015, was granted a Certificate of Eligibility for Professional Teacher by Japan's Ministry of Education in 2016 and obtained a Teaching License from Thailand's Ministry of Education in 2018. In 2022, he further expanded his credentials by receiving his Teacher Certification from the state of Arizona, USA.

Currently, Jem is the Principal of Tucson International Academy's Remote Learning Program and is an active member of the TIA District Leadership Team, contributing to the strategic direction and leadership of the institution.

As TIA's Programs Coordinator, my roles include Reading Specialist, ESL Teacher, McKinney-Vento Liaison, and Youth On Their Own (YOTO) Liaison. I'm from a military family, grew up in Arizona, and lived overseas in Guam for nine years. I graduated with my bachelor's degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University, and my master's degree in bilingual/multicultural education from the University of Arizona. I also have my TEFL and TESOL certifications (Teaching English as a Foreign Language/ Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).

I became a teacher because I've always loved school, lifelong learning, and working with students to increase their confidence, skills, and love of reading. Nothing warms my heart more than when a student makes a breakthrough and their face lights up with a big smile! My passions include reading, teaching, traveling, playing my saxophone and clarinet, teaching English online to my Chinese students with VIPKID, and Toastmasters. "You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." C.S. Lewis

I have the fortunate opportunity each day to be in classrooms that span across all content and grade bands, stepping out of the 4th and 5th grade classroom where I spent 12 years. My goal is to be a positive learning partner for others, whether in or out of the classroom. The insights I have gained from lifelong learning and education have come in a variety of ways. Professionally, it's found in collaborating with colleagues, reading professional articles, attending educational seminars or college courses and from my students, engaging with them in the classroom each day.

"If you become a teacher, from your pupils you'll be taught" (Oscar Hammerstein II). I value the power of education in whatever form it takes, the gift it offers to inspire, ignite creativity and to learn from each other.

My husband and I have 4 children, who are continuing their own educational paths. Our oldest, graduated from the U of A, two are currently attending the U of A and our youngest will be attending NAU in the fall of 2024. Throughout my life I have experienced education and learning through my own experiences, that of my children and my students and each one has been unique to us all. That is what makes learning so dynamic, everyone's experiences are different and special to them.

"Trust the journey, your speed doesn't matter, forward is forward." (Unknown)

Rebecca Hazelwood is a hard-working Corporate Administrator with a diverse professional background. With experience in finance, high-end hospitality, customer service, and office management, Rebecca brings a unique skill set to her work. She obtained a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Policy from the University of Arizona.

In addition to her professional pursuits, Rebecca has many interests outside of work. She enjoys spending time with her chickens, cat, and tending to her garden. She is also an adventurous spirit and can often be found exploring the great outdoors on her dirt bike or Jeep.

She is dedicated to providing exceptional service to her clients and is always looking for new ways to improve her skills and expertise. With her strong work ethic and diverse set of skills, Rebecca is a true asset to any team she works with.

Lead Maintenance and Groundskeeper for Tucson International Academy District