I am a Midwesterner transplanted in Arizona for more than 30 years. My wonderful husband and I have four children, one grandson, and two dogs. On Sundays, I play the piano at church and teach Sunday School to fourth through sixth graders. I love to crochet, read, go camping and travel with my husband. I graduated cum laude from Northern Arizona University with a  Bachelor of Science in Education and have a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University.

Professional Background:
2009 - 2014: First and Fourth Grade Teacher of ELL students at Excelencia School in the Creighton School District, an urban school district in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.
2014 -2017: Community Education Support Teacher for the Paradise Valley Unified School District, where I manage the early childhood programs,
2017-2019:  Assistant Principal at Liberty Traditional School in the Humboldt Unified School District, Prescott Valley, AZ.
2018 to present: Adjunct Faculty on the ground and on line for Grand Canyon University in Early Childhood and Elementary Education
2020 to present: Principal, Julia Randall Elementary School, Payson, AZ

She is one of the Office Staff you will meet when you call or come into JRE, helping teachers, parents, and kids. She always wanted to be a secretary of a school, so here she is doing what she loves to do!  Life outside of the school keeps her busy!  She is the mother of 5 daughters and has 18 grandchildren.  Holidays and get togethers are busy, crazy, and FUN!  She likes to sew, play cards, hang out with family and go to Diamondback Games!

Aaryk Drake has always had a passion for learning.  Upon leaving the U.S. Army he needed a new career since he was not fit for retirement.  He went back to school and earned a teaching degree from University of Phoenix.  He taught as a substitute teacher in Chicagoland for a couple of years before moving back to Phoenix to join a small charter school that was starting up (Pensar Academy).  He taught math and science at Pensar for 5 years at various grade levels and went back to school and earned his Master of Education Degree from GCU during that time.  Along with a passion for learning and a love of education he is an armature carpenter, bulldog owner, biker, fitness and board game enthusiast.

My family and I moved to the beautiful Rim Country in 1995.  My husband and I arrived with our degrees in Psychology and my husband just finishing his Doctorate in Law.  I was eager to engage with the family, friendly culture of our mountain community when I accepted a position first at JRE.  Throughout my many years in the district, I have traveled with different titles all centering as a Behavior Specialist, working with students from all campuses and all grade levels.  My work with our community's children is truly my happy place.  I can be found spending my free time in the kitchen or with my husband, our 3 married children and grandbabies.