Gardenia Moffett is a new hire at Patagonia Elementary and teaching first grade for the first time in her career. Even though Moffett is new to the school, she is a longtime resident of Arizona and has lived in Elgin for the past seven years. She and her husband co-pastor the Vine Church in Sonoita.
Previously Moffett taught second grade at Village Meadow Elementary in Sierra Vista. She also subbed in local schools, hoping to find a position. She is happy to be working closer to home and with a smaller class size. Thirteen students are enrolled in her class currently.
“Patagonia is great!” she said. “The staff works so well together. Everyone is willing to share. Teaching here is a cooperative effort with all the elementary teachers and administrators working together to do the best for the students. I feel like I am home.”
Moffett’s background is in communications and journalism. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and a Master’s Degree in Mass Communications, both from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.
Patagonia Schools Superintendent Kenny Hayes is pleased to have her aboard.
“She completed the Arizona Pathways program last year and is doing a great job with our 1st grade students,” he said. “Gardenia is new to the teacher profession, but she has experience in many other fields. This is an advantage for her.”
Moffett is particularly pleased with the school’s unified focus on literacy. This year teachers are implementing a new program from Pre-K through 5th called Haggerty Phonics Awareness. This is an evidence-based curriculum that explicitly provides systematic oral phonics awareness lessons daily.
“We are building a consistency between grades,” Moffett said. “I am learning the strengths and weaknesses of the kids and seeing great progress. Literacy really is key to everything that follows in education and life.
“Teaching is my mission,” she continued. “I saw a specific need for public school teachers. I believe it is a calling. I am a life-long learner, and I want to pass on the love of learning to others.”
On the weekends, Moffett can be found working with her husband and Co-Pastor Tom Moffett at the Vine Church. Both Tom and Gardenia are licensed ministers of the Foursquare Church. Gardenia has a varied ministry background, which includes women’s ministry, children’s choreographer, hospitality and community outreach. The Moffetts are parents of a large blended family, eight in total.
“Everything I do in school and at church is about loving the community,” she explained.