ElevateEdAZ College and Career Coaches

Kaycie Quinonez, PXU District Director, gpckquinonez@phoenixunion.org

Kaycie Quinonez is honored to work with a dynamic team to prepare students for college and career through stronger alignment between education, business and the community. A Teach for America alumna, Kaycie began her career teaching elementary and middle school in the urban core of San Antonio, TX. Her experiences in the classroom and her desire to influence K-12 education led her to roles supporting various Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) across the country, including FBLA, FCCLA, DECA, SkillsUSA, and HOSA. She is passionate about providing meaningful and equitable opportunities for youth to foster their full potential and is motivated by the work of ElevateEdAZ in supporting Arizona’s high school students. Kaycie holds a management degree from Arizona State University and a Master of Educational Leadership degree from Northern Arizona University.

Sarah Bredar, Trevor G. Browne High School, sbredar@phoenixunion.org

Sarah Bredar spent the last two years serving students and families in Maryvale as a middle school teacher in the Cartwright Elementary School District. Now serving as a College and Career Coach with ElevateEdAZ, Sarah is honored to serve the students at Trevor G. Browne High School and work with a passionate team to foster stronger alignment between education, business, and community. She is passionate about developing equitable opportunities for students and teachers, making sure that all students can have access to the tools, experiences, and skills that will support their success through and beyond high school. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a minor in Gifted and Talented Education from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Go Cardinals! Working as a College and Career Coach with ElevateEdAZ allows her to continue working with students, teachers, and now business partners in a unique way that encourages opportunity where it was not available before. She is excited to carry out ElevateEdAZ’s goals on campus each day, and when she is not working, she can be found spending time outdoors, listening to live music, and traveling with her partner and dogs!

Emily Hendle, Betty H. Fairfax High School, ehendle@phoenixunion.org  

Emily Hendle is a College and Career Coach who is honored to serve the students and staff of Berry Fairfax High School. As a College and Career Coach, Emily is able to provide meaningful Work-Based Learning experiences for high school students. Emily graduated from Illinois State University, earning a Bachelor in Middle-Level Education English and English as a Second Language. After graduation, Emily relocated to Arizona where she taught 7th and 8th grade Language Arts, then later became an Academic Advisor for the University of Arizona. When she’s not working, she spends time with her family either hiking, biking, or thrifting.

Derek Reading, Academies at South Mountain, dreading@phoenixunion.org

Derek Reading is thrilled to serve as the College and Career Coach at the Academies at South Mountain High School! During his time in college, he worked for a professional development project that partnered with dozens of middle schools and hundreds of math teachers across the Phoenix valley. He graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and went on to teach middle school math for six years. He has always had a passion for helping and watching students grow and succeed. His rewarding journey in education has led him to ElevateEdAZ, and he is excited to participate in its vision by contributing to building the bridge between education, business, and the community.

Vanessa Burry, Metro Tech High School, elevvburry@phoenixunion.org

Vanessa dedicated 15+ years to the Allied Healthcare industry and transitioned to education five years ago, teaching and career advising at the secondary and post-secondary levels. While she calls Arizona home, her Pacific Northwest roots called her to the Lumberjacks where she achieved a Bachelor of Science in Education in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and a Master's in Education in CTE from Northern Arizona University (NAU). Go Lumberjacks! Her role as a College and Career Coach with ElevateEdAZ allows her to work with students, teachers, and business partners to create a stronger and dynamic alignment between education, business, and the community. When she’s not working, she spends as much time in nature as possible, preferably with her family and three dogs. 

 Kaycee O’Neill, Phoenix Coding Academy, gpckoneill@phoenixunion.org

As a College and Career Coach, Kaycee works closely with students and staff at Phoenix Coding Academy. Kaycee graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication. While in college, Kaycee was actively involved in Greek Life and Student Housing, which ultimately prompted her to pursue a career in education. After graduation, Kaycee relocated to Dallas, Texas, to work as a sixth-grade English teacher for the organization, Teach for America. During the summer, Kaycee also interned for Education Opens Doors, a college and career readiness nonprofit. These experiences in Dallas fueled her passion for educational equity, which has led her to engage in ElevateEdAZ's mission.