How Rhonda Villaverde is Enhancing STEM Education in Rural Arizona

Rhonda Villaverde says that she “fell” into teaching. Even when she earned a bachelor’s degree in business, she already had 9 years of combined experience as a kindergarten teacher and private instructor, not realizing at the time that education was her calling. 

But gradually, the picture became clearer as she gained even more experience, first as an online English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and then as a substitute teacher. 

Today, Villaverde is a certified teacher with one Master’s in Education — and a second M.Ed. in progress — empowering students to explore their curiosity in rural Arizona as the first STEM teacher in the middle school where she works, and the only teacher who leads full-time STEM elective courses year-round in her district. 

“It’s been really neat to be able to see my students grab ahold of information and be able to work with tools and technology that they wouldn’t have had an opportunity to [otherwise] had this program not been implemented,” Villaverde said. “I feel like Moreland has given me the tools to help further their experience and education — and my education — in the classroom.” 

The Power of Teacher Certification 

Before deciding to commit to teaching as a career, Villaverde taught without a certification for several years. When she was ready to embrace education as a profession, though, she knew she’d need a full certification. 

Determined to make the most of her decision, Villaverde enrolled in Moreland’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program. The experience, she says, was transformative. 

“Having gone through the Moreland program, it is worth your time. It will improve upon your knowledge and you’ll be able to understand how to provide and reach those students who are difficult to reach,” Villaverde said, noting that coursework focused on differentiated instruction and foundational skills are specifically useful for new teachers and career changers. “It will just grow you — and as educators, we should always have a growth mindset. So, if we want our students to excel and to grow, then we need to be willing to do the same thing.”

TEACH-NOW’S global cohort format, especially, helped broaden Villaverde’s approach to teaching. The collaborative learning model not only emphasized problem-solving, critical thinking, and real-world application, but it also allowed her to complete coursework alongside teachers from around the world and gain educational insights from different classrooms and cultures. 

“It’s an awesome opportunity to get a different perspective versus if you’re just strictly online and you’re navigating this on your own,” she said. “The conversations that I heard and had, and the collaborations that I had, really just increased my experience and increased my vision of education.” 

That’s not to say that Villaverde’s classmates were the only sources of inspiration and assistance driving her throughout the program. 

“The professors were challenging, but also had great understanding for what it is that we are doing professionally day in and day out,” she noted, “I really appreciated the grace that was provided when needed on assignments and things like that, and that they were accessible.” 

Advancing with a Master’s in Educational Technology 

After earning her teaching certification, Villaverde wasn’t content to stop there. Already familiar with Moreland’s fully online format, she decided to enroll again. Recognizing the growing importance of technology in modern classrooms and understanding how it could elevate her students’ experience, this time she chose to pursue an M.Ed. with an educational technology specialization. But, given her growth mindset, it’s no surprise that Villaverde wants to help elevate her fellow educators’ experience, as well. 

“I hope to be able to provide instructional coaching for teachers that would help them with their planning process and their teaching process, and engaging students through technology and the different tools that are really designed to lighten the load for teachers.”

Making an Impact in Rural Arizona 

Villaverde already has a wealth of strategic leadership experience, both in and out of the classroom. Her STEM role encompasses not only teaching, but also developing the comprehensive curriculum that integrates science, technology, engineering, and math lessons and activities to encourage students’ curiosity and aptitude. Beyond that, Villaverde also develops relationships with corporate partners to get the classroom supplies and tools that bring these lessons to life and allow students to have hands-on learning experiences with real-world STEM applications. 

In addition to her STEM role, Villaverde also previously served as her middle school’s athletic director, ensuring that staffing and training were in place to create a positive atmosphere and culture for students participating in sports as well as their parents, family, and community members. Villaverde was involved in every detail while also completing her first master’s degree. 

“I was working in the regular teaching portion of the day and then I would sometimes stay at work until 7 or 8 at night. Thankfully, I worked four-day work weeks, so on my Friday I would spend the majority of that day working on my assignments, and if I had to do a team collaboration, then I would definitely get that scheduled ahead of time,” Villaverde explained. “I’d always want to make sure that you know I was doing my part as a team player.” 

Villaverde has since transitioned to a different leadership role, but her versatility is perfectly aligned with her future plans and career goals. 

“My short-term career goal is to be an assistant principal, and then maybe in a couple more years of principal,” she said, reflecting on how her professional past is setting up the next stage of her journey facilitating teacher empowerment and positive student outcomes. 

Inspiration for Aspiring Teachers 

Her story speaks to the power of continual learning and the impact that well-prepared educators can have. As Villaverde continues to innovate in her classroom and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders, she’s also thinking about how she got to this point. 

“[TEACH-NOW] really built my confidence as an educator,” Villaverde put it simply. 

And it will be fascinating to see what successes that confidence takes her to next. 

Moreland Supports Arizona Teachers 

According to the Arizona Department of Education, there are more than 60,000 K-12 teachers in classrooms throughout the state. Villaverde is one of many who earned their educator certification or advanced degree with Moreland’s support. We provide detailed information about becoming a teacher in Arizona as well as insights about AZ teacher salaries, career advancement opportunities, and more helpful resources. 

When you’re ready to make your teaching dreams a reality, complete your free application (it takes less than 15 minutes!) to start the process of earning your educator certification or an advanced degree!