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Getting to Know Us

Meet Superintendent  Clay

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Our Mission and Vision

Our vision in Cochise County is to connect the dots between educational systems throughout the county, state, and businesses to produce students who are economically independent.

We will focus on "Connecting The Dots" in our County so that we continue to move forward together ensuring, "Economic Independence” for all of our Students and Economic Success for our County."

We will continue to focus on the academic needs of our school system (Home Schools, Charter Schools, Private Schools, Unified School Districts, detention centers and jails), while collaboratively working with Board Members, Administration, businesses and industry members.

Jacqui Clay, Cochise County Superintendent

Jacqui Clay, a native of Queens, New York, is a retired Army Command Sergeant Major of 25 years and has lived in Arizona for 20 years. Ms. Clay has been married to Dale Clay for 31 years and has 7 children and 20 grandchildren. She has been an educator for 15 years, serving as Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE).  Ms. Clay currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools in Cochise County; her responsibilities spans 21 school districts, and over 23,000 students. She also provides support for private, homeschool, detention and county jail students.

 

She has been recognized as Teacher of the year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); she was also selected as Arizona's Career and Technical Education Administrator of the Year. And in 2020 was selected to receive the Policymaker Award by the Association for Career and Technical Education of Arizona (ACTEAZ). Ms. Clay was nominated for Sierra Vista’s Women in Action Award and featured in the book, "Gratitude Revealed, A Tribute to Women with Undaunting Commitment and Humility,” and received the Best of Sierra Vista & Tombstone award for work and education.  Ms. Clay was selected as Luminary by Arizona Black Educators in 2017. In 2018 recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution for Women in American History.

 

Ms. Clay is a member of Cognia’s (formally AdvancEd) national school accreditation and STEM accreditation team. She serves on the advisory board of the Arizona Business and Education Coalition (ABEC), State Perkins V (Career and Technical Education) Planning Committee, the Arizona Technology in Education Association Board of Directors (AzTEA) and on the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Virtual Professional Development Advisory Group.  Ms. Clay was selected by the Arizona Superintendent of Instruction to serve on the African American Advisory Committee and Arizona’s Technology Task Force. She is also a member of the U.S. Women Veterans Advocacy Initiative Advisory Panel.

 

Ms. Clay has a B.S. in Information Technology/Business Management, a M.ET. in Educational Technology, an ED. S. in Educational Leadership, and is now pursuing a Doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis on Education.

Nikki Madden, Chief Deputy

I oversee the Superintendent’s office in Bisbee and the contact for School board elections. I am also the school superintendent’s representative in her absence.

Cindy Morales, Secretary

I manage the superintendent’s calendar and oversee the Home School students’ program. I also record the teachers' certificates I assist also with anyone who comes into the office representing any of our 21 school districts to pick up checks or in need of any other assistance

Debbie Prow, Business Office Manager

I am the administrative assistant of finance for the 21 school districts. I process their revenue and journal entries. I also do the year-end completion reports for the school districts. Which the schools are required to do for their grants

Hello, I’m Debbie and I’ve been working in payroll for schools since 2015, before coming to the County Schools Superintendent Office. I am responsible for the payroll and expenses for the 21 school districts. Along with reconciling those districts to the state treasure monthly. I’m very happy to be here and processing Payroll for 21 schools. Bisbee is a beautiful place to work in. 

Ben Reyna, Outreach Coordinator/Interim Administration

I am the Outreach Coordinator, responsible for outward facing events, projects and initiatives that support educators, students and their families. Before joining the County Schools office, I taught Science at the Jr. High and High School levels in schools around Cochise County. 

I am also working to support our efforts to provide a strong education to students in the Juvenile Detention Center and Cochise County Jail by supporting our educators in those facilities. 

I am here as an advocate for parents and students to assure needs for learning are met through the school, community services, and the Arizona State Department of Education guidelines. I  assist in removing impediments that keep any student from achieving their potential. I also develop and manage programs pertaining to the well being and mental health of Cochise County's students, as well as act as a liaison to teachers and community sources. 

Alicia Buckhanan, Juvenile Detention Teacher

 Teaching is so rewarding and gives me a sense that I am making the world a better place one student at a time. My teaching philosophy is very simple students do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. Teaching at the Detention Center where caring is what they need first. After they know I care then they open up their heart and mind and I can teach them. I show my caring by forming relationships with my students and trying to help them find their dreams and strengths so they can believe in themselves the way I believe in them.

Wendy Conger, Volunteer Exceptional Services Liaison

Wendy lends her expertise and experience to the County School Office. She is supportive of the efforts to improve the availability, responsiveness, and cost-effectiveness of exceptional education services in Cochise County. As an advocate for all children, Wendy believes in equal opportunities for all. Her energy and enthusiasm will be key in leading the path to relationship building for all involved. Contact information: 520-253-0813 cell, call,or text.

 

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