Pamela Clark-Raines is the co-founder of StrengthBuilding Partners and developed and copyrighted StrengthBuilding™. She has a master’s degree in social work, over 35 years of experience in counseling and is a Licensed Certified Social Worker.

Clark-Raines is an Adjunct Professor at Arizona State University’s School of Social Work. In 2014 she also co-founded Las Puertas Community School in order to offer a StrengthBuilding place for kids to learn and grow.

She wears many hats at Las Puertas but her role as the School Social Worker is her absolute favorite!

Clark-Raines loves reading, spending time with her husband, daughter and son-in-law and discovering new and inventive ways to make a difference in the lives of the students and families who make up the Las Puertas Community.

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Ms. T's passion for working with young folk can be traced back to 2006, when she spent time leading an after-school program of diverse at-risk teenagers. Driven by her own experience as a first-generation college graduate, she takes pride in providing a high-quality level of education and support to help all her students reach their desired goals.

After living in Portland, OR for nine years where she earned a double major in History/Liberal Studies from Portland State University, a Master’s in the Arts of Teaching from Lewis and Clark College, and taught in the Portland metropolitan area, Ms. T decided it was time to move back Tucson. She joined the Las Puertas community in 2016.

As a humanities teacher, her goals include bridging English, social studies, and the arts to make learning relevant and fun. She is the co-teacher of the “Official Gorilla Drumming Group,” the University of Arizona’s UpBeat drumming program at Las Puertas.

In her spare time, you can find her searching for a new rollerblading spot, practicing her drum set or Japanese, and hanging out with her dog, nephew, and niece.

Las Puertas newest staff addition, Tracey teaches middle and secondary mathematics and sciences. Born and raised right here in Tucson, Tracey obtained a Science Engineering Degree back east and continued her education with a focus on mathematics.

Her passion for wanting to contribute to the education of our youth and build up the community were the driving forces behind her decision to teach.

She currently resides with her husband Anthony, two children, Veda (a confident 6 yo) and Salvador (a feisty 4yo), and their rescue pit Mr. Pickles.

When not at school she enjoys the outdoors and all things sports, but mostly softball.  So much so she serves as the President of her local Fast Pitch League.

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Brian Shay grew up in a small town just outside of Las Vegas where he played high school basketball, ran track and cross country and was involved in student council. After graduation, he moved to Tucson to attend the U of A. Graduating with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology, he returned to Las Vegas to work in a water treatment plant identifying the type of bacteria in the water.

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Making the decision to become a teacher, Shay moved back to Tucson, got his teachers certificate and a Master’s Degree in Education. Beginning his teaching career in 2002, he has taught algebra I,algebra II, geometry, biology, chemistry, and environmental science as well as coaching high school basketball and track. Along with teaching, Shay is also Acting Principal until the Fall 2020 when he be will become the Las Puertas’ Principal. 

He loves to hang out with his son and daughter, going camping and golfing and being outdoors.

Coach Will Nicholas is from Juneau, Alaska and has been a member of the Las Puertas family for six years.  He is our Physical Education teacher who teaches a number of different subjects including math and science. He started and coached Las Puertas’ first basketball team in 2019. 

Coach Will graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2006 and completed his Masters Degree in Education at the University of Arizona in 2014. 

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In his spare time, Coach Will coaches a 12/13 year old travel baseball team that is number 1 in the state or Arizona and nationally ranked on a consistent basis.

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Coach Will enjoys spending time with his young son, Bo, and his wife Sara.

Robert Allen Schultz II is the 6th/7th grade core teacher for Las Puertas Community School/Community Liaison. Robert grew up in Tucson, Arizona and graduated from Mt. View High School in 2005. Robert went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Public Management and Business from the University of Arizona.

After working in the private sector for many years Robert took a hiatus and began substitute teaching, where he eventually found his true calling:teaching. Since 2016 Robert has been teaching the core classes at Las Puertas Community School and will see his first 6th grade class move onto their sophomore year of high school.

When not working you can probably find Robert hiking Sabino Canyon, walking his dog around downtown or spending his time outside somewhere in this wonderful Sonoran Desert.

Olivia Gaxiola began working at Las Puertas Community School as a teaching assistant in the Fall of 2020. She previously worked for Strengthbuilding Partners as a Mentoring Liaison and Tucson Unified School District as a Student Success Specialist.

Olivia has also held positions as a Spanish interpreter and in radio broadcasting. She is a native Tucsonan and attended Sunnyside High School and the University of Arizona.

During her free time you will find Olivia singing and playing violin beside her fiancé with local mariachi group, Mariachi Tucson. She  also finds pleasure dancing and playing with her spirited 2 year old granddaughter, Cielo.

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