CORTEZ CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Honoring 25 Years of Service at Cortez High School
Glendale Union High School District Governing Board members recognized two Cortez High School employees who have each completed 25 years with the district. Between them, they have worked at several campuses, supported students in the classroom, the counseling room, and on the field, and devoted years to building the trust and confidence of Colt students and their families.
Jose Corona, Spanish Teacher and Coach
Jose Corona began his district career in 2001 at Apollo High School, where he taught English as a Second Language and coached soccer. After a year, he joined Cortez High School. Today he teaches Spanish, chairs the World Languages Department, and leads his department’s Professional Learning Community.
Corona’s work outside the classroom is as notable as his teaching. He serves as head coach of Boys' soccer and cross country and as a distance track coach. His soccer teams have won three Arizona state championships and finished as state runner-up four times. He has been named Coach of the Year 11 times, inducted into the Cortez Hall of Fame, and recognized as an Achievement Above All Teacher. He has also coached JV volleyball, volunteered with the football team’s kickers, tutored students in the library and learning center, and chaperoned events.
In the classroom, on the sideline, and at the finish line, Corona has spent 25 years showing up for Colt students, and his steady commitment has helped shape Cortez High School's culture.
Ross Johnson, School Psychologist
Ross Johnson began his career as a credentialed teacher in San Marcos, Texas, before earning a graduate degree in school psychology. After two years as a school psychologist in Sacramento, California, he joined the Glendale Union High School District in 2000. He worked at Glendale High School for a decade, then at Apollo High School for several more years, before moving to Cortez, where he serves in the Special Education Department.
Johnson evaluates students’ academic, cognitive, behavioral, and social-emotional needs, determines eligibility for special education services, and helps design IEPs and Behavior Intervention Plans in partnership with families and staff. He provides counseling. He is an active member of the Arizona Association of School Psychologists, has participated in multiple audits by the Arizona Department of Education, and helped develop the criteria and job responsibilities for school psychologists across the district. He describes his time with the district as a privilege and says he is grateful to work with such dedicated students and colleagues.
For 25 years, Johnson has worked behind the scenes to make sure students with unique needs have the support, understanding, and opportunities to succeed, and his expertise has strengthened both the Cortez community and the district as a whole.
A Quarter Century of Colt Commitment
Twenty-five years of service is measured in more than calendar pages. For Jose Corona and Ross Johnson, it shows in students who have found their footing, teams that have grown into champions, and families supported through important decisions. The GUHSD Governing Board congratulates both honorees and thanks them for their lasting contributions to Cortez High School and the district.