Mrs. Harris
Kindergarten | 1st Grade
Mrs. Harris came to Carden, first, as a parent in 2013. All three of her boys have graduated from Carden and continued their education journeys. She joined the Carden staff in 2016 as the playground monitor and Office aide and moved into the position of the Kindergarten/First Grade Teacher. Mrs. Harris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in family studies and has her Early Childhood Certification.
Ms. Nichols
Second Grade | Third Grade
Ms. Nichols holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, K-12 Teaching Certification from University of Arizona. She joined Carden of Tucson Staff in 1999 as the Health Science, Physical Education, Art Teacher, and PTO member. In 2003, Ms. Nichols began an extensive journey in Health Sciences, Therapeutic Massage Certification, Language Arts, and Structured English Immersion Training. Returning in 2010 to Carden as Kindergarten Assistant and Substitute Teacher K-8. She has been a primary teacher since 2011. Currently Ms. Nichols is teaching a 2nd and 3rd grade combination class. She thrives in teaching Math and Language Arts. Her gift is motivating others to pursue their dreams!
Mr. Wesner
Fourth Grade | Fifth Grade
Mr. Wesner has been in the education field for many years now. He has loved coming to Carden and getting to work in a more personalised classroom. He enjoys all things plants and is ready for a great year at Carden.
Mrs. Livingood
Middle School Science
Mrs. Livingood began her educational career at Carden of Tucson in 2007 after graduating with her Bachelors in History and Music History from Simmons College in Boston, MA. She completed her Master’s in Education from the University of Arizona in 2015. She currently also holds the position of Educational Program Manager for the Connecticut Invention Convention, the Nation’s oldest Invention Education program. She continues to work hard creating meaningful learning experiences for her students and is passionate about community connection and real-life application in all academic areas. Most importantly, Mrs. Livingood enjoys reading, exploring, running, and eating delicious food with her two children whom she adores and her wonderfully supportive husband.
Mrs. Rash
Sixth, Seventh & Eighth grade
Mrs. Rash is excited to be at Carden! She graduated with her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from the University of Arizona. She is passionate about creating environments where students can meaningfully engage with what they are learning in the classroom and apply it to the world around them. Her greatest area of interest is empowering students to become informed and engaged citizens through the knowledge and understanding of their governing systems. When she is not in the classroom Mrs. Rash loves cooking new recipes with her husband, finding new coffee shops, and restoring furniture.
Coach Stock
PE
Coach Stock joined us in 2023. She is currently attending school online through Brigham Young University-Idaho, where she is working on her degree in Applied Health. She hopes to one day travel and participate in humanitarian work. Coach loves her family of six and all the various activities they are involved in. She has loved her time here and seeing the students being active and learning new skills. Coach Stock is always striving to be her best and uses every interaction with those around her as an opportunity to grow and improve.
Mr. Claridge
Music
Mr. Claridge grew up in Tucson, AZ and graduated from Flowing Wells High School. After serving a 2-year church mission in Italy, he attended Brigham Young University where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in dance. While at BYU, he performed and toured with BYU’s Ballroom Dance Company, Dancers’ Company and Theater Ballet.
After graduation, Mr. Claridge became the director of the modern dance program at Rick’s College (BYU Idaho). He was the director and choreographer for the school of Contemporary Dance Theater and Extravadance touring company (10 years).
Mr. Claridge also taught dance at the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, Kentucky (4 years), and directed the jazz dance and modern dance program at the University of Wyoming (5 years).
Music has been an important part of Mr. Claridge’s whole life. He began learning to play the piano when he was 6 years old and eventually studied piano with a visiting professor from Hungary at the University of Arizona. He also loves to direct choirs and put together musical productions of all kinds.
