Welcome! I am Loretta Alvarez and I am one of the Life Skills teachers at Canyon del Oro High School. I have been a professional in the field of special education since 2008. As a high school student, I volunteered for Special Olympics as a Unified Partner. Working with these athletes inspired me to go into the field of special education. Prior to working at Canyon del Oro High School, I worked at Marana High School as a Special Education Life Skills Teacher for four years. During that time, I worked with students who had mild, moderate, and severe intellectual disabilities. I moved to Canyon del Oro High School in 2012 and worked as the Special Education Transition Coordinator for two years. During this time, I helped students and families prepare for life after high school. I also ran the on-campus work experience program where students could gain work experience by working in a student-run business.  I then served as CDO’s Special Education Facilitator for two years.  In this role, I welcomed new students who received special education services and their families to CDO.   I also supported the special education teachers and paraprofessionals who work at CDO, worked with general education teachers as they implemented accommodations and modifications, and was the liaison between our district Student Services office and the school. I went back into the classroom in the Fall of 2016 and I am so happy to be teaching again!

Classes & Club

Life Skills/Functional Academics - the focus is on real-world life skills and community-based instruction.

Careers Class – focus on soft skills for employment - opportunities to gain work experience working in on-campus coffee & popcorn shop, as well as working in a small group completing job tasks on campus.

Peer Leader Program - the focus is reverse mainstreaming - putting peers with and without disabilities together.  If you are a student interested in being a peer leader, please contact me or your grade level counselor.

Dream Team Club Sponsor – a club for students and Peer Leaders in the Life Skills program. The club manages coffee and popcorn shop activity and completes fundraisers for classroom materials and community-based instruction.

Contact Information:

 Email: loalvarez@amphi.com

 Phone Number: (520)696-5598

Degrees and Certificates:

 B.S. Special Education, University of Arizona

 M.A. Special Education-Transition, University of Kansas

 K-12 Cross Categorical Teaching Certificate

Professional Accomplishments:

 Crisis Prevention Intervention, Trainer for the Amphitheater School District

Organizer of the Tucson Life Skills Educators group