Staff
Ms. Devereaux
Exceptional Student Services
I am the special education teacher and also serve as the Special Education Director. I have been working at Cornerstone since 2011 and feel blessed to call it my home away from home. Before moving to Arizona in 1994, I lived in a small town in Michigan where I graduated from St. Johns High School. I earned my bachelor’s degree at Arizona State and my Master’s degree in Education from University of Phoenix. Effective education is about making connections and building relationships with students and I am able to do that everyday at Cornerstone.
Mr. Hunter
Teacher
I have been working at Cornerstone Charter School since August 2014. I was born and raised in California. In 2002 my family and I moved to Phoenix, Arizona. I received my bachelor’s degree from Colorado Christian University and my master’s degree from Multnomah. I am married and have 4 kids.
Ms. Junkermann
School Counselor
I have been working at Cornerstone Charter School since August 2022. I moved to Arizona from Southern California to attend Grand Canyon University where I completed my undergraduate degree in Christian Studies and my graduate degree in Mental Health and Wellness. After finishing my education, my work has been centered around students. I have worked at GCU mentoring students and providing professional development. Most recently, I have worked as a Clinical Care Coordinator for a behavioral health agency. I feel it is my purpose to connect with others through relationships and am excited to continue to do this work at Cornerstone.
Ms. Lynch
Teacher
I have been working at Cornerstone Charter School since August 2017. I was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. I graduated from Sunnyslope High School. I received my bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University. I also have a Certification as a Dyslexia Specialist. I have been working in education since 2008. At Cornerstone High School I am an elective teacher. I absolutely love getting to teach my students and work with the staff at Cornerstone. There is no place else I would rather teach!
Ms. Montes
Support Staff
I started working at Cornerstone Charter School in August 2023. I have lived all my life in Arizona and graduated from North Canyon High School. I am excited to work here with both the staff and students.
Ms. Murphy
Teacher
I’m a native Arizonan and I still live in the same neighborhood I grew up in. I graduated from Arizona State and taught for seven years in the Peoria District. I have been teaching at Cornerstone since 2019 and I’ve loved the smaller class sizes and the chance to get to know my students better.
Ms. Parsons
Attendance and Credentials Secretary
I have been working at Cornerstone Charter School since July 2012. I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. I am also a former Cornerstone High School Graduate. My experience as a student here was life changing and I am grateful for the opportunity to support our students and staff through their journey here at Cornerstone.
Mr. Quinn
Teacher
I have been teaching at Cornerstone High School 2005. I grew up in the Garden State of New Jersey, the son of a high school English teacher, and moved to Arizona to finish my degree at ASU in History and Political Science. After graduation, the plan was to go to law school, but four more years of research and law books didn’t sound all that appealing. So on a whim, I decided to take a job at a summer camp and fell in love with mentoring kids. After spending several years working at places like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the YMCA, Nature’s Classroom, and the University of Phoenix, I found myself here at Cornerstone High School and have loved every year of it!
My personal philosophy of teaching is ‘Love them, and they will learn.’ It’s a view that is foundational to our school and to what many of the teachers here at Cornerstone believe.
Ms. Rychener
Teacher
I have been teaching at Cornerstone High School since 2015. I received my teaching certificate from Arizona State University. Before Cornerstone, I taught English to young adults for Rio Salado College and have worked teaching Reading and Language Arts in multiple other schools. I am originally from Mexico City and moved to Arizona with my family when I was 12 years old. I have been married for 30 years and have three grown children.
Some of my hobbies include painting, gardening, and my favorite, spending time with family.
Ms. Smith
Support Staff
I have been working at Cornerstone since August 2022. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in May 2020. I love getting to know the students at Cornerstone and helping them reach their goals.
Mr. G. Smith
Director
I grew up in Texas and graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1983. I was married in 1983 and moved to Arizona in 1984. Using all of my credit cards, Cornerstone Charter School was opened on September 25, 2000. I have been at this school the past 20 years and in education for 30 years. Opening this school has been one of the biggest blessings of my life!
Mr. Souders
Registrar/NSLP Coordinator
I have been working at Cornerstone Charter School since August 2012. I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. I also lived in Houston, Texas and Minneapolis, Minnesota, so I’ve lived in dry heat, wet heat, and no heat environments. I received my undergraduate degree from Baker College. I am qualified to teach English and Social Studies. My primary responsibilities at Cornerstone are the National School Lunch Program and Admissions. But I also get to spend time working with students who are searching for jobs. I really enjoy getting to interact with students in their job search. I spend time helping students write resumes, learn how to apply for jobs, how to dress and communicate in an interview, and working to develop skills that an employer is looking for in an employee. It is rewarding to see how excited a student is when they tell me they were hired.
Ms. Suarez
Teacher
Mr. Wait
Teacher
I teach science and math, and have been working at Cornerstone Charter School since 2009. I attended the University of Nevada, Reno, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in 2005 and a master’s degree in 2006. In 2012 I earned a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University. I was born and raised in California, attended college in Nevada, and moved to Arizona in 2006 after completion of my first master’s degree. I enjoy teaching math and science because I enjoy watching students be successful in subjects that they find difficult, and watching this success boost their confidence.
Ms. Walberer
Teacher
I am a born and raised Arizonian. I started at Cornerstone in 2021. I grew up just a few miles from Cornerstone and went to school at Grand Canyon University for my undergrad in Psychology and graduate degree IO Psychology. Following that, my experience has been focused on working with youth. From running a free after school kids program, to a youth vocational training program, to being a mentor, I have a passion for connecting with students and supporting them through their early life journey. As a teacher at Cornerstone, I’m excited to continue working with our students and supporting them towards their high school degree.
Mr. Weiss
Principal
I have been working at Cornerstone Charter School since August 2003. I was born and raised in New Jersey and have lived in Arizona since 1998. I received my bachelor’s degree from Grand Canyon University and my Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. One of my favorite things about working here is when former students stop by to visit or a friend/relative of theirs enrolls in our school. These moments are priceless as it is confirmation to me that our school staff had left a positive and lasting impression in their life.
