Hello! Welcome!
My name is Jessie Pomonis.
I teach junior American Literature at Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Arizona.
But that's really my side gig. It is my pleasure to work with the best student leaders in the east valley!
Aka, I'm also a Student Council Advisor!
The classroom taught me that students become more successful as they become better leaders. Leadership begins by leading ourselves. My site marries the two ideas: student-life and self-leadership.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you find something useful.
I graduated from Red Mountain High School in 1992, where I immediately went off to the University of Arizona. I received a scholarship and began classes for a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Sickness forced me to return home but I quickly received a dance scholarship at Chandler Gilbert Community College and began dancing my way through pre-req's.
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I moved to Flagstaff to attend Northern AZ University in 1998 and changed my major to study the science of the student brain. My focus was in secondary education with an extended major in English and an endorsement in English as a Second Language. In 2001, I completed my Bachelor of Science degree student-teaching at Mesa High School, with the POWERFUL duo of Sue Scott and Linda Stapley. (Nowadays, Linda is always my substitute!)
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My first job was teaching Sophomore English, Intermediate Dance and coaching Varsity Pom and Spiritline at Westwood High School. In 2007, life happened. I needed more money asap. Education has always been my savior. I went back to trade school--I got an esthetics license from The Skin and Makeup Institute of AZ. There I was, teaching at Stapley Junior High by day, a day spa at night and Mesa Distance Learning in every extra minute. I got my finances stable then returned to NAU for a Master's degree in Educational Leadership. In 2011, I transferred to my Alma Mater, Red Mountain High School. I've been here ever since! I LOVE teaching here. Red Mountain has always been my home.
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But I didn't forget the day spa. In 2019, I opened my own: Pomo Beauty, LLC. I do facials, waxing and lashes on weekends, school nights and all school breaks. When put to good use with a little creativity, education can set you free.
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'Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim." Nora Ephiron