Search
Close this search box.

DISTRICT LEADERSHIP

Leading with passion, innovation and unity
Our Leadership Team consists of our Superintendent, Administrative Assistant, all department directors, and all site principals.
Click on our name to learn more and to email us.

Superintendent

Linda’s most significant achievements are those that have involved student success when they believed otherwise. She has worked in education since 1994 and taught and coached at middle and high school grade levels. Linda has been a part of the PUSD family since 1997 and currently serves as the Superintendent, where she is grateful for the opportunity to learn from others every day. Her goal for PUSD is for all students, faculty, and staff to genuinely feel that they are connected and belong to a community that makes decisions with an open mindset, believes in the power of relational capacity, and is supported in reaching their potential.

Administrative Assistant

Lisa grew up in Iowa but has lived in Payson for over 25 years.  Her husband has been a teacher in the district for many years and has two sons that have graduated from Payson High School.  She is a graduate of Arizona State University.  Lisa enjoys the challenges that her position offers, and knows that what she does helps the staff help the students of the district.

Director of Business Services

Audra Bailey is the Director of Business Services at PUSD. She has been a part of the PUSD family since 2014, working at both Payson High School and the District Office. Audra is committed to supporting the district’s financial health and transparency.

In her role, she oversees the Finance Department, Student Information Systems, Food Service, and the Warehouse. Audra is always happy to assist with any questions regarding school finance or PUSD budgets. The current budget and prior year Annual Financial Report are available on the PUSD website at www.pusd10.org.

When she is not at work, Audra enjoys spending time riding her horse, Myrtle, which provides a wonderful balance to her professional life.

Assistant Superintendent of Academic and Special Services

Katrina Sacco is an educator who is focused on promoting student success. She came to the district in July of 2020, before that she served as a teacher, coordinator, principal, and director. She works collaboratively with other district leaders to ensure pathways to success through rigorous curriculum and high expectations for all PUSD students. She holds a doctorate of philosophy from Northern Arizona University in curriculum and instruction with a focus on educational leadership. Her areas of expertise are: student achievement, high-quality instruction, MTSS, school improvement, and school cultures’ impact on student learning.

Director of Facilities and
Maintenance

After a thirty year successful career as a CPA and CIA, September 2019 marked the time for Don to put away his pencil and ten-key and begin retirement in Payson with his wife.  A career of jet-setting millions of miles around the globe had come to an end. Within two weeks this C-suite executive found Payson School District and was aching to become an active contributor in the lives of Payson’s youth.
As a bus driver, Don’s passion to ‘make a difference’ was fueled each day by the young enthusiastic students of Payson.  The hope of staying behind the scenes was short lived as the 2021/22 academic year will see Don assuming the role of director of facilities & maintenance.
Don’s passions are reading and everything outdoors.  You may frequently see Don on foot to/from his destinations in Payson.  His weekends are filled with riding; sport/touring or off road motorcycling. 

Director of Human Resources

Chuck and his wife moved to Payson full time in 2017. He joined PUSD in 2018 as the Human Resources Specialist. Chuck previously enjoyed a 32 year career working for a major corporation and has been in a Human Resources/Managerial role since 2008. He enjoys playing with his two dogs, hiking, and off-roading.

Director of Technology and Innovation

Vicky is the Director of Technology & Innovation for Payson USD. She is also an Academic Associate for Arizona State University and the owner and EdTech Specialist at Techucation, LLC. A former technology director in Chicago Public Schools, she has been a leader in facilitating innovative uses of technology in education. As a digital learning advisor, she has helped schools throughout the country build and execute strategic plans to enhance learning through educational technology integration. She is a Google Workspace for Education Certified Trainer, Coach, and Administrator and a Microsoft Innovative Educator Master Trainer. Vicky holds a B.S. in Psychology, a M.Ed. in Educational Technology and has presented at conferences throughout the country.

Director of Transportation

Mark has lived in Payson for over 30 years and has driven a bus for 6 years until he became the Transportation Supervisor in 2007. He held that position for 7 years. Mark left the PUSD District for about 5 years but returned as Transportation Director in July of 2019. Mr Henning has been in the School Transportation business for over 15 years and has enjoyed all that it brings, the good along with the not so good.

MEET OUR PRINCIPALS

PHS Principal

Jeff Simon serves as the Principal of Payson High School. His tenure in Payson began in 2013 when he assumed the role of Assistant Principal at Payson High School, a position he held until the 2016-2017 school year. Following this, Jeff was promoted to Principal in the 2017-2018 school year.

Throughout his time in leadership positions, Jeff has earned recognitions such as NASSP/ASA Arizona’s Principal of the Year for the 2020-2021 academic year and previously as NASSP/ASA Arizona’s Assistant Principal of the Year in 2016-2017.

Hailing from Craig, Colorado, Jeff embarked on his academic journey after graduating from Moffat County High School by attending Red Rocks Community College and later Regis University. In 2000, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies, Secondary Education. Continuing his pursuit of education, Jeff obtained two Masters of Science in Education degrees from Walden University. In 2007, he completed his first master’s degree with an emphasis in Technology and Curriculum, followed by another in 2009 with a focus on Educational Leadership.

I still find it a blessing to be able to come to work everyday to serve the students, teachers and families of our great community.

It’s Great to be a Longhorn!

PHS Assistant Principal

Mrs. Harpe started her career in education in 1993 as a middle school teacher and coach in Meridian, Idaho.  She has a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Boise State University. 
Upon earning her Masters in Educational Leadership at Northwest Nazarene University she accepted a position as the Rim Country Middle School assistant principal (in PUSD) in 2004.  

After gaining experience as a principal in two other Arizona districts, Mrs. Harpe returned to Payson Unified School District as a teacher and in 2020 became the Payson High Schools assistant principal.

Mrs. Harpe had two children attend the majority of their education in PUSD.  She wants to continue to be a leader that focuses on improvement and providing opportunities for students.  Mrs. Harpe is proud to support students in their journey of learning, growing, and becoming responsible adults and community members. 

When not at work, Mrs. Harpe enjoys golfing with her husband and son, playing with her granddaughter, visiting her daughter in Oregon, and taking her dogs for walks in the forest.  

PCS Lead Teacher

Renae Short grew up in Kinston, Alabama. In 1991, she moved to Birmingham, Alabama to attend the University of Alabama Birmingham for both her Bachelors of Science in Education and her Masters in Secondary Education. Renae has been teaching mathematics and special education as well as school administration since 1996. She moved to Payson with her husband and canine kids in 2012 to teach mathematics and special education. She became the PCS Lead Teacher in 2020. 

RCMS Principal

Shelbi is excited about her new adventure as Principal of RCMS. She graduated from New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture education and extension and then earned her master’s degree in educational administration through Grand Canyon University. She is a native of Payson and graduated from Payson High school. Shelbi is happy to be able to give back to the community that sparked her love for education. Like always once a Longhorn always a Longhorn!!

It’s great to be a LONGHORN!!

JRE Principal

Kim Yates is passionate about educating children, first their hearts and then their minds.

Entering education later in life, Yates earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University followed by a Masters in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Yates started her career teaching first grade English Language Learners in an urban elementary school in central Phoenix, AZ. Since then she has taught preschool through college students, fulfilling her dream of being a teacher of teachers. As a principal, Yates’ focus is educating the whole child, helping them grow as a person first and then as a student.

Yates is a midwesterner transplanted to Arizona. The mother of three adult children and grandmother of three amazing grandchildren, she and husband Jim have been  happily married for more than 35 years. In her free time, Yates plays the piano, camps with her family, and is a life-long learner.

PES Principal

Mrs. Scoville is excited to be back with PUSD as the principal at Payson Elementary School. She previously served as principal at Julia Randall Elementary. Her previous teaching and administrator experience was in the valley in the Kyrene School District. Linda received her teaching degree from Ottawa University and her Leadership Degree from Northern Arizona University. She grew up in Mesa and graduated from Mountain View High School. Linda is happy to be back in PUSD working with our school community. It’s a great day to be a Longhorn!

Families

Contact Us

Credit for Kids