Bob Weir - Superintendent
Mr. Weir was a Computer Science & Math Teacher for 17 years at Camp Verde High School. He then became the principal of Camp Verde High School for 7 years. He coached wrestling for 24 years and had 6 team state championships. In 2016 Bob was hired as the Superintendent of VACTE. When Bob took over as Superintendent there were only two Career & Technology Education programs that VACTE offered. Under his leadership and passion for CTE, VACTE now has 8 programs that provide them with the ability to go into the work force. Mr. Weir has been awarded Arizona CTE Administrator of the Year and in the top 5 National CTE Administrator of the Year. He is proud that our VACTE programs build professional careers for our students that can last their lifetime.
Shawnna Patton - Business Manager/Board Secretary
Mrs. Patton has been with VACTE for 13 years and is currently our Business Manager and Governing Board secretary. Prior to coming to VACTE she worked for Cottonwood Oak Creek School District. She is a graduate of Mingus Union High School. Mrs. Patton has been an integral part of VACTE and has many hats she wears to ensure our district is successful.
Laura Carbonaro - Attendance Secretary
Mrs. Carbonaro joined the VACTE team this year as our Registrar and Attendance Secretary. Laura has a teaching degree in Secondary Mathematics and Earth Science. She has worked for many years in Real Estate and Finance. She now joins VACTE to help with attendance, registration, grant writing, and much more.
Daria Weir - Counselor
Mrs. Daria Weir started in Education as a Special Education Teacher. After she received her Masters in Counseling, she worked as a school counselor at Mingus Union High School and Camp Verde Unified School District for more than 23 years. She was a Dean of Students at Camp Verde Elementary for 3 years and then retired. Now Mrs. Weir works for VACTE part time preparing them for future education or careers.
Travis Black - Construction Instructor
Mr. Black became a carpenter when he in his early 20’s and fell in love with the Construction Trades. After spending a few years as a carpenter, he decided to start his own Construction Company, Pitch Black Construction. He remodeled and built homes for 20 years and continues to remodel homes today. He joined VACTE and started a brand-new Construction Program in 2018 and has helped this program and other programs like it throughout the state. Travis has been awarded Yavapai County Teacher of the Year, twice Skills USA Advisor of the Year, VFW Teacher of the Year, and Arizona and National Skills USA Model’s of Excellence – top chapter honors. He has led his program to the top 8 in the nation for 7 years.
Sabrina Conway - Certified Nursing Assistant Instructor
Mrs. Sabrina Conway comes to us with a great amount of experience in the care of patients. She was a CNA for 8 years at the Haven She received her Nursing Degree in 2018 and continued to work for the Haven. She has been our VACTE CNA teacher for 3 years and brings a wealth of knowledge of our Health Care System.
Valentina Meraz - Cosmetology Instructor
Ms. Meraz discovered her passion for cosmetology at the age of 15 when she began doing nails and hair for her family and friends. At 19, she pursued her dream by attending cosmetology school. By the age of 25, she achieved a significant milestone by purchasing her own hair salon, which she continues to successfully operate today. Her love for mentoring teenagers inspired her to transition into teaching, and she is now in her second year as a cosmetology instructor with VACTE.
Jeremy Doerksen - Fire Science Instructors
Mr. Jeremy Doerksen has been a firefighter for 22 years at the Camp Verde Fire Department & Cottonwood Fire Department. Mr. Doerksen is a graduate of Mingus Union High School and continues to raise his family in this community.
Eric Ostler - Fire Science Instructors
Mr. Ostler has been a Fire Fighter for 15 years. He graduated from Camp Verde High School and continues to raise his family here. He is a paramedic and firefighter for Copper Canyon Fire District and helps instruct our VACTE Fire Science Students.
Sal Unale - Fire Science Instructors
Mr. Salvador Unale has been a Fire Fighter for over 17 years. Currently Mr. Unale is working at Copper Canyon Fire & Medical District. He started off his career at the Doney Park fire, then went to work as a Detention officer, he spent 5 years with Ponderosa Fire, worked at Palominas Fire and finally was hired at the Copper Canyon Fire Department. He is married with 2 little boys.
Jennifer Choate - Law Enforcement Instructor
Ms. Choate retired after serving her community for 20 years with the Salt Lake City Police Department in Utah. Ms. Choate will begin her next career path as the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Advisor for VACTE and has been with us for 4 years. Ms. Choate has been awarded Yavapai County teacher of the year and has had several students’ place on a regional and national level through their SkillsUSA student club over the last four years. As a certified ASP Defensive Tactics Instructor, the students in the Law Enforcement Program will be certified with basic defense tactic skills upon completion of their first year and may be certified with advanced skills if they choose to take the program a second year. Students also accumulate 9 credit hours per hours as they are dual enrolled at Yavapai College.We have been blessed to build a strong partnership with Cottonwood Police Department and Dispatch. This has provided opportunities for our senior students to participate in a 911 Internship Program as well as experiencing the day in the life of a law enforcement officer by participating in the ride-a-long program.
Genna Adams - Teacher Training Instructor
VACTE has been blessed with a teacher with 40 years of experience, Mrs. Genna Adams, who is working tirelessly helping create future educators. She motivates students to consider teaching in their future by showing such compassion and enthusiasm for teaching. She truly loves teaching, loves students, and naturally motivates her students to become our future teachers. Her students describe her as, “Impactful, thoughtful, engaging, fun, inclusive, amazing and outstanding” VACTE is proud to have Mrs. Adams teaching our students how to become future educators. Mrs. Adams was Yavapai County Teacher of the Year in 2024.
Deana DeWitt - Teacher Training Instructor
Mrs. DeWitt serves as a VACTE Education Professions instructor, working with second-year students who aspire to become certified teachers. With 24 years as a public school educator and administrator in the Verde Valley, she has dedicated her career to ensuring every student has the opportunity and tools to succeed in school and beyond. Ms. DeWitt is deeply passionate about inspiring and mentoring the next generation of teachers and believes in growing exceptional educators from within the communities they will one day serve.