Leadership
Copper Trails Leadership
Ilana Dawson, Principal
Email: idawson@ChooseAESD.org
Ilana Dawson has been serving the Avondale Elementary School District for 12 years as a teacher, mentor, facilitator and administrator. During her time in the district, she has spearheaded initiatives that advance student achievement, responsibility, citizenship and overall success. Her focus centers on building positive relationships with students to help them pursue their passions and meet their goals while supporting their academic success through classroom support and guidance. Mrs. Dawson holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Arizona State University, a master’s degree in Educational Technology from Northern Arizona University, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University.
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Stacy Dobbins, Assistant Principal
Email: sdobbin@chooseaesd.org
Mrs. Stacy Dobbins joined the Avondale School District in 2005 after teaching in New York State. She is a National Board Certified Teacher who has a wide variety of teaching experiences in grades preK through 12. These experiences include special education, alternative education, third grade and sixth grade math. She has been a mentor teacher and master teacher as well as serving on many committees and leadership teams. Her focus is on fostering a safe, positive school culture for teaching and learning. Her goal is student growth and achievement in both citizenship and academics.
Mrs. Dobbins holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary/Early Secondary Education with a minor in Public Administration and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Education Administration from the State University of New York at Cortland. She holds a master's degree in Special Education from Binghamton University.
Monica Artea-Ardón, Assistant Principal
Email: martea@chooseaesd.org
Mrs. Monica Artea-Ardón is a dedicated educational leader with 18 years of experience in teaching, instructional leadership, and school administration. Her career includes serving as a Dual Language Teacher, Mentor Teacher, Master Teacher, Curriculum Specialist for Language Acquisition and Biliteracy, and most recently, Assistant Principal at Desert Thunder School.
Throughout her career, she has championed high-quality instruction, language acquisition, and student achievement. Mrs. Artea-Ardón is passionate about creating safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environments where students and staff can thrive academically, culturally, and artistically.
Principal’s Message
Dear Families and Community Members,
Welcome to Copper Trails School — an amazing community where learning, growth and connection are at the heart of everything we do. As principal, I am honored to lead a school filled with dedicated educators, enthusiastic students and supportive families. At Copper Trails, we are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and engaging environment where every student can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. We believe that strong partnerships between school and home are key to student success, and we are grateful for your continued support and involvement. Whether you're a new family joining our school or a long-time member of our community, I encourage you to stay connected, attend school events and reach out with any questions or ideas. Together, we can create an exceptional educational experience for all our students.
Thank you for being an essential part of our school community. Here’s to another year of growth, discovery and success!