Pima JTED is a public Career and Technical Education District which works with business and industry and 14 member public school districts to provide premier CTE programs to approximately 22,000 sophomore, junior, and senior level high school students each year. Our award-winning programs are proven to increase student success, significantly contribute to our local economy, and afford students the chance to jumpstart their careers and do what they love in high school!



Pima County JTED

Craig Mills

Greg D’Anna

Seda Pias

Sandra Quihuis

Amanda Simeza

Cori Kwansy

Jason Hapner

Daryl Royse

Michael Bates

Robert Cantrell

Alissa Morris

Alex Olmedo

Beverly Cox

Abby Lowe

Jocelyn Eccles

Amaris Amaya

Haley Gladwin

Samantha Powell

Jennifer Parker

Juan Rojas is currently the Principal at Pima County JTED. Juan previously worked as an Academic Interventionist at Sunnyside Unified School District from June 1991 to December 2014. Prior to that, they were a Journalist at Arizona Daily Star from June 1987 to June 1991.

Juan Rojas has a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from the University of Arizona, a Master's Degree in Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education from the University of Arizona, and a Principal Certification from the [University of Phoenix](/org/university-of-phoenix-inc). Juan is currently working as a principal at a secondary school.

They work with Jennifer Atteberry-Pierpont - Principal, Sorin Suciu - Assistant Principal, and Brice Menaugh - Principal. Their manager is Patti Greenleaf, Chief Academic Officer.

Juan Rojas

Christina Suarez is currently an Executive Assistant at [Pima County JTED](/org/pima-county-jted). Christina has previously worked as an Administrative Assistant at Sunnyside Unified School District from August 1986 to July 2007.

Christina Suarez reports to Kathy Prather, CEO/Superintendent. They are on a team with Amanda Simeza - Director of Student Services, Abel Vazquez - Director of Technology, and Patti Greenleaf - Chief Academic Officer.

Christina Suarez

Lauren Moraga

Wayne Peate

Robert Schlanger

Brenda Marietti

Cindy Rankin

Alex Jácome

Curt Bertelsen

Kimberly McCroy

Jennifer Atteberry-Pierpont

Sorin Suciu

Xochitl Sierra

Brice Menaugh

Abel Vazquez

Patti Greenleaf

Thomas Bogart

Kathy Prather became the Superintendent/CEO of Pima JTED on July 1, 2018, one year after being appointed as the district’s Deputy Superintendent. Her career in education spans 29 years and multiple locations throughout Arizona, including Rough Rock High School, Prescott College, Northwest Pioneer College, Mohave Community College, Mohave High School, Colorado River Union High School District, Tucson Unified School District, and Sunnyside Unified School District.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration-Management, a Master of Arts Degree in Vocational Technical Education, and multiple certifications from the Arizona Department of Education including Superintendent, Principal and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher.

Each year, thousands of students in the CTE programs she oversees receive nationally-recognized industry certifications, licenses and credentials as well as dual college credit from Pima Community College and/or concurrent tuition credit from the University of Arizona. The innovative programs she has developed over the years have captured the attention of local, national and international media including CNN Money in 2016, Korean News Network in 2015, Manufacturing News in 2016, Arizona Public Media-PBS in 2014, District Administrator Magazine in January 2017, Mrs. Green’s World on iHeart Radio and many local network news broadcast features.

The Association for Career and Technical Education of Arizona (ACTEAZ) recognized Kathy’s contributions to CTE with their 2011 Administrator of the Year Award, and again with the 2016 ACTEAZ Lifetime Achievement Award.  Kathy served on the Board of the National Council of Local Administrators (NCLA) from 2008-2015 as well as the Executive Board of the Arizona Council of Occupational and Vocational Administrators (ACOVA) from 2006-2014.  Kathy currently serves as a member of the Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, United Way Cradle to Career Leadership Committee, Metropolitan Education Commission, Pima County Workforce Investment Board, Banner University Medicine Community Advisory Committee and Tucson’s Leading Women, and has previously served on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Tucson.

Kathy was instrumental in the formation of the Pima County Joint Technological Education District #11, which is now known as Pima JTED.  Prior to the JTED Proposition 400 item being listed on the ballot in 2006, she led community forums and made multiple presentations to business, industry and local school district governing boards.

Today, Kathy remains committed to forging mutually beneficial partnerships with business, community, and educational leaders to strengthen Pima JTED’s programs which provide local industry with the skilled workforce they need to thrive. She is actively transforming the culture at Pima JTED to the Growth Mindset to elevate students’ experiences, and employee job satisfaction. One of her top priorities is continuing to develop students’ professional skills so that they are ready to succeed in both college and careers.

Pima JTED continues to bring over $30 million dollars annually in supplemental funding for satellite and central CTE programs in Pima, Santa Cruz and Pinal Counties.

A native Tucsonan, Kathy lives with her husband Brad Prather, a retired teacher.  They have two grown children, and one granddaughter.

Kathy Prather

Leadership Team

Board of Directors

CEO and Executive Team

Teams at Pima County JTED

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