Meet The Team
​The Tempe Union High Schools Education Foundation (TUHSEF), in Tempe, Arizona is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1993. We proudly provide assistance for outstanding and innovative projects, as well as many distinctive programs that help enhance educational experience for students in the Tempe Union High School District (TUHSD).
President
Eric Adams
Eric Adams has been a board member with TUHSEF since February 2013 and serves as the President. His community service has also included Director of Communications with the TIE Foundation, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Sun Sounds of Arizona as well as many other activities within the community. He is a graduate of Corona Del Sol High School and Southwestern University. Eric is the General Manager at AG Signs powered by AlphaGraphics. In his spare time, he enjoys time with his son as well as kicking around the soccer ball in a men's soccer league.
Vice President
Craig Keller
Craig Keller joined the Board in the fall of 2020. Craig has litigated cases in the areas of Litigation and Appeals, Business/Corporate Law, Wills/Trust/Estate Planning and Alternative Dispute Resolutions for 38 years. He has been very active in community services such as Tempe Sister Cities, Tempe Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking and Drug Use, Wickenburg Town Manager Selection, and the Wickenburg Rotary Club. Craig Attended the University of Arizona for his undergraduate and graduate degrees and attended Harvard Law School, Program for Instruction for Lawyers. Craig is married to Mary.
Treasurer
Todd Hopkins
Todd Hopkins joined the Board April of 2024. Todd is the Vice President of Product Development for Certification Partners, LLC. Todd’s children graduated from Marcos de Niza, and he served as Treasurer on the Marcos de Niza Band Booster Board from 2011-2013. He enjoys working with youth and helping them progress. Todd has been a Scouting volunteer for over 20 years, and enjoys family, camping, and feeding large groups. Todd is involved in the community and helping youth have opportunities to grow and experience how the community supports them. Todd is a husband of 33 years and father of five children.
Secretary
Nori Cannell Zavaleta
Nori Cannell Zavaleta taught at Tempe High School and Marcos de Niza, and then served as Director of Guidance and Career and Technical Education until retirement in 2016. She holds master’s Degrees in Secondary Education and Administration. She serves as President of Tempe Dollars for Scholars. Nori has two daughters, Paige Wyer, N.P., and Megan Cannell, Pharm.D., and is married to retired Desert Vista Engineering Teacher Dan Zavaleta. She enjoys reading, hobbies, and spending time with friends and family. She joined the Board in 2021.
Board Member
Roland Carranza
Roland Carranza joined the Board in 2022. As the District’s Assistant Superintendent for Business Service, his position serves as the member nominated by the District’s Governing Board, as stipulated in the Foundation by-laws. He is currently serving as a board member and scholarship and grant committee member for the Foundation. Roland has worked for Tempe Union High School District for seventeen years; Buckeye Union High School District for one year; Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District for five years; and Tucson Unified School District for 5 years. Roland holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin. He enjoys spending time with family and friends and attending fine arts festivals. Roland has one son and two daughters who are McClintock High School graduates.
Board Member
Sharon Doyle
Sharon Doyle, a community advocate for the City's youth, has lived in Tempe for over forty years and retired from the Tempe Union High School District as a Speech and Language Pathologist. She currently is or has been a member of the Tempe Community Council, Commitment to Schools in Tempe and Kyrene, Tempe Impacts Education Foundation, TAPP (Teen Adolescent Pregnancy Parenting) Advisory Board, Tempe Union High Schools Education Foundation, Az. Education Association Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Tempe, Division 10 Southwest District Governor's Board, Compadre Key Club advisor, Tempe Elementary Pre-School Advisory Board, Tempe Parks, Recreation Golf and Buttes Cemetery Advisory Board and Assistance League of the East Valley.
Board Member
Sean McDonald
Sean McDonald has been a member of the TUHSEF board since 2019. Sean is currently the Assistant Superintendent of District Operations, Safety, and Student Support at Tempe Union High School District. This is his 26th year with the district. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in Special Education, his master’s from Northern Arizona University in Educational Leadership, and will be completing his doctorate in Educational Leadership. Sean enjoys cooking, the outdoors, and time with his wife, Gina, and his four children.
Board Member
Karen Barton
Karen is the Chief Administrative Officer at Landings Credit Union in Tempe, AZ and joined the TUHSEF Board in 2025. She is a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Finance and has been a member of the Landings team for more than 30 years, mainly in the areas of Marketing and Human Resources. She is a past member of the TUHSD Business Advisory Council and currently coordinates the annual “I’m INvested” recognition awards. Karen has three adult daughters and enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and playing pickleball.
Board Member
Elizabeth Stone
Elizabeth (Liz) Stone joined TUHSEF as a board member in July of 2025 following her retirement from her 35 year career working for Tempe Union High School District. The first 28 years she worked at Tempe High School teaching Chem/Physics, Biology and Human Anatomy and Physiology. During her time at Tempe High School she helped create and then directed the H.O.P.E. Medical Academy from 2000-2018. As the Director she worked closely with teachers creating curriculum with a medical focus. She also helped prepare students for a medical career by organizing field trips, sponsoring the H.O.P.E. Club and placed students in medical volunteer positions. In 2018, she started working for TUHSD as the Science Content Specialist until her retirement in 2025. Her responsibilities included creating district science curriculum aligned to the new AZ Science Standards adopted in 2018, developing common final exams and preparing students for high stakes assessments such as ACT and AzSCI. During her career in TUHSD she received several awards including the Tempe Diablos Excellence in Education Leadership and Lifetime Achievement Awards. Liz loves spending time with her children and grandchildren and traveling with her husband.
Board Member
Katie Phalen
Katie Phalen joined TUHSEF as a board member in July of 2023. Her career as an educator includes teaching Science classes in the Tempe Union HS District from July 1985 through May 2002 and then returning to Tempe High School July 2009 through May 2022. Katie taught Honors Chemistry, Chemistry, integrated Science, served as the Science Department Leader, and was the Middle Years Coordinator for the International Baccalaureate Program at Tempe HS. She served as Advisor to the Tempe HS Key Club and is currently a member of the Kiwanis Club of Tempe. She has received several awards, among them the Tempe Diablos Excellence in Education Leadership Award.