Banks Elementary School

Terri started her education career as a long-term substitute teacher but joined the staff at Banks Elementary 13 years ago. But even before she started working at the southwest school, she already had a connection to it: she grew up knowing the school’s namesake, Laura Nobles Banks. 

Laura Banks taught Terri’s mother at Dunbar School, which was Tucson’s only segregated school for more than 30 years. The school desegregated in 1951, when it changed its name, and then closed for good in 1978. Terri’s mother and Laura Banks were also sorority sisters. Both women have since passed away, but being able to work at Banks felt like coming home for Terri. 

“That means a lot to me, that I was able to be here at Banks, because I knew her personally,” Terri said.

Rachel is one of the original staff members of Banks Elementary, joining the staff when the school first opened its doors back in 2002. However, she’s been a Tucson Unified employee for 27 years.  

Through her time at Banks, Rachel has served as a kindergarten teacher, 1st grade teacher, and now CSP. She loves her current position because she gets to work with a lot more staff and students, instead of being contained to a singular class. 

Her own kids also attended Banks through their entire elementary years.
 
“People ask me sometimes ‘Why are you still at Banks?’ And it’s because I love the community,” Rachel said. “I love the families. I love the staff. I love the students. And it’s just a wonderful place to work.” 

Ashley grew up in the far southwest area of Tucson and loved it. So, when her military husband got orders to leave Hawaii and move back to Tucson, Ashley knew where she wanted her family to relocate. After the move, Ashley enrolled her daughter at Banks Elementary in 1st grade, where she would complete her primary education. 

Shortly after, as she was dropping off her daughter at school, the principal came over to speak to Ashley. They knew Ashley was going to school to be a counselor and asked the mom if she would like to work at Banks. And that was that.  

Now, Ashley’s days are mostly spent teaching counseling lessons, with some time devoted to small group or individual counseling. She also does daily mentoring through Bobcat Buddies.