Manager, Office of Field Experience
mari.smith@gcu.edu
602.639.7412
Mari Smith is the Office of Field Experience Manager for the College of Education at Grand Canyon University. She received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and her master's degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University where she graduated with honors.
Mari is certified as a Highly Qualified Teacher in the state of Arizona. She taught first through fourth grade in the Kyrene School District for 6 years. Mari began her leadership career as an Education Coordinator for a major hair care company where she managed and directed nationwide educational programs. Leadership is a passion for Mari.
Field Experience Specialist
sbanovich@gcu.edu
602.639.6931
Shawna Banovich is currently the Senior Field Experience Specialist in the Office of Field Experience College of Education at Grand Canyon University. In that capacity, she places International students in their student teaching assignment as well as placing students in several states within the United States. In addition, she supervises teacher candidates who are experiencing student teaching.
Prior to coming to Grand Canyon, Shawna taught first and second grade at Hopi Elementary in the Scottsdale Unified School District. While teaching at Hopi, she was honored with the recognition of Teacher of the Year.
She received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Regis University in Colorado Springs. Her teaching experience includes working with kindergarten through 5th grade Talented and Gifted students, teaching reading to 1st and 2nd grade students, and teaching 1st grade general education students with Edison Schools. Not only has she worked with younger students, she has also collaborated with adult teachers as she coached them in creating and implementing differentiated reading and mathematics curriculum; classroom management; and data assessment.
Her family, including 3 children, moved to Arizona in June of 2002. They enjoy spending time together as they hike the beautiful desert trails.
Field Experience Coordinator
Katie.Martin@gcu.edu
602.639.6201
Katie Martin is new to the College of Education as a Field Experience Specialist responsible for ensuring that the cooperating teachers and faculty supervisor contracts and stipends are accurate and up to date. In addition, she assists in securing faculty supervisors for the Educational Administration Principal Candidates.
Katie is an alumnus of GCU's College of Education, graduating in May 2011 in Elementary Education. Most of her experience is with the 6 and under crowd, as she student taught in kindergarten, and now she is a part-time preschool teacher at Christ Lutheran Pre-School. During her junior and senior years at GCU, she was the first president of GCU's chapter of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education. Furthermore, Katie served as a student representative on the College of Education's Advisory Consortium.
Field Experience Specialist
Brittany.Cattron@gcu.edu
602.639.6087
Brittany Cattron is an alumnus of Grand Canyon University. She is the Field Experience Specialist responsible for the Educational Administration interns as well as the Field Placement Specialist for student teachers in Ohio.
Brittany is originally from Portland, Oregon. She came to Phoenix for the great weather and was overwhelmed by how much she loved the atmosphere here at Grand Canyon. While pursuing an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice, Brittany was a student worker in the College of Education during her junior and senior year. She discovered that she wanted to continue her career with the College. Now, she cannot think of a more perfect place to be, serving with the people that helped serve her throughout her education. She is very happy and grateful to be a part of the Grand Canyon College of Education family.
Field Experience Specialist
alexi.reznick@gcu.edu
602.639.7502
Alexi Reznick is new to the College of Education at Grand Canyon University and is currently the Field Experience Specialist for the Southeast Region. She received her bachelor's degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Social Studies from the University of Arizona. Prior to coming to Grand Canyon, Alexi taught at Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, AZ. Her content areas include: World history, American history, American government, and Economics. In addition, Alexi is continuing her fourth year as the head spirit line coach at Desert Edge High School.
Alexi has lived in Arizona her entire life and she loves the beautiful Arizona weather! Alexi is currently engaged and is planning a wedding for early in the spring of 2012!
Field Experience Specialist
Bethanie.Lee@gcu.edu
602.639.7955
Bethanie Lee is new to the College of Education as a Field Experience Specialist for the Northwest region. She was born and raised in Tucson, AZ. She received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona.
Bethanie taught kindergarten for five years, during which time she also completed endorsements in Early Education and Structured English. She taught for four years in the Flowing Wells School District in Tucson. Bethanie then moved to the Phoenix area and taught one year in the Tempe Elementary School District. She is excited to start a new journey at Grand Canyon, helping others become teachers.
Bethanie is happily married and enjoys living in downtown Phoenix with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys traveling, reading, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. She plans to begin her master's degree soon in the counseling field.
Field Experience Specialist
maggie.kipp@gcu.edu
602.639.7287
Maggie Kipp returns to the College of Education as the Field Experience Specialist for the Northeast region and the AZ Interns. A native Arizonan, or "desert rat," Maggie has been affiliated with GCU and the College of Education for over a decade. Maggie's grandmother was a GCU graduate and history professor in the College of Liberal Arts throughout the 1970s which inspired her to attend GCU. After living on campus for four years and working as an assistant editor for the Canyon Echoes newspaper, pre-cursor to Herd on Campus, she majored in Secondary Education emphasizing in History and was chosen as the student speaker for the 2007 College of Education Convocation. Maggie began working as a ground admissions counselor after graduating and moved to the OFE as a Field Experience Specialist in February 2008. She is currently pursuing her EdD in Organizational Leadership from GCU.
Field Experience Specialist
Christina.James@gcu.edu
602.639.7772
Christina James is new to the College of Education as a Field Experience Specialist for the Atlantic region. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, she received her Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from Michigan State University. After completing that degree and being exposed to the education environment, she rediscovered her passion and love for education. As a result of that discovery, she pursued and obtained a master's degree in elementary education at Grand Canyon University. In fall of 2010, Christina was selected to be GCU's Rodel Promising Student Teacher, and she was a student representative on the College of Education's Advisory Consortium.
In her free time, she enjoys singing, shopping and catching sales, as well advancing herself academically and professionally as a doctoral student at Grand Canyon University. Christina is glad and honored to be a part of GCU's College of Education family.
