SCHS District Leadership Team

Mr. Barnes is a National Distinguished Principal, Certified Principal Mentor Coach for NAESP, NAESP National Principal Workshop Trainer, and a Certified Hearing Officer for the Arizona School Risk Retention Trust. As the superintendent of SCHS, Mr. Barnes is successfully leading the organization through enormous growth both in enrollment and quality initiatives in alternative education. Under his leadership, SCHS is widely recognized as a national leader in innovative Alternative and Dropout Recovery programs.

During his 27 years as a principal, Mr. Barnes’ schools have earned three A+ School of Excellence Awards from the Arizona Educational Foundation. Mr. Barnes led Corte Sierra with great success, which earned the school three ASBA Golden Bell Awards, two A+ Exemplary Awards, Arizona Principal of the Year, and a National Reward Title One Finalist. He helped Corte Sierra fulfill its vision to “Spearhead Through the 21st Century” by building successful relationships with all stakeholders. He has most recently become a board member of the AZ Alternative Education Consortium and is the DRP Committee Chair. Mr. Barnes received a bachelor of arts degree in secondary education from Arizona State University and a master of arts degree in vocational education from Northern Arizona University.

Ms. Morris is a multi-award-winning principal, school leader, and teacher. Prior to joining SCHS, Ms. Morris was the principal of Scott Libby Elementary School where she increased the school’s rating to an “A.” She also serves as an A+ School of Excellence Lead Judge for the Arizona Educational Foundation.

Ms. Morris’ leadership experience is instrumental to the continued evolution of the SCHS cutting edge curriculum, instruction, assessment, and compliance in the alternative education arena. Ms. Morris manages the daily administration of all the schools’ education and community programs. Ms. Morris received a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Arizona State University and a master of arts degree in administration and supervision from the University of Phoenix.

Mr. Sotomayor is a seasoned principal, teacher, coach, and school Leader. Mr. Sotomayor has been an educator for 23 years and prior to joining SCHS, he was the principal in the Phoenix Elementary School District. Mr. Sotomayor has broad experience in leadership positions, which include in-depth experience in human resource management, new school opening, and ELL programs. He has been published in Principal Magazine, School Leaders Now, and the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents. Mr. Sotomayor is very involved in and has deep connections with the community.

Mr. Sotomayor’s leadership experience is instrumental in guiding the HR processes and procedures as SCHS continues to upgrade its team and accelerate future growth. He received his bachelor of arts in education and master’s of education from Arizona State University, and a National Certification in Professional Human Capital Leader in Education from the American Association of School Personnel Administrators.

Ms. Franz is a leader with a diverse background in teaching and administration. The first fourteen years of her career were spent in elementary teaching where she led a multitude of diverse professional development trainings. In 2005, she received the district’s Teacher of the Year award. Over the past 13 years, she served as an administrator. As a principal, she increased her school’s rating to an “A” and maintained that rating throughout her years of service. Ms. Franz led her school to receive the A+ School of Excellence Award in 2012 and in 2013 earned a Golden Bell Award. In addition to her success in teaching and administration, Ms. Franz has in-depth experience in new school openings and designing effective curriculum to drive student achievement. She is a leader who cares deeply for a collaborative and resilient culture. 

Ms. Franz leadership experience is an important key to the continued success of SCHS and the student’s achievement. She is dedicated to excellence in education and is driving SCHS forward in becoming a leading and excelling district. She graduated from Tolleson High School, received her bachelor of science in education and master of arts in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University.

Dr. Perez Fuller is a seasoned administrator with an incredibly diverse career background. Dr. Fuller has certifications from the Arizona Department of Education as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. Amy attended Brigham Young University, graduated with two master's of arts degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and earned her Ed. D. in educational administration and supervision from Arizona State University. Prior to joining Student Choice High School, Dr. Fuller served as the acting superintendent and assistant superintendent of Scottsdale Unified School District. Dr. Fuller also served as the Florence Unified School District Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent for 11 years altogether. One of her most significant professional accomplishments took place during this time. Under her leadership a partial consolidation took place. It was the only successful consolidation of two public school districts in the state of AZ (2015). Three different communities supported this innovative movement with a 77% vote. Some of her other professional accomplishments include Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities two years in a row, YWCA Educator of the Year, Florence Unified School District Board President, and many others. What makes Dr. Fuller unique is that she is able to connect with all students to help them succeed no matter what their background is. She is passionate about helping students achieve excellence so they can go out into the world with confidence in themselves.