Latest Community Echoes

For many people, the idea of returning to school later in life can be intimidating. Responsibilities increase, careers evolve, families depend on us, and time becomes one of life’s greatest challenges. However, for Sandra Moraga, education became more than just a personal goal; it became a pathway to reinvention, leadership, and purpose.

Today, Sandra serves as a Communities Specialist for the Hermosa Project with South32, where she focuses on building meaningful and transparent relationships with local stakeholders while ensuring that community voices are heard throughout the development process. Yet her journey toward leadership and higher education was not always straightforward.

“As an immigrant, I had little knowledge of the educational opportunities available after high school,” Sandra shared. “I enrolled at the University of Arizona but was unable to finish my bachelor’s degree at the time.”

Like many individuals balancing life and work responsibilities, Sandra entered the workforce and gained valuable experience working for the City of Nogales and UniSource. However, she soon realized that without a degree, many professional opportunities were out of reach. Rather than letting these barriers define her future, Sandra made the courageous decision to return to school in her mid-20s a choice that would ultimately transform her life.

Driven by determination and purpose, she earned not one, but three bachelor’s degrees in Marketing, Business Administration, and Psychology. Her commitment to education only continued to grow.

While working alongside former Santa Cruz County School Superintendent Alfredo Velasquez as an educational advocate for students and families, Sandra witnessed firsthand the power of education to change lives and create opportunities. 

“Education teaches you to apply concepts to real-life situations,” she explained. “But it is also about personal growth and fulfillment.”

With support from South32 and a growing passion for sustainability and community impact, Sandra pursued a Master of Sustainability Leadership from Arizona State University’s Rob and Melani Walton College of Global Futures. This degree aligns closely with the Hermosa Project's sustainability values and long-term vision.

“I was inspired by Hermosa’s commitment to sustainability,” Sandra said. “My values focus on people, the planet, and economic sustainability. In my role, I can make a positive impact in the community, and I look forward to continuing to make a difference.”

Sandra credits much of her success to perseverance, collaboration, and the support system around her. Balancing graduate school, work responsibilities, family commitments, and community engagement was not easy.

“Time management was one of the biggest challenges,” she admitted. “But everyone around me supported me. My family worked around my schedule, and everyone at Hermosa encouraged me and helped me succeed.”

Today, Sandra’s work focuses on stakeholder engagement, social performance, and building trust within the community. She believes that community engagement fosters transparency, strengthens relationships, and ensures local voices are included in decision-making.

Her educational journey has also shaped her leadership philosophy. 

“My master’s degree helped me think more holistically and lead with intention,” Sandra said. “It strengthened my communication style and taught me how to consider diverse perspectives and long-term thinking, which are critical for community-focused work.”

Despite her many accomplishments, Sandra’s goals continue to evolve. Professionally, she hopes to pursue a Doctorate in Social Justice while continuing to support sustainable mining practices at Hermosa. Personally, she aims to further develop her artistic talents and become more involved in the Nogales artistic community.

For Sandra, one message remains especially important for those considering returning to school later in life: 

“Understand your ‘WHY,’” she said. “There will be difficult moments, but your purpose is what gets you through. Build a support system, believe in yourself, and stay committed to your goals. It is never too late to reinvent yourself.”

Her story serves as a powerful reminder that education has no age limit. With resilience, purpose, and support, it is always possible to grow, evolve, and create new opportunities not just for yourself, but for your entire community.

For more than three decades, Maya Donnelly has walked the same hallways she now oversees, just from different chairs.

In July 2025, Donnelly was appointed Santa Cruz County School Superintendent after a career that began in 1993 at A.J. Mitchell Elementary. She taught second and third grade, paused to raise her daughters, then returned to Lincoln Elementary and Wade Carpenter Middle School to teach sixth- and eighth-grade Language Arts.

In 2016, she stepped out of the classroom and into the County School Superintendent’s Office. There, she managed grant programs and served as Chief Deputy before taking the top job.

“There is no better motivation than to see a former student thrive and come back to thank you for being a good teacher or for supporting their family,” Donnelly said. That moment, repeated across years, is why she is running for office.

When longtime Superintendent Alfredo Velásquez approached retirement, Donnelly’s decision was immediate. “My only thought was that I must step up and continue the hard work and dedication the staff puts forth daily.”

Her mission is clear: safe, well-funded, academically sound learning environments for every child in Santa Cruz County. “Santa Cruz County deserves all the resources bigger counties receive. I want to contribute to creating a level playing field for our teachers and students.”

The County School Office acts as fiscal agent for schools, oversees the governing board and special elections, and documents homeschooled youth. That requires reliable financial oversight and clear communication between districts, the County Treasurer’s Office, and the Arizona Department of Education.

As an Education Service Agency, the office convenes stakeholders, writes and manages grants, and hosts events such as the Teacher of the Year. Donnelly calls her approach relationship-driven. “It is essential to ensure our office provides value by actively listening to the needs of our schools and building connections with everyone involved, from the superintendent and principal to teachers, nurses, custodians, and most importantly, students and their families.”

First, Donnelly wants a seamless transition. Success means a satisfied business manager with timely payroll, a district superintendent who can call anytime for dependable guidance, and students and parents who navigate college applications with confidence.

Second, she plans to expand initiatives with new grant funding. Focus areas include early childhood education, the arts, wellness and prevention, college and career readiness, and workforce development. Success will be measured by new grant awards, sustained programs, new partners, and compliant reporting.

Third, she will cultivate community trust through visibility, teamwork, and a countywide consortium that prioritizes student achievement, attendance, and teacher retention.

From 2018 to 2024, Donnelly led the GEAR UP Program in county middle and high schools. The federal grant helps students from low-income, rural communities develop post-secondary plans and earn degrees or certifications. Coaches supported career exploration and aided counselors with advising, parent engagement, and planning.

The program opened the “HUB” at the Santa Cruz Center, which still helps students with college and FAFSA applications, scholarships, and resumes. Through COVID and into students’ first year of post-secondary education, GEAR UP provided essential support. Results showed students were academically prepared, identified career paths, built resilience, and learned that “achieving dreams requires careful planning.”

“The role of the county school superintendent is rooted in relationships,” Donnelly said. Ten years in the office and twenty years teaching prepared her to connect with stakeholders. Work with nonprofits, businesses, and family events has built trust through successful grants and quality services.

Three challenges often arise: early childhood preparedness, chronic absenteeism, and literacy. Solving them requires partners like libraries, local government, childcare providers, and preschools. “Partnering early in a child’s life will benefit them in their future.”

Parent engagement means healthy two-way communication in home languages. Neighborhood gatherings, less formal than conferences, can be more inviting.

“Educators are superheroes,” Donnelly said. To recruit and retain teachers, she would offer free, locally relevant professional development and advocate for better pay. She also plans to embed team building and self-care into weekly routines. “These heroes don’t wear capes, but they do move mountains for our youth.”

Colleagues describe her leadership as calm and straightforward. “I take the position and the office seriously. It is not just a job; it is a calling. I strive to be innovative and share leadership with my team. There is strength in numbers.” The office operates with public funds, and timely service is the standard. “At the end of the day, every decision is made with our students’ best interests at heart.”