Staff Directory

Lead Founder & Executive Director

Diana Diaz-Harrison

Diana Díaz-Harrison, M.Ed. is the Lead Founder and Executive Director at Arizona Autism Charter Schools (AZACS). She was inspired to start the school by her son, Sammy, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. Like many parents, she struggled to find an appropriate school for her son and decided to do something about it.

In 2012, she formed a board of parents and grandparents of children with autism along with professionals in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. Together, they drafted a proposal for an instructional program and business plan to create Arizona’s first autism-focused charter school. Diana presented this plan to the Arizona Charter School’s Association and was selected to participate in a competitive Charter Starter Development Program. After completing this program, she submitted a successful charter application to the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, which was approved in 2013. Once approved, Diana worked with her team to apply for prestigious start-up grants to gain the capital needed to start the school. It was an arduous labor of love, and the school opened successfully in the fall of 2014.

Diana possesses a unique combination of experience in broadcast media, public relations and education. While her early career experience was as a bilingual school teacher in California, she later held several prominent positions in broadcast media and public relations. Prior to dedicating herself full-time to AZACS, she was a Senior Communications Strategist at Salt River Project (SRP), Arizona’s leading utility company. In 1999, she came to the Phoenix market to serve as Univision 33’s lead Spanish language news anchor and reporter focusing on education and medical news.

Her professional career turned to education once again, after her son, Sammy, was diagnosed with autism. From 2007 to 2009, she served as Hispanic Community Relations Strategist for the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC). In this role, she brought autism awareness to the forefront of the Hispanic Community by working with Univision television and radio to produce weekly news segments on this widespread neuro-diversity. In October of 2009, Diana was recognized with an Emmy nomination for her news reports on autism. While working at SARRC, Diana conducted multiple trainings to teach educators about the characteristics of autism and strategies to connect parents to early intervention services. It was her professional experience at SARRC that connected Diana to the leading professionals in the treatment and education of children with autism and what planted the idea of starting a school.

In her role as Lead Founder and Executive Director, Diana has worked with her team to open three successful campuses and an accredited online school in just nine years of operation. Each year, the schools meet and exceed their academic goals as approved by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools.

AZACS has been recognized by several prominent educational entities such as Charter Schools Growth Fund, A for Arizona, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s Office of Education, and most recently was the top million dollar winner of the Yass Prize. Diana’s goal is to help each student become a fulfilled, productive citizen. She is doing this by develop community partnerships that can lead to jobs and ensuring students are ready for college and vocational opportunities. As the mother of a child with autism, her driving force is to create a life of purpose and fulfilling opportunities for her students.

Operations and IT Director

Dan McCarty

Dan McCarty is currently the Director of Operations and IT for Arizona Autism Charter Schools. Dan brings over 12 years of experience in Operations and IT management and over 40 years of business leadership.

Dan started his career in the hospitality industry where he spent 35 years in several leadership roles with companies like Hilton Hotels, Wyndham Hotels, Intrawest Golf as well as owning and running his own restaurant.  Dan managed facilities across the United States as well as Canada and facilitated new construction building projects as well as takeovers.

During his leadership roles, Dan was responsible for multi-million dollar budgets, and hundreds of staff, millions of dollars of inventory, and ensuring brand integrity. He was responsible for designing and opening facilities as well as flipping properties to the corporate brand.

Dan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Masters of Arts degree in Elementary Education which he received from the University of Phoenix.  He also has certification in Windows Server Administration, Network Management, (Network security, Local Area Network, and OSI model, Wire and Wireless Protocol), CompTIA A+ Fundamentals, and Cloud, and Google Educator Level 1 and Level 2.

STEAM and Innovation Director

Supreet Kaur

Sr. Registrar

Maria Colunga

Head of Schools

Myla Goyne

My name is Myla Goyne and I am honored to serve as the Head of Schools. I started working with a variety of students in 2001 as an intern, and then special education paraprofessional while I attended Arizona State University and graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. During that time, I discovered my love for working with students with exceptionalities and decided to further my education and obtain my Master of Education in Special Education. Since then, I have served as a Special Education Teacher, Special Education Instructional Coach, Exceptional Student Services Coordinator, and Campus Special Education Director. To prepare for my role as an administrator, I obtained my Supervisor and Principal Certification and earned my Master of Arts in Education Administration and Supervision.

This will be my fifth year at AZACS, and I look forward to supporting the academic direction of our charter and ensuring the highest standards of educational excellence.

Collaborating with leadership teams, staff, and stakeholders will be an instrumental part of my role in advancing our academic programs and initiatives. Working together we will continue to enhance the overall student experience and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

During my free time, my partner Tom and I enjoy vacationing to explore new places, but we seem to be drawn to more beach-themed adventures. Nothing beats a good book and sand between the toes. We also enjoy catching a concert or spending time with our families which include his triplet sons and daughter and our three dogs.

Thank you for your continued support of AZACS, and our dedicated team is here to assist you in any way possible. We encourage you to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Talent Management Director

Susan Contino

My name is Susan Contino and I’m excited to be the Director of Talent Management, where I have the privilege of working alongside a diverse and talented group of professionals. Together, we share the common goal of developing and supporting our team to ensure both staff and students have a successful year. It’s incredibly rewarding to contribute to an environment where growth, collaboration, and success are at the forefront of everything we do.

I hold a Master’s Degree in Legal Studies, specializing in Human Resources and Employment Law, from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (ASU). My career has provided me with a variety of experiences in education and operations management. I served as the School Operations Manager at EAGLE College Prep, overseeing day-to-day operations to ensure a smooth and effective environment for students and staff alike. I also worked at Scottsdale Unified School District as a Registrar and Manager of Facility Rentals, where I honed my organizational and leadership skills.

At ASU, I supervised the international evaluation process for incoming undergraduate students and served as a Designated School Official for student visa issuance, gaining a deep understanding of the regulatory and compliance needs of international students.

In addition to my professional experience, I hold several certifications, including the Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), Arizona Notary Public, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida. These certifications reflect my commitment to continuous learning and ensuring an inclusive and supportive environment for all.

I’m passionate about working in a place where every day brings new opportunities to support and empower both our staff and students. I look forward to contributing to the continued success and growth of AZACS!

Senior Director of ABA & Data

Claire Piper

I’m Claire Piper, and I’m proud to serve as the Senior Director of ABA & Data at AZACS. This is my 8th year with the school, and over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a variety of roles, including as a classroom teacher, manager, and campus director. Each experience has allowed me to deepen my understanding of how to best support our students and team.

I hold a Master’s in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis, and I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA), and a Certified Special Education Teacher. These qualifications, along with my hands-on experience, help guide my work in creating a supportive, data-driven approach to learning and behavior.

Before moving to Arizona, I worked as a camp director and special education teacher, which provided me with invaluable experience in managing diverse teams and meeting the needs of students in a variety of settings.

Tucson Campus Director

Kelly Hardegree-Ullman

Staff Recruiter

Shauna Abruzzo

Facilities Manager

Nancy Johnson

School Wellness Registered Nurse

Jessica Mangieri, RN, BSN

School Nutrition Manager

Holly Vaughan

UC Campus Director

Denise Ballard

Director of Teacher Preparation and Parent Engagement

Tracy Malcolm

ELC Campus Director

Patrick Masson

Online Campus Director

John Paquin

Elementary School ABA Director

Carla Smith

Early Learning Center ABA Campus Director

Mogos Gabre

Campus Director of ABA Practices

Christopher Morris

Tucson ABA Campus Director

Brittany Holdren

West Valley Campus Director

Katie Ferback

Director of Transition and the Essential Piece Enterprises

Angela Kennedy

Director of Special Education and English Language Learners

Kristina Christman

Director of Compliance and Strategic Initiatives

Annie Loftis

I’m Annie Loftis, and I’m honored to serve as the Director of Compliance and Strategic Initiatives at AZACS. With over 10 years of experience in education, I have had the privilege of serving in a variety of roles, including teacher, Dean, and Vice Principal. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of the many important functions that each role plays within an educational institution, and I am excited to contribute this knowledge to AZACS.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy and a Master’s degree in Political Science and Women’s Studies, all from San Diego State University. My educational background fuels my passion for learning, exploring new ideas, and helping others reach their full potential.

I thrive in collaborative, dynamic environments and am always eager to take on new challenges. I am proud to be part of a team that works together to ensure the success of our students and staff at AZACS. I look forward to continuing to support our mission and contributing to the growth and success of the school.