Bio

Gracie Calderon is an educator, mentor, and community leader whose extraordinary career spans more than five decades. A first-generation college graduate who left Hayden, Arizona, to attend Arizona State University in 1965, Gracie built a lifelong career around the belief that education can transform lives and strengthen communities. She spent the majority of her teaching career with Tempe Elementary School District No. 3, including decades at Frank Elementary in Guadalupe, where she taught generations of students and became a beloved figure in the community.

A passionate advocate for bilingual education, Gracie served as a district Bilingual Coordinator and earned an Early Childhood Endorsement. As an ASU adjunct professor, she incorporated culture, music, and dance into her teaching, helping students develop academic skills while fostering a deep sense of community pride. Following her retirement from full-time teaching in 2007, Gracie continued serving as a substitute teacher and, at 79, remains actively involved in classrooms across the district, often taking on long-term assignments and working as a specialized reading specialist.

Gracie's commitment to service extends beyond education. She has served on the Mesa Symphony Board of Directors and Mesa Library Board and is a graduate of the Hispanic Leadership Institute, MALDEF Leadership Institute, and Mesa Leadership. Her impact has been recognized through honors including the Tempe MLK Jr. Diversity Award, the Tempe Elementary District No. 3 Impact Award, and Childsplay's Imagination and Wonder Award for Educators. A graduate of Valle del Sol's Hispanic Leadership Institute Class of 1995, Gracie's legacy is defined by perseverance, service, and an unwavering commitment to helping generations of students and families succeed.