BBNPhoto/Sue Tone

From left, Jeff Duncan, Mayer High principal and Educational Services director; Chris Dorman, HS social studies; Brian Skousen, HS language arts; Clint Cross, computer lab; Tad MacGregor, HS math; and Terri McComb, 7th/8th grade language arts gather Monday for a welcome lunch at Big Bug Station. Not pictured is Maria Grimsley, 6th grade teacher.

Six new Mayer Unified School District teachers and a high school principal took a break from meetings and setting up classrooms and offices to share lunch Monday at Big Bug Station in Mayer.

Jeff Duncan, the new Mayer High School principal and director of Educational Services, is starting his 12th year as a high school administrator following 15 years as a teacher.

Most of those years took place in Michigan, with the past five years in Arizona where he spent two years in Kearney as principal of Ray High School, and three years as assistant principal at Salt River High School.

"I like a place with great potential for growth," Duncan said with enthusiasm.

Terri McComb, new seventh- and eighth-grade Language Arts teacher, has taught all over the world. She moved from Carmel, Calif., to attend Arizona State University, met her husband, a military man, and has been traveling and teaching ever since.

"My husband wants to retire in this area," she said, adding that the official retirement date is Sept. 1. "But I'm not ready to retire yet."

McComb's 15 years in education have taken her to North and South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Colorado, Germany and Japan.

Missing out on the beginning of the lunch hour is Maria Grimsley who hails from Venezuela, but most recently has taught in the Creighton School District in Phoenix. She will teach sixth grade at MES.

Chris Dorman, in his 12th year of education, is the new Social Studies teacher at the high school. He brings experience from Chinle and Salome school districts. Dorman said he also will be coaching, but he is not sure which sport it might be.

Also in his 12th year of teaching, Brian Skousen is making the drive north from Anthem where he taught at Boulder Creek High School. He moves into the Language Arts position and will coach baseball at the high school.

"I'd rather be at a small school than a gargantuan one," Skousen said.

Clint Cross will coach girls' basketball at MHS. This is his 16th year teaching, most recently as a PE teacher and coach at Chino Valley High School. He heads up the computer lab and will be working with the online and credit recovery programs.

Tad MacGregor begins his teaching career at MHS where he teaches Math, and will assist Cross with girls' basketball. MacGregor graduated from the Northern Arizona University/Prescott education program.

Patti Leonard, principal of the elementary and junior high school, said enrollment is up this year, particularly in the elementary grades. The district is receiving an influx of students from Black Canyon City, she said.

Supt. Dean Slaga also attended the lunch to welcome the new principal and teachers.