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GUHSD BOARD CONGRATULATES CORTEZ
Recognizing Commitment and Community: Cortez High School’s Achievement Above All Honorees
The Glendale Union High School District Governing Board commended Cortez High School’s Achievement Above All honorees, recognizing those whose dedication, leadership, and service have profoundly shaped the Colt community. This year’s recipients exemplify the spirit of Cortez High School through their unwavering commitment to students, their belief in inclusion and opportunity, and their willingness to go above and beyond in support of student success.
Teacher Recipient: Brian Mildener
Brian Mildener has built a 19-year career centered on promoting a school community where all students belong and are encouraged to succeed. After beginning his teaching journey in special education at Kyrene Middle School, he joined Cortez High School in 2017, where he now serves as a Special Education teacher and Instructional Specialist. In addition to co-teaching English, Mildener leads Yearbook and Publications, blending academic instruction with creative expression and real-world skill development.
Mildener’s impact is evident in the many ways he contributes to campus life and student leadership. Through his involvement with Link Crew, Yearbook, Newspaper, and Social Media programs, he creates spaces where students feel connected and valued. His dedication to these programs reflects a willingness to invest time, energy, and care wherever students need guidance, strengthening school culture and creating a sense of belonging across campus.
What distinguishes Mildener is his belief that strong relationships are essential to student success. He is deeply committed to supporting students of all backgrounds and abilities, often focusing first on building confidence and trust before pushing academic growth. By setting high expectations while remaining patient and supportive, he helps students gain the skills, resilience, and self-belief necessary for life after graduation. His unwavering advocacy and student-centered approach exemplify the spirit of Achievement Above All.
Student Recipient: Shahad Al Mufti
Shahad Al Mufti is a senior at Cortez High School whose time on campus has been shaped by leadership, curiosity, and a strong commitment to staying involved. Having attended Cactus Wren Elementary and Cholla Middle School before coming to Cortez, Shahad has grown into an engaged student who values connection and service. She balances a rigorous academic schedule with a wide range of activities, including Student Council, National Honor Society, choir, soccer, and several other campus organizations.
Throughout high school, Shahad has taken on active leadership roles while remaining deeply connected to the student experience. Her involvement in Student Council reflects her dedication to representing her peers and helping plan events that bring the campus community together. Outside of leadership, she participates in choir, where teamwork and creativity are essential, and soccer, which has challenged her to step outside her comfort zone. Her academic and leadership achievements extend beyond campus through recognitions such as Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Arizona Girls State, and her selection as a QuestBridge Finalist.
Shahad’s journey is defined by perseverance and purpose. After moving to the United States from Iraq at a young age and learning English from the ground up, she developed a resilience that continues to guide her academic and personal growth. With plans to pursue a Biomedical Sciences degree and attend medical school, she is driven to serve others through healthcare. Her ability to lead with empathy, maintain academic excellence, and remain fully engaged in her school community reflects the values of Achievement Above All and makes her a deserving recipient of this recognition.
Student Group Recipient: Cortez Marching Band
The Cortez Marching Band, under the direction of Vanessa Smith, has become a vibrant cornerstone of the school community, bringing energy, music, and spirit to sporting events, competitions, parades, and other campus celebrations. With 38 dedicated members, the band is led by Drum Major Kimberly Cabrera-Cazarez, Brass Captain and President Abraham Lezcas Mata, Color Guard Captain and Secretary Charizma Edgeston, Woodwind Captain Bulfrano Maciel, and Percussion Captain Noah Hutson.
This year, the band’s presence could be felt everywhere. From football games to Curriculum Night, Future Freshman Night, and major events like the Mountain Ridge and Flowing Wells Marching Competitions, the AzMBA State Marching Championships, the District Marching Exhibition, and local parades including Veterans Day and the Glendale Hometown Christmas Parade, the band consistently represented Cortez with professionalism and enthusiasm. Competing in a highly competitive AzMBA division, students performed at their highest level, demonstrating musical growth, discipline, and confidence with each appearance.
The Cortez Marching Band has earned the Achievement Above All award for its rapid growth, high expectations, and lasting impact on school culture. More than performers, these students are ambassadors for Cortez, helping build unity, pride, and connection across campus. Through leadership development, commitment to excellence in musicianship, and service to the community, the band has become a defining part of the Cortez experience and a powerful example of what Achievement Above All looks like in action.
Support Staff Recipient: Rebecca (Becky) Wilson
Rebecca Wilson is a Title I Instructional Aide at Cortez High School whose work is rooted in care, consistency, and a deep connection to the Cortez community. A proud Cortez alumna from the Class of 1996, Wilson continued her education by earning an associate degree in Liberal Arts from Eastern Arizona College and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in English Language Learners at Arizona State University. After joining Cortez in 2019 as an EL instructional aide, she transitioned to the Title I department in 2020, where she continues to support students and teachers with dedication and professionalism.
In her role, Wilson provides direct academic support while helping create a learning environment where students feel encouraged and capable. She works closely with staff to meet students where they are, offering patience, clarity, and steady guidance that strengthens confidence and skill development. Her approach is grounded in flexibility and teamwork, enabling her to respond to students' and classrooms' needs with care and reliability.
Wilson’s impact extends beyond instruction. She is deeply invested in service, volunteering weekly with her church’s youth programs, fostering rescue dogs through Just A Mutt, and maintaining strong ties to the Cortez community through family and tradition. As one of nine siblings who all attended Cortez, her pride in the school runs deep. This connection, paired with her commitment to student success and willingness to support wherever needed, exemplifies the spirit of Achievement Above All and makes her a deserving recipient of this recognition.
Volunteer Recipient: Haley Tannheimer
Haley Tannheimer has become a familiar and trusted presence within the Cortez High School community through her consistent support of the boys' basketball program. Whether coordinating basketball concessions, assisting with team fundraisers such as car washes, or helping behind the scenes, she brings energy, reliability, and care to every role she takes on. Her connection to Cortez is strengthened by the relationships she builds, including the opportunity to reconnect with former Palo Verde Middle School students now competing as Colts.
Beyond campus, Tannheimer is actively involved in service through Fellowship Phoenix Outreach, extending her commitment to helping others throughout the community. She values volunteering as a way to give back and believes strongly in modeling service for her children, teaching them the importance of showing up for others without expecting recognition. Her love of basketball, family, and community naturally aligns, allowing her to support students in meaningful and lasting ways.
Tannheimer has earned the Achievement Above All award for her selfless dedication and positive impact on student-athletes and school culture. Even without children currently attending Cortez, she chooses to invest her time and energy in supporting students and programs that matter to the community. Through her consistency, generosity, and genuine care, Haley Tannheimer exemplifies the spirit of service that defines Achievement Above All and leaves a lasting impression on the Cortez High School community.
A Lasting Legacy of Leadership and Service at Cortez
Together, Cortez High School’s Achievement Above All honorees reflect the many ways excellence shows up on campus each day. Through leadership, creativity, service, and an unwavering commitment to students, these recipients have strengthened the Colt community. Their contributions remind us that lasting impact is built through dedication, relationships, and a shared belief in what students can achieve when they are supported and inspired.