Catalina Foothills School District is proud to announce that Catalina Foothills High School chemistry teacher Bernadette Moreno has been selected for the third cohort of the ASU Impact Corps, a highly selective program recognizing Arizona's most effective educators.
The ASU Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence identified Moreno as one of only eight teachers statewide—from just seven high schools across Arizona—whose instructional practices are directly linked to exceptional student outcomes in college-level STEM courses. Moreno has dedicated her entire 18-year teaching career to CFHS, where she teaches standard, honors, and AP Chemistry. Her students consistently outperform in postsecondary chemistry courses, which are among the most difficult in college STEM pathways. For CFHS families, this recognition affirms what the data shows: our students don't just get into college. They succeed once they're there, particularly in demanding STEM courses.
Data-Driven Recognition
The ASU Helios Decision Center doesn't guess at what works in education; it measures it. Using Arizona's linked data system, which connects high school students directly to state universities and community colleges, researchers identified specific schools and teachers whose graduates consistently excel in college-level STEM disciplines.
Among nearly 500 public high schools in Arizona, CFHS was selected as a "bright spot"—a school making measurable, meaningful impacts on students' postsecondary trajectories. The selection criteria focused on high rates of As and Bs earned at the university level, students distributed across all three Arizona Board of Regents universities (ASU, NAU, and U of A), and diverse school types representing communities across the state.
Since 2023, the Impact Corps has grown to 34 teachers from 25 different Arizona schools. Moreno joins an elite group of educators who serve as mentors and models for instructional excellence statewide. 
As a member of the Impact Corps, Moreno will serve as a mentor to educators across Arizona, participating in statewide events and sharing the instructional practices and curriculum strategies that prepare students for college success.
The recognition comes at a critical time for Arizona. By 2033, the state will need 600,000 more trained workers to meet the demands of automation and economic growth. The ASU Helios Decision Center's research shows that success in college begins well before students arrive on campus, and teachers like Moreno are making the difference.
About the ASU Helios Decision Center
The ASU Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence is a partnership between Arizona State University and Helios Education Foundation. Its Postsecondary Feedback Reports (PSFR) Portal provides Arizona high schools with real-time data showing how graduates perform in college, tracking persistence, graduation rates, academic performance, and program selection.
"The exciting thing about being involved in this work is that we want to be involved with everything that we have," said Dr. Michael Crow, president of ASU, "so that we can help all the educational enterprises in Arizona achieve the goal that we are working to achieve."
A Tradition of Excellence
Moreno's selection reflects the values that define Catalina Foothills School District: high expectations, personalized support, and a belief that every student can excel in rigorous coursework.
"Bernadette's recognition is a credit to her extraordinary dedication and skill," said Dr. Chris Lambert, CFHS principal. "But it's also a reflection of our entire community's commitment to educational excellence. We are incredibly proud to have her as part of the Falcon family."
Congratulations, Ms. Moreno, on this well-deserved honor.