Pamela Clark-Raines is the co-founder of StrengthBuilding Partners and developed and copyrighted StrengthBuilding™. She has a master’s degree in social work, over 35 years of experience in counseling and is a Licensed Certified Social Worker.

Clark-Raines is an Adjunct Professor at Arizona State University’s School of Social Work. In 2014 she also co-founded Las Puertas Community School in order to offer a StrengthBuilding place for kids to learn and grow.

She wears many hats at Las Puertas but her role as the School Social Worker is her absolute favorite!

Clark-Raines loves reading, spending time with her husband, daughter and son-in-law and discovering new and inventive ways to make a difference in the lives of the students and families who make up the Las Puertas Community.

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Brian Shay grew up in a small town just outside of Las Vegas where he played high school basketball, ran track and cross country and was involved in student council. After graduation, he moved to Tucson to attend the U of A. Graduating with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology, he returned to Las Vegas to work in a water treatment plant identifying the type of bacteria in the water.

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Making the decision to become a teacher, Shay moved back to Tucson, got his teachers certificate and a Master’s Degree in Education. Beginning his teaching career in 2002, he has taught algebra I,algebra II, geometry, biology, chemistry, and environmental science as well as coaching high school basketball and track. Along with teaching, Shay is also Acting Principal until the Fall 2020 when he be will become the Las Puertas’ Principal. 

He loves to hang out with his son and daughter, going camping and golfing and being outdoors.

Coach Will Nicholas is from Juneau, Alaska and has been a member of the Las Puertas family for eight years.  He is our Physical Education teacher who teaches a number of different subjects including math and science. He started and coached Las Puertas’ first basketball team in 2019. 

Coach Will graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2006 and completed his Masters Degree in Education at the University of Arizona in 2014. 

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In his spare time, Coach Will coaches a 12/13 year old travel baseball team that is number 1 in the state or Arizona and nationally ranked on a consistent basis.

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Coach Will enjoys spending time with his young sons, Bo & Nolan, and his wife Sara.

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