Sabino High School

After initially moving back to Tucson to start his “dream job” at Sabino High School in 1993, Bruce Williams has worn many hats in various positions over the last 30-plus years. The only hat that didn’t fit right: retirement. 

“I failed at retirement,” Bruce said. “I had to come back – I missed the kids.” 

Now, Bruce works on a more one-on-one basis with students as an intervention teacher, and is usually the face that greets families as the Family Engagement and Community Outreach Representative. It’s fair to say that Bruce bleeds purple and gold. 

Even though Bruce initially stated his education career back in 1984, he said this is the best year yet. (Spoiler alert: each new year is the best year, according to the long-time educator). And he plans to stay as long as possible. 

“When you put our parents, our kids, our teachers, and our administration together, it’s a four-part harmony,” Bruce said. “It’s beautiful.”

Lilian is one of the newer additions to Sabino High School, currently in her second year at the eastside school, but has quickly made herself invaluable to the campus. 

She isn’t just a Spanish teacher – she helps with various extras, like programs, events, and more. During lunch, she hosts student meetings and loves helping anywhere she can. 

As far as teaching a World Language, Lilian said she grew up speaking Spanish and has a love for her Hispanic culture, that she wanted to share that with students. 

“I like giving my students cultural experiences, as well as making them aware of all of the rich cultural backgrounds that they have in their front yards,” Lillian said.
 
While people may not think of Sabino when thinking of schools with a high Hispanic/Latino student population, Lillian believes there’s still a benefit from taking her class. 

“Even if they are not a huge fan of the language or maybe they don’t see themselves using it in the future, I still think that they find useful some of the activities that we do,” Lillian said. “And if not, at the very least, they got to do some cool research on different countries. They got to learn more about their Tucson community.” 

Mason doesn’t just Bleed Purple and Live Gold, as the school motto goes. He was raised the Sabino way through and through. 

Sabino High School is trying to become a generational school for families, and Mason is a second-generation Sabercat. His father, as well as his father’s siblings, attended Sabino, as well as Mason’s siblings and a few cousins. 

“It’s great, everyone knows us – the Rustands,” Mason said. “But I think it’s just so fun having someone [from the family] always be here.” 

However, Mason isn’t just known due to his last name. The senior is also a three-sport athlete, drum major, in Key Club, an AP student who gets straight As, and scored a 35 on his ACT – one point off from having a perfect score. 

He embodies the best of Sabino and is an example to current and incoming students of what they can achieve.