Copper Basin Elementary

Byron Hastings

Mr. Hastings grew up in northern Colorado but has been in Arizona for over 25 years. He graduated from Arizona State University in 2005 and taught History, ELL, French, and German at Florence High School before moving to Poston Butte High School. There he served as a foreign language teacher, instructional coach, and Dean of Students before moving to San Tan Foothills High School as an Assistant Principal. Since 2022, Mr. Hastings has been the Principal of Copper Basin Elementary.

Mr. Hastings has worked with the Copper Basin community to develop a mission and vision that puts learning front and center. Staff and students at Copper Basin challenge themselves to learn at high levels and be their best academically, emotionally, and socially. Copper Basin is a caring community of engaged learners who persevere and take pride in their actions.

Mr. Hastings is proud to lead the staff and students at Copper Basin Elementary. Please feel free to reach out to him with any questions or concerns you may have.   

Tara Walter

Tara Walter has taught various grade levels from kindergarten through twelfth grade since 2000, serving the past twelve years as an administrator.  She holds two master’s degrees in education from Northern Arizona University, graduating with high honors in Educational Leadership: Principal K-12 and Elementary Education; two bachelor’s degrees from the State University of New York in Elementary Education and English (Literature/Writing), and an associate degree in Liberal Arts from Herkimer County Community College.  She was provided the unique opportunity to complete the second half of her student teaching experience abroad, in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England.  During her experience abroad, she welcomed the opportunity to travel throughout Europe.  This experience allowed her to learn and appreciate other cultures and ways of life.

As an educator, she has served as a Team Leader, Reading Coach, Mentor Teacher, Gifted Site Coordinator, NJHS, and Science Club Advisor.  Her responsibilities in these positions allowed her to create opportunities for the students and aide colleagues in achieving higher standards for themselves professionally.  Mrs. Walter’s core belief as an educator is that all students have the potential to be successful.  She believes that with a positive attitude, growth mindset, and good character, anyone can achieve great things.  Mrs. Walter strives to instill those qualities in our students and to be a positive role model as well.  Her goal for this year is to provide a safe and nurturing educational environment for our students.  She will challenge our students to reach beyond their expectations and become lifelong learners who will make the world a better place.  She is looking forward to a wonderful year at Copper Basin and is excited about the possibilities ahead for us!

Go Dust Devils!

Valissa Davis

Valissa Davis brings over eight years of experience in elementary education and a genuine passion for supporting both students and teachers as the Academic Intervention Specialist at Copper Basin Elementary. Before stepping into this role, she taught multiple grade levels and served as a team lead, volleyball coach, PBIS coordinator, and Spelling Bee coordinator, where she built strong relationships and a deep understanding of what effective, engaging instruction looks like in the classroom and on a school campus.

Valissa enjoys partnering with teachers to make learning meaningful and accessible for all students. She supports data-driven instruction, helps design targeted interventions, and works alongside educators through coaching, modeling, and collaborative planning. She is especially passionate about creating positive learning environments, strengthening student engagement, and helping teachers feel confident and supported in their practice.

Valissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in University Studies from BYU-Idaho and a Master of Education in Instructional Design from Grand Canyon University. She is committed to continuous growth and feels grateful to be part of a community focused on helping every student succeed.