Amy L. Rusk, Class of 1983

Educator, Community Leader

Amy Louise Rusk was raised with a family ethos that valued service, community, diversity and the belief that you should “always have a side gig.” She is deeply appreciative of her THS experience and credits Ms. Gettig for her love of art and literature, and her speech coach, Mrs. Nott, for her success on the Speech team. She was an Amigos de las Americas volunteer in La Aurora, Mexico, as well as the Class of 1983’s Salutatorian, while always holding down a part-time job.

After graduating from the University of Arizona with a M.L.S., she received her K-12 teaching certificate in Secondary English with a bilingual endorsement, and began her career opening a new library at Harriet Johnson School on New Pascua Pueblo.

Eventually becoming the THMS Head Librarian, which included a Fulbright Teacher Exchange in Tampico, Mexico, she saw the program through many changes over her 21 years. Ms. Gettig shares that “Her warmth, her expertise, her passion about books and learning drew us all to the center of the school– the school library.” Amy served as Co-chair for TUSD’s Intellectual Freedom Committee, ran a Motherless Daughters’ Support Group, and collaborated with Mexican-American Studies, while also teaching Latino Literature. She also sponsored the THMS Poetry Club and Literary Magazine, directed the Tucson Poetry Festival, and provided mentoring and endless opportunities for students to practice their writing/presentation skills. In her additional role as TUSD Coordinating Librarian, she also advocated for the needs of 72 TUSD libraries staffed by library assistants.

Amy received numerous neighborhood and educational grants that worked to offset budget cuts. She was behind “Take-a-Look, Take-a-Book,” THMS Arts Night, and worked years to make the Senior Breakfast the long-standing tradition it is.

Creating partnerships with countless community organizations that brought immeasurable support to THMS, Amy also served as a Badger Foundation Board Member for three terms, chairing the Student & Faculty Financial Assistance and History & Traditions Committees.

Finally, she has been a Pima County Library Services Manager since August of 2015 overseeing 11 libraries and working as administrative liaison for the system’s cultural affinity teams. Amy is a humble visionary and the “force multiplier” who continues to make a difference in our community.