Harold Steele Elementary School

Kimber Silva-Munsey serves as the MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) Facilitator at Steele Elementary, where she helps bridge the gap between students and staff. With seven years at Steele and prior experience at Safford, Kimber started as a kindergarten teacher before transitioning into her current role. 

As an MTSS Facilitator, Kimber works closely with students in small groups, tracking both academic and behavioral progress, while also collaborating with teachers to support classroom success. She describes her position as the perfect balance of leadership, student engagement, and staff collaboration. 

Originally from Bisbee, Kimber moved to Tucson for college and never left. Her love for Steele runs deep, so much so that she recruited her sister to join the school as the attendance clerk. The two enjoy working together and even share lunch breaks in the school garden. 

Outside of school, Kimber enjoys cooking, experimenting with creative recipes (especially sauces like cilantro aioli and chipotle), reading a book each month, and spending time outdoors. For her, teaching isn’t just a career, it’s a passion that fulfills both her analytical and social sides. 

Karen Seabolt is one of Steele Elementary’s full-time school counselors, and she loves the unique structure of her role. Every week, Karen meets with every student for a half-hour session during teacher PLC time, giving her the opportunity to build strong connections and proactively support students’ social and emotional well-being. 

Karen has been with Tucson Unified School District since 2001, beginning her career as a math and science teacher at Mansfield and Gridley Middle Schools. After earning her counseling degree, she served as a counselor at Utterback and later returned to Gridley, where she worked for eight years. Following a brief return to the classroom teaching sixth-grade language arts, Karen came to Steele to pursue her passion for counseling full-time. 

Originally from West Virginia, Karen has called Arizona home since 2000. She fell in love with the West after a hiking trip along the California coast and has lived in places like San Francisco and New Mexico before settling in Tucson. 

Outside of school, Karen enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, music, and spending time with her family, especially cooking with her 15-year-old daughter. One of her proudest contributions to Steele is the beautiful school garden, which she helped bring to life after envisioning it during her job interview. Today, the garden flourishes with tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, citrus trees, and flowers, creating a vibrant outdoor space for students and staff to enjoy. 

Camella Gabato is in her third year at Steele Elementary, where she teaches with a passion for learning and a love for the school’s strong sense of family. With 18 years of teaching experience, Camella began her career in the Philippines before moving to the United States nine years ago. She initially taught kindergarten at a charter school before joining TUSD and finding her home at Steele. 

Camella came to the U.S. through a teacher exchange program and was later joined by her husband. Today, they are proud parents of three children. Last year, she was able to return to the Philippines for a memorable visit, introducing her children to their grandparents for the very first time. 

Outside of the classroom, Camella stays active and creative. She teaches various styles of dance, including ballroom, and is also a talented balloon artist, creating everything from animals to unicorns. A fun fact about Camella? She graduated with her bachelor’s degree at just 19 years old!