Eric Pawlak

Principal / Co Founder

Mr. Pawlak has worked in Public, Charter and Private Schools as a Principal, Assistant Principal, and Teacher for the last 23 years. Mr. Pawlak earned a teaching degree from NAU and a Masters in Educational Administration from ASU. For the last 5 years Mr.  Pawlak has been the Principal of a Private school in Phoenix. Mr. Pawlak has also coached and competed in  wrestling at all levels including coaching  6 years at ASU. He was part of two of ASU PAC 10 Championships! As a competitor Mr. Pawlak was the first State Wrestling Champion for Barry Goldwater High School and wrestled for Division I Bloomsburg University of PA.

Eric Larkin

Jr. High Coach / Co Founder

Eric Larkin is one of Valiant's co-founders and currently serves as a Valiant College Preparatory wrestling coach. Athletics and coaching has been his passion for 20+ years. Coming from a college wrestling career at Arizona State University he has witnessed the positive impact that athletic participation can have on the mental, physical, spiritual development, and maturation of students. He is able to help VCP offer a collegiate-model athletic program aimed at developing competitive student-athletes. 

Mike Douglas

Athletic Director

Mike Douglas  serves as the Valiant College Preparatory athletic director. Athletics and teaching have been a passion of his for 15+ years. He is committed to the safety and well-being of our athletes first. He is honored by this tremendous responsibility.

Jami Watters

Vice Principal / Social Studies Director / Swim Coach

Jami Watters has over a decade of teaching experience.  She holds her first degree in History, with an emphasis in US government and military history.  A Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She later earned her 2nd degree in religious studies and a certificate in religion and conflict. Ms. Watters is also a competitive swimmer and has traveled the country to compete with the best.

Scott Weeks

English Department Head / Track and Field Coach

Scott Weeks holds a Masters degree in English and has taught for 10 years Arizona. He has a passion for English studies. He is known through out Arizona for his teaching techniques. He encourages students to think critically and analytically through discussion and introspection.      A class with Mr. Weeks is a way for any student to learn more about themselves and connecting with writers of all time periods. Mr. Weeks played baseball in college.

ReBekah Watters

Math Department Head / Teacher

ReBekah Watters comes to Valaint From Atlantic National Trust, a real-estate investment company. She holds a degree in Finance a minor in Math and a Multicultural studies certificate from the University of Missouri. She was a basketball player throughout her academic career. Ms. Watters has 36 credits of upper level Math courses and is a Highly Qualified Math Teacher for the state of Arizona.

Jim Popham

Science Department Head / Golf Coach

After 25+ years of teaching Science and coaching golf and wrestling in Northern Arizona, Mr. Popham brings his enthusiasm and passion for education to Valiant. He holds Degrees in educations with multiple certificates including Science, PE, and Driver Ed.

Madison Gambrell

Middle School Teacher / Wrestling Assistant

Madison Gambrell is originally from California, and moved to Arizona to wrestle and further education at Grand Canyon University. After three years at GCU, he attended Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. He taught at the middle school level and occupied many titles at the high school level. Most recently, He was the Assistant to the Athletic Director and Assistant Head Coach at Cesar Chavez High School in Laveen.

Melissa Larkin

Foreign Language Department Head / Teacher

Melissa has Bachelor of Science degrees in both Child Development and Nursing from A.S.U. and is now a licensed Registered Nurse. She is originally from Tucson but moved to the Valley to study at A.S.U. Before coming to us at VCP, she worked as an Early Intervention Specialist for Spanish-Speaking families. 

Mario Meza

Spanish Teacher

Mr. Meza graduated from the University of California Irvine in 1981 with a degree in Bilingual Education/ Spanish Literature and English Teacher Certification by the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico    ( UNAM) . He has taught at JoCombs Highschool, Adult Education/ Coconino County Superintendent Office (Flagstaff), Adult Education / Maricopa County, Head Start Family Support Specialist, Adult Education Coordinator at Catholic Social Services of Orange County, Spanish Immersion Teacher/ Newport /Mesa School District, English Teacher/ Universidad Autonoma de Mexico ( School of Foreign Language) and Preparatoria # 3.

Angel Cejudo

Head Wrestling Coach

Angel Cejudo is the Head Wrestling at Valiant College Preparatory.  Angel grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and attended Maryvale High School where his passion for the sport allowed him to go undefeated all four years carrying a 152-0 record, bringing home four state championship titles, and making him one of the most decorated wrestlers from Arizona.  After high school he continued his career in wrestling at the Olympic training center.
In 2005 he went on to the FILA Junior Freestyle World Team and in 2008 Angel represented the U.S. winning at the Dave Schultz Memorial International Freestyle Wrestling Tournament.  Later that year he entered the U.S. Olympic trials where he trained with his brother Henry Cejudo, who himself went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In 2009 Angel joined the Army where he wrestled for the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) and in 2010 he took bronze at the Military World Championship.  Angel has had the opportunity to train with some of the best coaches in the world, such as Terry Brands, Kevin Jackson, and Sergei Beloglazov. Through the many trials and tribulations of Angel’s wrestling career has kept focus on his family and learned from his many tournaments, mentors, and experiences how to develop an outlook that allows him to contribute this knowledge towards  VCP wrestling team!