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Lisa Kempton

Lisa Kempton was born on November 27, 1968 in Phoenix, Arizona. She was adopted by Anne Hoopes and Jerry Kempton on November 30, 1968 in Safford, Arizona and was raised in Safford by the couple alongside her older sister, Rebecka Kempton. Lisa now lives and works in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband Luis Rodriguez and her three children: Taylor Rodriguez-Kempton (21), Jada Rodriguez (10), and Eric Rodriguez (7).

Early Life

1968-1986

Lisa was raised in Safford, Arizona by her adoptive mother Anne, a housewife, and her adoptive father Jerry, a farmer. Her father owned a large amount of land that he used for the production of cotton. Lisa attended Lafe Nelson Elementary School from kindergarten to sixth grade and Safford Junior High for seventh and eighth grade. Beginning at the age of eight years old, her summers consisted of helping her father in the cotton field alongside her sister. Monday through Friday beginning at 5 a.m. to noon every weekday in the summer, Lisa and her sister Rebecka were responsible for "chopping cotton." "Chopping cotton" meant that the two girls had to walk up and down the rows to remove the weeds by the root from the cotton plants. At the age of 14, Lisa began high school at Safford High School. She graduated from Safford High School in 1986 at the age of 18.

Growing up, Lisa also played softball. She was a member of various recreational teams. In addition, Lisa was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). At the age of 8, she was baptized as a member of the LDS church.

Higher Education and Early Adult Life

1986-1995

Upon graduating high school in 1986, Lisa moved out of her parents' home in Safford to Phoenix, Arizona where she began to attend Maricopa Community College. After two years at Maricopa Community College, Lisa moved to Flagstaff, Arizona where she began to attend Northern Arizona University in 1989. Here, she studied English and obtained her teacher certification. Lisa graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor's Degree in English.

Upon graduating college, Lisa moved to Guadalajara, Mexico where she used her degree to become an English teacher. While in Mexico, Lisa lived with a host family: Mother, Yolanda Delgado, Sister, Gaby Delgado, and Brother, Roberto Delgado. She lived and taught English in Guadalajara for three years. While teaching, she met her current husband Luis Rodriguez. During this time, the couple conceived their first child, Taylor. Lisa returned to Arizona in July of 1995.

Career and Adult Life

1995-2010

On January 23, 1996, Lisa's first child, Taylor Rodriguez-Kempton, was born in Phoenix, Arizona. At this time, Lisa was working as an English as a Second Language and Spanish teacher at Agua Fria High School. After 2 years, Lisa began teaching English as a Second Language at Isaac Middle School. During this time, Lisa also obtained her Master's Degree from Arizona State University in 1998. In 2002, Lisa obtained her administration certificate and became program director of Project LEAP, a federally funded after school program. She worked in this admin position for 2 years until becoming Director of English as a Second Language Programs for Leona group, a charter school corporation. Lisa worked in this position from 2004 to 2006. Overall, during these years, Lisa was focused on her career and being a single mother to her daughter Taylor.

In September of 2005, Taylor's birth father, Luis Rodriguez, re-entered their lives. Luis was still living in Guadalajara, Mexico at this time but would visit Lisa and Taylor about once a month. In July of 2006, Lisa and Taylor moved to Guadalajara, Mexico for three months where Lisa worked as an independent English teacher. During this time, Jada, Lisa's second child, was conceived. Lisa and Taylor returned to Phoenix in October of 2006.

Lisa began teaching English as a Second Language at North High School in Phoenix, Arizona in January of 2007. Luis Rodriguez moved to Houston, Texas to be closer to Lisa and his children in May of 2007. Jada Elise Rodriguez, Lisa's second child, was born on June 19, 2007. In November of 2008, Luis Rodriguez moved from Houston to Phoenix. On June 20, 2009, Lisa and Luis were married in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

In August of 2009, Lisa began working at Alhambra High School in Phoenix as an English as a Second Language teacher. She was focused on her new marriage and being a good mom to her two children, Taylor and Jada. On May 8, 2010, Lisa's third child, Eric Luis Rodriguez, was born.

Present Day

Currently, Lisa works as an English as a Second Language teacher at Central High School in Phoenix, Arizona. She has been working in this position since August of 2015. Her oldest child, Taylor, is a senior at the University of Arizona and her two other children, Jada and Eric, attend elementary school in Phoenix. Lisa and Luis have now been happily married for eight years. Lisa plans to retire as a teacher in May of 2022.