Casa Grande school makes the list!
by Arizona Educational Foundation
It’s official. We have announced the names of the newest 39 Arizona public schools receiving the coveted A+ School of Excellence™ award for the 2016-2017 academic year!
The 2017 A+ School of Excellence winning schools and principals are:
- Benson High School, Benson (Benson Unified School District), Ben Rodriguez
- Cherokee Elementary School, Paradise Valley (Scottsdale Unified School District), Walter Chantler
- Clarendon School, Phoenix (Osborn School District), Theresa Nickolich
- Connolly Middle School, Tempe (Tempe Elementary School District), Kathryn Mullery
- Crismon Elementary School, Mesa (Mesa Public Schools), Sandi Kuhn
- Desert Vista High School, Phoenix (Tempe Union High School District), Dr. Christine Barela
- EDUPRIZE SCHOOLS – Gilbert, Gilbert (EDUPRIZE SCHOOLS, LLC), Dr. Robbie McCamman
- Elvira Elementary School, Tucson (Sunnyside Unified School District), Andy Townsend
- Flowing Wells High School, Tucson (Flowing Wells Unified School District), James Brunenkant
- Francis M. Pomeroy Elementary School, Chandler (Mesa Public Schools), Dr. James Driscoll
- Gilbert High School, Gilbert (Gilbert Public Schools), Christopher Stroud
- Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School, Chandler (Chandler Unified School District), Heather Anguiano
- Horizon High School, Scottsdale (Paradise Valley Unified School District), Linda Ihnat
- Islands Elementary School, Gilbert (Gilbert Public Schools), Chris Birgen
- Jefferson Elementary School, Mesa (Mesa Public Schools), Genessee Montes
- John M. Andersen Elementary School, Chandler (Chandler Unified School District), Dr. Shannon Hannon
- Kyrene de la Estrella, Phoenix (Kyrene School District), Michael Lamp
- Kyrene de los Cerritos, Phoenix (Kyrene School District), Darcy DiCosmo
- Kyrene de los Lagos Dual Language Academy, Phoenix (Kyrene School District), Dr. Ana Gomez del Castillo
- Mabel Padgett Elementary School, Goodyear (Litchfield Elementary School District), Gina DeCoste
- Marshall Ranch Elementary School, Glendale (Peoria Unified School District), Marla Hobbs
- Metro Tech High School, Phoenix (Phoenix Union High School District), Bryan Reynoso
- Oak Tree Elementary School, Gilbert (Gilbert Public Schools), Dale Lunt
- Osborn Middle School, Phoenix (Osborn School District), Marty Makar
- Patterson Elementary School, Gilbert (Gilbert Public Schools), Lucas Blackburn
- Perry High School, Gilbert (Chandler Unified School District), Dan Serrano
- Rattlesnake Ridge Elementary School, Tucson (Marana Unified School District), Cindy Lewis
- Rio Rico High School, Rio Rico (Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District), Shelly Vroegh
- Santa Fe Elementary School, Peoria (Peoria Unified School District), Robert Miller
- Santan Elementary School, Chandler (Chandler Unified School District), Amy O’Neal
- Santan Junior High School, Chandler (Chandler Unified School District), Barbara Kowalinski
- Stapley Junior High School, Mesa (Mesa Public Schools), Kenneth Erickson
- Superstition Springs Elementary School, Mesa (Gilbert Public Schools), Dr. Timothy Moses
- Tavan Elementary School, Phoenix (Scottsdale Unified School District), Margaret Serna
- Villago Middle School, Casa Grande (Casa Grande Elementary School District), Jeff Lavender
- Walden Grove High School, Sahuarita (Sahuarita Unified School District), Teresa Hill
- Walter Douglas Elementary School, Tucson (Flowing Wells Unified School District), Tamara McAllister
- West Wing School, Peoria (Deer Valley Unified School District), Dr. Linda Price-Barry
- Willie and Coy Payne Junior High School, Queen Creek (Chandler Unified School District), Paul Bollard
Applicant schools are evaluated in the areas of student focus and support, school culture, active teaching and learning, curriculum, leadership, community and parent involvement and assessment data.
Applications are made available to Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade public schools statewide. Evaluation of schools is based on a lengthy written application submitted by the school and a rigorous site visit conducted by a team of trained judges. In the application, each school provides demographic information, a description of current programs and practices, documentation of parent and community involvement, and a profile of the school’s principal and the school community’s commitment to excellence, equity, service and sustained high achievement. Preparation of each school’s application involves collaboration among all stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members.
Schools receive $500 and a banner designating them as an A+ School of Excellence™ winner. All staff and faculty at the award-winning schools will be eligible for partial scholarships from Argosy University Phoenix. The award is valid for three-and-a-half years. Recognition through the A+ School of Excellence™ program can help increase confidence in Arizona’s public schools and create greater parent and community support.
For additional information on the A+ School of Excellence program, visit azedfoundation.org
Applications for the 2018 program will be made available soon.
