Contests underway

Students are invited to nominate MPS teachers for Silver Apple and Excellence in Education awards:

• Prizes in the Silver Apple Award contest, sponsored by KTVK-TV 3, include a silver apple, $500, a classroom visit by 3TV's Patti Kirkpatrick and a tribute on "Good Evening Arizona."
• Marty Manning of KEZ 99.9 surprises Excellence in Education Award winners with desktop plaques, $99, radio tributes and an awards luncheon.

Send news for Facebook

Does your school or department have news of interest to parents and the public? While we're waiting for MPS employee access to be granted, Community Relations will post your information, links, pdfs and photos on the district's Facebook page. Send an e-mail to Lynda Jordan, community relations specialist, at lkjordan@mpsaz.org. Questions? Call (480) 472-0224.

Take special interest classes

Have fun. Get fit. And make friends this fall. Take Community Education's special interest classes for employees. Choose from yoga, line dancing, clogging and zumba. Enrollment is open. Classes start soon. Questions? Call Kathy Fossum, community education specialist, at (480) 472-4032.

Dobson High wins Marine Corps, Cardinals awards

T.J. Thomas, running back, and Alex Jacobson, head football coach, are being honored by the Cardinals and the Marine Corps.

T.J. Thomas, running back, was voted Arizona's Marine Corps Elite Warrior of the Week. The Arizona Cardinals also honored him as Player of the Week. T.J. rushed for 364 yards on 29 carries, scoring four touchdowns in a 42-20 win over Westwood.

The Cardinals will honor Alex Jacobson on Sept. 8 as Coach of the Week for his overtime victory against Desert Mountain, 31-30. The Mustangs are off to a 2-0 start.

The Cardinals connection comes through Ray Perkins, Dobson athletic director, and former Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys football player.

Request free help from SHARP

High school students in the Sheltered Employment Training vocational program help MPS employees free of charge. Students label, staple, fold, stuff, collate, glue, shred and assemble bulletins, newsletters and mailings. They are eager to work for you. For information, contact Barbara Durant, SET teacher, at (480) 308-7476 or bldurant@mpsaz.org.

Printed and searchable phone books are posted online

This year's new MPS Telephone Directory (print version) is posted on the Employees page under the "quick links" category in the "general information" section. You will also find a link to the online phone book that you can search by first name, last name or phone number.

'Launching learners into the future'

Our simulated space missions for sixth-graders are featured in Science Times. The Space Integration Module is a partnership between Boeing and MPS. It offers sixth-graders an exciting way to use their science and technology skills while they focus on leadership, collaboration, communication and problem solving.

See employee news, quick links and resources

The Employees page has been redesigned with you in mind. It features districtwide news, quick links and popular resources — some tried and true and some new. So please check back from time to time.

Arizona Republic profiles Kathy Ray, Taft teacher

"Mesa education leader committed to profession," a Q and A with Kathy Ray, is featured in the Aug. 25 issue of The Arizona Republic. The story focuses on her career and issues facing teachers. Ray is Taft Elementary's Title I school improvement specialist. She is also president of the Mesa Education Association. Ray was named an MPS Employee of the Month in April.

Reminders

Mesa Foundation grants  |  National board certification meeting and precandidacy classes  |  Employee of the Month nomination  |  Volunteer of the Month nomination  |  Your news  

Mesa Agenda is published by the MPS Community Relations Department

Archive of all districtwide employee newsletters