Two Mesa schools earn Arizona A+ Awards

PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 24, 2012) – The Arizona Educational Foundation announced today that 21 Arizona public schools earned the 2012 A+ School of Excellence™ award.

Since 1983, AEF has honored exemplary prekindergarten through 12th-grade public schools to create a comprehensive framework of successful programs and practices that other schools throughout the state and nation might adopt. Winners include:

• Whittier Elementary, Mesa (Mesa Unified School District), Charles Starkey, principal
• Shepherd Junior High, Eileen Cahoon, principal

“The A+ School of Excellence™ program honors outstanding public schools throughout Arizona,” explained Bobbie O’Boyle, AEF executive director. “The foundation also strives to recognize those who are responsible for the schools' success. Winners have achieved overall excellence despite the myriad challenges that face the education community statewide. We applaud them for doing whatever it takes to meet their students’ needs.”

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 schools statewide. Evaluation of each school is based on a lengthy written application and rigorous site visit 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
• a profile of the school principal and his/her vision of the commitment to excellence, equity, service and sustained high achievement or significant improvement in the school’s assessment

Preparation of each school’s application involves the commitment of all stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members.

Each school receive $500 and a banner designating it 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 years. 

This year's A+ School of Excellence program is supported by APS, The Arizona Republic, 12 News Season for Sharing, Desert Schools Federal Credit Union and Safeway, with additional support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.

For more information, visit the Arizona Educational Foundation's website.

Information courtesy of AEF