At every board meeting during the school year, Mesa Public Schools recognizes a Spotlight School. The Spotlight School at the April 22 meeting was Entz Elementary. Below is a video about the school and Principal Cally Pursley's remarks on each honoree.
Certified Staff: Denna Jolly
Tonight, the Entz community is excited to recognize someone who has truly been a pillar of strength and consistency at Entz from the very beginning—Denna Jolly.
Denna’s impact on our school community cannot be overstated. Over the years, she has poured her heart and expertise into helping students grow—academically, emotionally, and personally. She’s not just a teacher; she’s a catalyst for transformation.
Denna has taken students who were significantly below grade level and guided them—patiently, persistently—until they were ready to “graduate” out of resource and thrive in their general education classrooms. Students walk away with real skills, confidence, and the tools they need for long-term success.
What makes Denna stand out is her unwavering commitment to excellence. She sees every student not just for who they are, but for who they can become. She meets them where they are and then motivates them to exceed even their own expectations. Her dedication is evident in everything she does—from the lessons she plans to the relationships she builds.
Denna sets high expectations, and more importantly, she helps her students believe they can meet them. Her classroom is a place of encouragement, growth, and determination. It’s where challenges become opportunities and progress is always the goal.
Denna, thank you for your tireless dedication to our students and to this school. Your work has changed lives, and your legacy continues to grow with each student you support and inspire.
We are so grateful for you.
Classified Staff: Cindy Fast
Tonight we have the incredible honor of recognizing someone who truly is the heart of Entz—our very own Cindy Fast.
If you’ve ever walked through the doors of Entz, chances are the first face you saw was Cindy’s, greeting you with a smile, a kind word, and that signature warmth that sets the tone for our entire school day. For over two decades, Cindy has been the welcoming spirit not only for our students and staff but for the entire neighborhood.
Cindy makes Entz go round. From the moment she arrives, she brings positivity, helpfulness, and a deep dedication to making this school not just run smoothly—but feel like home. There’s not a problem she won’t try to solve or a person she won’t try to help. Whether she’s sweeping the courtyard, decorating the front office with cheerful seasonal touches, making sure the pesky weeds are picked out of our planters, or lending a listening ear to someone who needs it, Cindy goes above and beyond in every way.
She is the glue that holds us together—literally and figuratively. She keeps the office running like clockwork, knows every face and every name, and somehow always has the answer to any question that comes her way. Need help with something? Cindy’s already on it, probably with a smile and a friendly joke to make your day a little brighter.
She is a problem solver, a decorator, a listener, an organizer, a mother, a partner, a teammate, and a friend. She makes our school more beautiful, more cheerful, and more welcoming every single day. Quite simply, Entz wouldn’t be the same without her.
Cindy, thank you for everything you do. For your consistency, your joy, your generosity of spirit, and the way you love this community so deeply. You embody what makes Entz so special.
We appreciate you more than words can say.
Student: Stella Leavitt
Tonight we have the absolute pleasure of recognizing an extraordinary student—someone who quietly and consistently makes our school a better place just by being herself. That student is Stella Leavitt.
From the moment you meet her, you can’t help but be struck by her warmth. Stella is the type of person who radiates kindness, intelligence, and positivity. She’s always smiling and uplifting those around her. Whether it’s through her patience and kindness with her first-grade buddy, playing our school song on the piano for one of our PBIS assemblies, or by offering support and encouragement as she tackles challenging concepts, she consistently shows up and approaches every challenge with determination and a positive spirit. She never looks for shortcuts—she puts in the time, the thought, and the heart.
Stella is not only an exceptional student—she’s an exceptional person that doesn’t ask for recognition, volunteers her time and talents, and sets a quiet but powerful example of what it means to lead with integrity and kindness. The subtlety she carries may lead her to believe these acts and her hard work go unnoticed, but we are grateful to honor these traits, recognize, and celebrate who she shows up to be each and every day. She may be a student, but she has taught peers and teachers alike by the example she sets each and every day.
Stella, you are ever humble regardless of the lengths you go to, inspiring not only your classmates but also your teachers and the entire school community. Your light shines bright, and we are all better for having you here at Entz. Thank you for being you— genuine, generous, and truly remarkable…and never forget, “Yes, you Canada.”