A+ School of Excellence Archive

Terramar Academy of the Arts truly deserves an A+ recognition for its exceptional commitment to education and the arts. The school’s exemplary application and on-site visit highlight a culture of excellence, where staff members work collaboratively, sharing responsibilities and celebrations to create a positive and supportive environment. Students demonstrate compassion and leadership by helping one another, fostering a strong sense of community. High open enrollment numbers and impressive academic growth achievement reflect the school’s ability to attract and nurture learners. Terramar’s dedication to the whole child is evident in its varied arts and performing arts programs, including ceramics, an artist-in-residence initiative, and band, chorus, and piano lab offerings, all of which cultivate creativity and self-expression. With high expectations, welcoming staff, and a focus on holistic development, Terramar Academy of the Arts is a shining example of educational excellence.

Innovation Academy exemplifies the highest standards of educational excellence and stands out as a premier institution deserving of the A+ School of Excellence Award. Below are the key factors that demonstrate why Innovation Academy is a model of success:

Project-Based Learning: At the heart of Innovation Academy’s approach is its commitment to project-based learning, fostering a dynamic, hands-on environment that encourages students to engage in real-world challenges. This approach not only deepens understanding but also prepares students for future careers by developing problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaborative skills.

An Amazing Place to Work: The faculty and staff at Innovation Academy are passionate and dedicated, creating a workplace culture that is both motivating and supportive. The school provides a professional, nurturing environment where educators feel valued and empowered to innovate. This positive atmosphere translates directly into effective teaching, which is evident in the students' success.

Data-Driven Decision Making: Innovation Academy consistently uses data to inform instructional practices and enhance student outcomes. The school closely monitors student progress through regular assessments and adapts its teaching strategies to ensure that every learner receives the attention and resources they need to thrive.Meeting the Needs of Students and Staff: The school recognizes the diverse needs of both students and staff, offering personalized support and a range of resources. Whether it's academic tutoring, behavioral support, or professional development for teachers, Innovation Academy is committed to providing the necessary tools and strategies for success.

Addressing Social and Emotional Needs: Beyond academics, Innovation Academy prioritizes the well-being of its students and staff. The school implements programs that address social and emotional learning (SEL), helping students develop resilience, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills. The positive school culture fosters a sense of belonging, reducing stress and enhancing overall student success.

Cultivating a Love of Learning: Innovation Academy fosters a genuine love of learning by making education both engaging and meaningful. Teachers create dynamic learning experiences that spark curiosity and inspire students to take ownership of their education. This passion for learning instills a lifelong desire for knowledge in all students.

"Unanimously, the judges for the Village Meadows Elementary School Site Visit
recommend this school to receive the Arizona Education Foundation, A+ School of Excellence in Education Award for the 2024-2025 School Year.

Principal Michelle Wambach has earned the respect of all of her stakeholders and her transparent leadership instills confidence in her teachers, staff and the
Village Meadows community. The positive atmosphere is authentic and reaches
each and every member of this A+ School. Highlights from our visit include the
overwhelming show of collegiality which was evidenced at every level of the
certified and classified staff members. The Customer Service starts in the
office and is observable in every room on campus. The staff at Village Meadows are true champions for each and every child as well as for each other.

Principal Wambach walks her talk and honors everyone for their skills and allows
each member of the Village Meadows Family to contribute and students to lead. She values opinions and listens in order to communicate the best outcomes for the school community. Staff is empowered and strive to be their best utilizing the 'best practices' that are consistently taught in Professional Development and followed up by the principal. Each member is invested. Consistent expectations for academic and behavioral goals are evident across this school.

Staff value the importance of genuine and authentic relationships with ALL
students and families. Students are leaders in their education at VMES.

Students, staff, and community members all agree that Village Meadows Elementary School is a safe place with high expectations. It is a true family.
Over and over we heard that families are blessed to enroll their children in this school. It is a place that all staff members know every students name and story in this tight community. This makes it hard for student to fall through the cracks.

It is a pleasure for this team to recommend Village Meadows Elementary School for its first A+ School of Excellence Award. They have truly earned this recognition as a TEAM!"

Wrightson Ridge School is deserving of the Arizona Educational Foundation A+ School of Excellence for a wide variety of reasons. From the students, to the staff, to the families, to the community, Wrightson Ridge School is not just a family, but an inclusive family. A true community of support with all stakeholders teaming together to provide what is best for kids. The Wrightson Ridge leadership team has built an environment of trust and positivity that permeates throughout the campus. Our judges found the Wrightson Ridge application to be a document that glowed, and the site visit itself confirmed and affirmed the application. Well done, Wrightson Ridge School! Congratulations.

This school exemplifies excellence in education through its strong community partnerships and the unwavering dedication of its teachers. Collaborating with local organizations, businesses, and families, the school enriches student experiences and fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. Together, this united community creates a nurturing environment that goes above and beyond, earning the  A+ designation.

Vail Blended Learning is a unique school setting that offers a special learning environment for students and families. VBL has a welcoming atmosphere, it’s a true family feel where all students know each other . It is clear they have been intentional about building their school culture and creating unity among all stakeholders. VBL provides an option for students to have an unique learning experience, through blended and flipped learning. Monday through Thursday are the regular school days, with Friday being an optional day for extra help, enrichment, and unique sessions such as 3d printing, crafts, sign language, PE, sewing to name a few. Staff, students, and families are there to help one another succeed and reach new heights. During the family and community meeting, parents highlighted how VBL honors their child as a unique individual and creates individual plans to help them reach their potential, often beyond what their child once thought they could do. Parents shared their gratitude that everyone at VBL knows their child and no matter who they talk to at the school, they are all on the same page. Staff and families both highlighted Mrs. Murray’s openness to new ideas from staff and families, as well as how she seeks out new opportunities. Everyone is invested in the success of VBL; students, staff, families, and community members!

"Our team had the privilege of conducting the A+ site visit at Gilbert Elementary School on February 3rd & 4th. Mr. Justin Sremba , the Principal, and the front office staff warmly welcomed us to their school. In addition to the welcome from the office team, several amazing student leaders, who were upper elementary students, took the A+ team on a tour of the facility. It was clear that the students took pride in their school community and were excited to share the attributes of their school and what made it special. Though Gilbert Elementary, the Gilbert Schools Districts first school, was built in 1913, the campus had an historic charm that was both welcoming and picturesque having received several notable additions over the years. Overall, classroom strategies were strong with differentiated practices in place in many of the classrooms we visited, including a strong intervention pullout program and a WIN (What I Need) model in place during Math and ELA for reteach and reinforcement. The PBIS system is evident with common expectations throughout campus and reinforced with Tigerific Tickets based on the principles embedded in the acronym PAWS. 1. Positive attitude, Assertive, Wise Choices and Show Respect for Self and Others.

We were especially impressed with the emphasis Gilbert Elementary placed on the importance of attendance. Students had the opportunity, if they had perfect attendance the previous week, to select a book from the book vending machine, highlighting not only the importance of attendance but also literacy and becoming fluent readers.

The Magic Preschool, Advantage Preschool and Building Blocks classrooms provide support to early learners, including students with disabilities, highlighting the focus of the school on preparing their early learners for their Kindergarten and beyond experience.

Gilbert Elementary’ s commitment to the social and emotional health of their students was evident through their Second Step Program, facilitated by the School Social Worker and her partner Amigo, a therapy dog. When meeting with the certified staff, support staff and parents, there was a constant theme which included descriptive words such as supportive, loving, diversity, collaboration, inclusive, welcoming, family, accepting, teamwork and responsive. Many families have chosen to apply for open enrollment at Gilbert Elementary in order to experience the Dual Language Immersion Program.

Principal Sremba’s commitment to Gilbert Elementary is evidenced by the relationships he has built with the students, staff and community. He has clearly built a welcoming environment with a POSITIVE CULTURE where students, staff and parents feel like FAMILY.

The A+ Team is excited to recommend Gilbert Elementary School as an A+ School of Excellence."

"When entering Corona Foothills Middle School visitors immediately feel a positive presence among students, staff and parents. Visitors are greeted with a smile and a friendly “hello”. The school is beautiful and well-maintained. There is a sense of pride that is felt throughout the school campus.

The students are respectful and kind to adults and each other. Corona Foothills is a “Be Kind” School and this is evident throughout the campus. THINK Before You Speak and ACT (Are respectful and trustworthy, Care about each other, and Take responsibility) posters are displayed on every building and tight systems are observed including transitions, classroom expectations and school policies such as cell phones being off and in backpacks during the day. When students walk across campus to their classrooms or other areas of the school, they are calm and orderly. In the classroom, they are engaged and focused on learning.

Student leadership opportunities are abundant at Corona Foothills Middle School. WEB (Where everyone Belongs) is designed to help sixth graders make a positive transition to middle school. NJHS provides opportunities for community service, Buddy Club connects middle school students with elementary school students at the school right next door, and Breakaway is a student leadership group that brings students together to plan schoolwide events. Evidence of strong student leadership was evident during our school visit.

There is a sense of collaboration that is centered around student learning. Weekly data teams and staff meetings for all employee groups are held with the theme being “What are we doing well to support students and what do we need to consider changing”. The principal, Margaret Steuer, acknowledges that her staff works hard but said, “It is all bout the children and doing what we need to do for them.” This focus was evident throughout our school visit.

When meeting with the students, certified staff, classified staff, and parents and community there was a constant theme. Everyone works together to ensure student success. Words used to describe Corona Foothills Middle School were family, community, connected, collaborative, perfect, diverse, awesome and unique. One parent described it as a “gem”. During these meetings another theme that was consistent was meeting the needs of the individual students and teaching to the whole child. Heartfelt stories of children with learning challenges and how teachers worked together to help them overcome these challenges were shared. Two children who struggled at previous schools earned the distinction of math students of the year.
The Enrich/Reteach instructional model uses weekly data to determine who needs additional intervention and who needs to go deeper with the content. Their strong PBIS system ensures children are recognized and the 7 Mindsets curriculum addresses the social/emotional needs of the students.

Corona Foothills Middle School continues to be a high achieving school, consistently earning an A rating from the Arizona Department of Education. Their commitment to “Whatever it takes” to support students was evident during their data chats as individual student needs were discussed, during classroom instruction and was highlighted during all school panels we met with during our visit. The AzM2 data they submitted also supports this commitment as they continue to perform in the top 13% of schools. Based on everything our judging team observed that was supported by the application, our team highly recommends Corona Foothills Middle School for the A+ School of Excellence™ award."

Highland Lakes exemplifies what it means to be an A+ School through its unwavering commitment to creating a true community of learning where every student, staff member, and family feels at home. The school's programs and diverse offerings ensure that each student's unique talents and needs are recognized and developed, while their music program, numerous clubs, and strong academic curriculum provide rich opportunities for growth. What truly sets Highland Lakes apart is its culture of genuine care and support - from administrators who know every student by name to teachers who volunteer their time for after-school activities to a PTSA that raised $80,000 to support classrooms directly. The school's dedication to excellence is evident in how it serves all learners, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

"WhhhoooHooot" is the sound of the morning “train whistle” bell at Esmond Station K-8. Built over the tracks of 145-year-old train track, Esmond Station K-8 embraces the theme of the railway, and manifests it in every aspect. The motto "Bridge to the past; track to the future" demonstrates how the school links the vibrant past of the Vail Pioneer Spirit to the modern digital learning of the indoor and outdoor classroom. The judges were amazed that every classroom was in-step across the grade level, having prepared and planned together to make learning seamless and engaging. Lessons were top-notch, and the active teaching and learning never missed a beat. Classrooms were warm and inviting, and students engaged and on-task with their lessons. The original rehabilitated 1915 Marsh Station Forman House is centered in the heart of campus, a testimony to the past, and an active learning center for the present. The teacher meeting at the end of the first day provided additional insight. Teachers love working at the school, have great respect for their administration (who refuse to say, “No”, but instead, “How?”), and consider themselves a family. They sang the praises of each other for mutual support, and gave kudos to a committed principal who helps them maintain a growth mindset. One teacher even admitted she had difficulty her first year, but that Mrs. Kitzmiller saw her struggles, and set in place the necessary resources and supports to help her improve. The staff admit that they willingly give up free time to do what is best for kids. The parents and community members were even more enthusiastic. The parents admitted their kids were academically challenged, and yet special needs were immediately identified and then met. One parent said that the school has literally saved her child’s life. Diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, the school monitors him continually, and has taken measures needed whenever he is in danger. The support staff felt included and valued, and tears were shed as they held each other up to shine.