Official Web Site of the City of Phoenix

Business Leadership

Creighton Elementary School & The Arizona Republic & Communities in Schools of Arizona

The "1-2-3 Read" program is a partnership of The Arizona Republic, Creighton Elementary School, and Communities In Schools of Arizona. The primary goal is to help the school's 2004-2005 first graders increase their reading skills to a third grade level by the end of third grade in 2006-2007. The Arizona Republic had committed literacy grants (50,000 in first grade and 35,000 in each for second and third grade), classroom tutors, and in-kind donations. The Republic is also publishing a series of articles about the project in an effort to meet the broader goal of helping the public understand the importance of and challenges involved in teaching children to read.



Educator Leadership

Dr. Virginia McElyea, Superintendent & Deer Valley Unified School District Superintendent’s Ecumenical Council

Since assuming the superintendence of the Deer Valley Unified School District nearly four years ago, Dr. Virginia McElyea has created a way to unite all stakeholders across four cities, one county and undeveloped areas.

Under her leadership, nearly 100 houses of worship have been identified and a Superintendent’s Ecumenical Advisory Council has been created. They meet quarterly to collaborate on adopting DVUSD families at the holidays, work with neighborhood schools on crisis management plans, offer trained counseling services and collaborate on character education lessons. The Superintendent’s Business Advisory Council engages in conversations about career and technical education, AIMS, student attendance and strategic plan initiatives. Seventy local businesses are recognized at an annual Awards Luncheon. She meets on a monthly basis with the Parent Organization Presidents Council. DVUSD partnered with the city of Phoenix Head Start program to hold a district-wide job fair with American Express, Discover Card, John C. Lincoln Hospital, Starbucks, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Corrections.

Boulder Creek High School Leadership Council is a consortium of seven schools, Anthem area businesses and churches to be trained on Character Counts in an effort to implement and support the program simultaneously. The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council is made up of student representatives from K-8, middle schools and high schools to work together on a Service Learning Project. These students have planned a Teddy Bear Clinic at John C. Lincoln hospital and organized a “Just One” campaign asking 35,000 students, 500 businesses and 37 Parent Organizations to provide $1 or matching funds to buy pediatric equipment for Mendy’s Place.



Innovation

Cesar E Chavez Community School & Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Department

Cesar E. Chavez Community School is part of the Roosevelt School District. The school is located in South Phoenix, at 4001 South Third Street, which is part of the Enterprise Zone. Our population consists of 96.46 percent Hispanic, 0 percent African American, 2.76 percent Anglo, 0.76 perceont Native American and 0 percent Asian. Eighty-four percent of our families have incomes at or below the poverty level. There are 650 students in Headstart through eighth grade along with their families that benefit from this program. The Safe Schools “Focus on Excellence” Youth Program is in cooperation with Cesar E. Chavez Community School and partnerships with Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Department and its School Probation Officer Pamela Neal. The program is designed to promote academic success in school and future success in life by providing youth with a safe place to express their thoughts and opinions verbally, in writing and through various other artistic venues. (Teen Court, peer mediation, character counts, etc.) The Safe Schools “Focus on Excellence” Youth Program is an educational program that consists of law related education and character education that is activity oriented. Activities include field trip experiences and guest speakers. The focus is on improving students’ self esteem by providing them with a voice and choices in life, promoting cultural awareness, understanding and the value of diversity through respect for education, the law and law enforcement and service to the community. The goals of the Safe Schools “Focus on Excellence” Youth Program are to deter criminal activity among youth, improve life within the school, community and district and build character and citizenship in our culturally diverse youth who are the future leaders of this world.



Mentoring

Palomino II Elementary School & Camp Swift Foundation

The Camp Swift Foundation has taken mentoring to the next level, capitalizing on the bond between counselors and campers to promote reading, science, physical fitness, leadership and culture at Palomino. Each week the high-school age counselors, from Camp Swift’s Prescott-based summer camp, mentor Palomino students in these areas. They lead guided reading groups, soccer drills and science experiments on Wednesday afternoons. Camp Swift Foundation has also adopted Palomino’s S.A.L.S.A. leadership program; they teach leadership skills and community involvement to 50 Palomino students from grades three through six. Attracted by the opportunity to interact with beloved Swift counselors, Palomino students attend these programs religiously.