Education

School Notes: News from Deer Valley Unified School District

DVUSD RECEIVES CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING

For more than 40 years, the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting has honored school districts for excellence and best practices. Heather Mock, DVUSD Director of Finance, and her team recently received the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting Award for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. This award, which was presented by the Association of School Business Officials International, represents a significant achievement and reflects their commitment to the highest standards of school system financial reporting.

SCHOOL BOUNDARY APPROVED FOR NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The DVUSD Governing Board approved school boundaries for the new Elementary #32, which is currently under construction at 5757 Inspiration Mountain Parkway near 57th Avenue and Happy Valley Road. The new boundary for Elementary #32 follows along the canal to the north, Pyramid Peak Parkway to the west, and Happy Valley Road to the south. Street-level maps are currently being developed and will be posted at dvusd.org/Elementary32 in the future. The new school opens August 2022 and will initially serve K-6 students, with the infrastructure in place for future expansion to a K-8 campus. The school’s temporary name is Elementary School #32. In addition to approving the school’s boundaries, the new principal has also been announced—Dr. JoAnn Schwarting, the 2021 DVUSD Principal of The Year, will take over the reins of Elementary #32.

DVUSD CELEBRATES PROJECT MOMENTUM GRANT

The Deer Valley Unified School District is honored to partner with Project Momentum through a grant from the Governor’s office. This partnership began in 2019 with three DVUSD schools: Barry Goldwater High School, Desert Mountain School, and Sandra Day O’Connor High School.

Since then, DVUSD has added its other three high schools, and four additional elementary schools to this grant. Under the leadership of Dan Parris, Project Momentum has provided a framework for these schools to engage in the work of the Collaborative Teaming Process. “Project Momentum is committed to improve outcomes for kids,” Parris says. “When I look at the results that you have achieved as a system... Deer Valley has done an amazing job and I am confident that you will carry that work into the future and serve as a role model for other systems in Arizona and around the country. I applaud Superintendent Finch’s work with Professional Learning Communities. This structure aligns very well with that.”

Over the last four years, $3 million has been provided to compensate DVUSD teachers for: planning during the summer, receiving additional training to align with the project model, providing time to work together as teams to collaborate and plan, and providing principal partners to mentor DVUSD principals in the next steps along the journey.

Outstanding Phoenix Youth Leader of the Year Program Now Accepting Applications

The City of Phoenix Youth and Education Office is now accepting applications for the 2022 Outstanding Phoenix Youth Leader of the Year awards.

The awards recognize and honor the outstanding achievements of young people, enhance the perception of youth, and raise community awareness of their positive contributions.

This awards program is open to any students currently enrolled in high school in Phoenix or lives within Phoenix city limits.

Here’s how it works:

• Two students will be selected as winners from each city council district and receive an award of $500. • In addition, each district-level winner will be eligible for an additional $1,500 award if they are selected as the citywide winners.

Students interested in applying will need to write an essay, submit a recommendation letter, and proof of legal residence in the United States. Finalists will be interviewed by members of the community. District award winners will be invited to a luncheon sponsored by Rotary 100 and Salt River Project (SRP) where the citywide award winners will be announced.

Eligible students can apply online at phoenix. gov/education/outstanding-youth-leader/awardapplication before 5 p.m. on Friday, February 25. For more information, contact the Youth and Education Office at mailbox.youth@phoenix.gov.