The Upper Westsider, January 2022

Education

School Notes: News from Peoria Unified School District Information and Images Courtesy of Peoria Unified PUSD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WIN EMMY AWARDS Lights, camera, action! This fall season, Liberty High School students brought home two Emmys in the Regional Student Production Awards and one staff Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS).

Sunrise Mountain High School brought home an astounding 11 Emmys from two film and TV students, Ryan Kraska and Kalini Aguon-Sewell. This is especially exciting as it is the first time Peoria Unified students have made it this far in the NATAS Awards, according to the district.

PEORIA UNIFIED LAUNCHES NEW PODCAST Peoria Unified just released the first episode of its new podcast, the Progress Report. In episodes of the Progress Report, the district breaks down current district-wide projects and programs in more detail than is provided its bi-weekly podcast, Trending Peoria.

Each episode focuses on major updates within Peoria

Unified, including the Strategic Plan, voter initiatives, and academic achievement.

Like Trending Peoria, the Progress Report features interviews from Peoria Unified employees. Depending on the subject matter, interviews may include teachers, administrators, support staff, students, community members, and industry experts. The district’s first episode provides a Strategic Plan update and includes feedback from the Parent Engagement Forum.

Episodes are available on all major podcast platforms via the Peoria Insider, the district’s award-winning employee and parent newsletter, and on all district social media platforms on a quarterly basis. To learn more and listen, visit peoriaunified.org/ TrendingPeoria.

DVUSD Approves School Boundaries for New Elementary School; Announces New Principal

T

he 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

K-6 Elementary #32 Boundaries Final (2022-23 and beyond) K-6 Elementary #32 Boundaries Final (2022-23 and beyond)

maps are currently being developed and will be posted at dvusd.org/Elementary32 in the near future.

The new school opens this August 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. Dr. Schwarting has served the Deer Valley Unified School District since 2005. She taught seventh grade English language arts at Desert Mountain School for seven years. She then transferred to Desert Sky Middle School where she assumed the roles of instructional coach and assistant principal. Most recently, Dr. Schwarting spent the last six years leading Desert Mountain School as principal. Though it is bittersweet leaving her current school, Schwarting is up for the challenge and eager for the opportunity.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be given the honor of serving this beautiful community,” she says. “My goal is to nurture a school environment that is caring and connected. I

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believe partnerships are necessary when educating our students, so I’m looking forward to developing strong family and community ties.”

After serving four years in the United States Navy, Dr. Schwarting earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision from Northern Arizona University, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University. When she is not actively involved in supporting the Deer Valley community, Dr. Schwarting enjoys spending time with her husband, her four sons, three daughters, and five grand dogs. myhyperlocalnews.com