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Childers wins a national grocery award for Fry’s

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

Kristen Childers, store manager at Fry’s Food Stores in Glendale, has been recognized as one of 2021’s “Top Women in Grocery” by Progressive Grocer magazine, a national food retailer publication.

A Surprise resident, Childers is one of three Fry’s leaders locally to receive the national award recognizing women in grocery who display exceptional achievements in and out of the offi ce. She will be honored at the Progressive Grocer awards gala this November in Orlando.

For nearly two decades, Childers has served in multiple positions with Fry’s including courtesy clerk, cashier, assistant store manager and customer fi rst facilitator. In 2019, Childers was named store manager at Fry’s in Cave Creek where she managed a complete store remodel, oversaw the store’s health and safety efforts during the pandemic and led the store to number one in operations for the Fry’s division. In April 2021, Childers relocated to Glendale to manage the 67th Avenue and Happy Valley Road store.

“I am extremely honored to be named a one of the leading women in the grocery,” said Childers. “Eighteen years ago, I started my career with Fry’s, and I have never looked back. I have learned so many valuable things from the amazing people I work with, many of whom have become mentors to me and have helped shaped me into the leader I am today. I forever grateful for their guidance and proud to work for a company that acknowledges their associates and rewards great leadership.”

From strong communication skills to fostering a culture of inclusivity and teamwork, Childers uses her expertise to position Fry’s as a leader in her community. She works closely with her team to ensure stores are always properly stocked with the most relevant and desirable customer products. She is also committed to supporting Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste to end hunger in the communities they call home and eliminate waste across the enterprise. She works closely with her team to reduce food waste in her store by advocating for the company’s food recycling donation program and partnering with local food banks.

“Kristen is a valued and dedicated Fry’s associate and deserving of this national recognition,” said Monica Garnes, president of Fry’s Food Stores. “She is a true testament to the Fry’s culture, a dedicated leader who shows up for her team daily and inspires them to be innovative thinkers and leaders. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments.”

Kristen Childers, store manager at Fry’s in Glendale, was named one of the “Top Women in Grocery” (Submitted photo)

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GlendaleStar.com /GlendaleStar July 22, 2021

Happy new (school) year!

BY PEORIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Welcoming students back to school is an exciting time of year, but it is especially heartwarming as we look to begin the 2021-22 school year with the return of athletics, activities, fi eld trips and as much normalcy as possible.

Over the summer, Peoria Unifi ed announced its health and safety plan for the fall, including having masks optional for students, staff and visitors while still offering hand sanitizing stations and air purifi ers on every campus.

The district will continue to encourage proper handwashing and feels confi dent that there are safety procedures in place to continue to make our learning environments safe.

“On Aug. 4, Peoria Unifi ed students will either be in-person, full-time or participating in our new eCampus Virtual School,” said Peoria Unifi ed Superintendent, Dr. Jason Reynolds.

“Over the summer, our teams worked hard to prepare for the upcoming school year and are committed to ensuring that all students and families are valued, cared for, and have every available opportunity to achieve academic success.”

One of the main areas of focus for the upcoming school year is to make sure all families have ways to stay connected during the school year. Most importantly, each school will always be the No. 1 source of information for parents, and it is best to reach out to each school fi rst with any questions. Families can fi nd school contact information on the district’s website at peoriaunifi ed.org.

To stay up-to-date and in the know of all the things happening in Peoria Unifi ed, check out Peoria Unifi ed’s podcast, “Trending Peoria,” where the district breaks down the latest trends in education. Topics recently covered range from the importance of early childhood education to Peoria Unifi ed’s Strategic Plan and everything in between. The podcast features interviews with teachers, administration, support staff, students, and more. The community can listen to Trending Peoria on any major podcast streaming platforms or on the district’s website at peoriaunifi ed.org/trendingpeoria.

Another way to stay connected with Peoria Unifi ed during the school year is on social media. The district has a

SEE SCHOOL PAGE 3

Norma Jauregui strives to serve the community

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Glendale Star Executive Editor

Norma Jauregui believes in helping children and serving the community. She’s ready to do so as the Glendale Elementary School District’s new assistant superintendent for educational services.

“This profession serves the community,” Jauregui said. “I do it outside of work, too, whenever I can, with community events and fundraisers. A lot of that is embedded in the job. I guess that’s why I want to see children succeed.”

Jauregui, who started her job on July 1, is going into her eighth year with the district. Previous to this position, she was the curriculum and instruction director for three years. Jauregui also held the roles of principal coach and principal at Discovery for three years.

She spent most of her career in the Cartwright School District. She moved

SEE JAUREGUI PAGE 3

Student Chronicles

BY GLENDALE STAR STAFF

The University of Wyoming lists 11 students from Arizona on the 2021 spring semester academic dean’s and dean’s freshman honor rolls. The honor rolls consist of regularly enrolled undergraduates above freshman standing who earned a 3.4 or better gradepoint average, and freshmen who have earned a 3.25 or better grade-point average. To be eligible, students must have been enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours taken for letter grades. Among the 11 students is John Dickson of Glendale.

Meg Cecil of Glendale was among those who earned dean’s list recognition at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, for the spring 2021 semester. Traditional undergraduate students must earn a 3.5 grade point average or above on 12 or more hours of graded work to earn a spot on the dean’s list. Cecil is a senior majoring in international studies and sociology.

Hailee Carr-Walsh has earned placement on Gonzaga University’s dean’s list for the spring semester. Students must earn a 3.5 to 3.84 gradepoint average to be listed.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has recognized students named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester of the 2020-2021 academic year. Students who achieve at a high level

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Know of a student doing something remarkable? Tell us about it! Email christina@timespublications.com.

SEE STUDENTS PAGE 3

APS giving back to Title 1 teachers

BY TYLER WEGLEITNER Glendale Star Staff Writer

As part of its annual Supply My Class program, Arizona Public Service, or APS, is helping local teachers acquire supplies for their classrooms.

For fi ve weeks beginning in August, APS will give $500 Visa gift cards to 500 teachers, totaling $250,000.

“APS supports teachers, and we want to help ensure that they have the resources they need in the classroom,” said Anna Stewart, community affairs manager for APS.

Stewart said there are certain criteria the grant applicants much meet.

“The teachers must teach at a Title 1 school in APS’ service territory,” she said.

Stewart said they also need to be a K-12 teacher at a public or charter school and that a list of all the eligible schools can be found at https://supplymyclass.com/promotion-rules/

According to the company’s website, winners from previous years are still eligible to enter again this year.

Stewart said winners will be selected each week from Aug. 6 to Sept. 3.

“We will randomly select 100 teachers each week to win a $500 Visa gift card that they can use to purchase supplies for their classroom,” she said.

For the fi rst week, Stewart said they will select 100 teachers who have been teaching for no more than three years. The remaining four weeks will be open to all eligible teachers.

This is aimed at supporting newer teachers. That includes strengthening their commitment to their profession. The grant application process is open through Sept. 2, the day before the last drawing.

Teachers should only apply once, and any unselected teachers will remain in the applicant pool for the following weeks. Stewart said winning teachers can use their judgment with the funds.

“They know best what they need for their classrooms, so we want to give them that fl exibility,” she said. “It would vary from teacher to teacher and school to school. They know the greatest needs for their classrooms, so we leave it up to them to allocate the money as they see fi t.”

She said APS staff values education and it aligns to their company’s values and commitments.

“We’re a long-standing supporter of education in Arizona and we believe a strong education system is important in the state,” Stewart said. “As a company that’s headquartered in Arizona, we have responsibility not only to provide safe, reliable power, but to strengthen and empower the communities we serve, and we take that responsibility very seriously.”

The application process is quick, and she encourages any and all eligible teachers to apply.

“We want as many teachers as possible to apply and have the opportunity to get $500 that they can use to help their classrooms and help their students,” Stewart said.

Anyone interested in applying for the program can do so online at supplymyclass.com.

STUDENTS FROM PAGE 2 academically are recognized by the dean at the close of each semester. To be eligible for the dean’s list, students must complete a minimum of 12 graded degree credits in that semester. Each university school or college sets its own GPA requirements for students to be eligible to receive the distinction. Most call the honor “dean’s list,” but some grant the “dean’s honor list” and “dean’s high honor list.” Among the students on the dean’s list is Yining Zhang of Glendale. Zhang is studying education.

Danielle Cassady of Glendale was named to the spring 2021 dean’s list at the University of St. Mary of Leavenworth, Kansas. The following USM students ended the semester with a 3.5 GPA or better.

SCHOOL FROM PAGE 2 Facebook, Twitter and YouTube page where we share district highlights and events all year long. Additionally, each of our schools have their own Facebook page filled with hyperlocal content to keep you updated on all the happenings at each school. Peoria Unified encourages families to engage and interact on the posts or even share some of the amazing things their child is doing.

This fall, Peoria Unified looks forward to adding additional ways to connect with the community by hosting parent engagements opportunities and encouraging more parent feedback. Be on the lookout for information from a Peoria Unified school site on how families can get involved and get connected.

With so much happening at the start of the school year, the district hopes our parents will continue to stay updated by focusing on Peoria Unified’s weekly Parent Insider sent right to the parents’ email inbox. Families are encouraged to read it every week to stay on top of all the news in the district!

For more ways to connect with Peoria Unified, visit the district’s website at peoriaunified.org/connect and for any additional questions, email the district at pusdpr@pusd11.net or call 623-486-6100. Peoria Unified welcomes the opportunity to talk with community members and answer any questions.

JAUREGUI FROM PAGE 1 to GESD to follow Joe Kintana, whom she admires.

“I love Cindy as well,” she said about Superintendent Cindy Segotta-Jones. “She came on board to become our superintendent. Now she’s our wonderful superintendent.”

Jauregui has such trust in GESD that she enrolled her children there, even though the family lives in Laveen.

“I really believe in the work we’re doing on the academic and socioemotional segments,” she said. “Our district is centered around kids’ and students’ needs. We don’t talk and use this language a lot because I think it’s cliché, but we do believe in educating the whole child.

“We give them lots of experiences and we make sure academics are on par with other districts.”

Moving from Mexico

Jauregui relocated to the United States from Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco. Before moving to Arizona, she lived in Oregon, Chicago and Wisconsin. She graduated from Tempe High School and ASU.

Education was a logical choice for her.

“I tutored the neighbors’ kids,” she said. “I’m Catholic, so I started teaching catechism when I was 14. I’ve always enjoyed working with kids. I was an English Language Learner, and we have a lot of students in our district who were refugees from Mexico and other children, so I understand.”

She’s a strong believer in supporting special education teachers. Her oldest daughter is 22 years old and autistic. When she was diagnosed, Jauregui ensured she received the services she needed.

“She attended the schools I worked at,” Jauregui said. “I am an advocate for her and all of our kids.”

She has been dedicated to Title I schools for her entire career. The students can come in with gaps or needs, she said. The teachers work to close the gaps.

English Language Learners in Title I schools need extra care as well.

“I struggled with school as I learned English, which is why I am passionate about learning and education. Maybe they didn’t go to preschools,” she said. “They didn’t hear as much English at home. If they’re learning Spanish, they also need to learn English.

“I remember when I started high school, I struggled in school to learn how to read and write. I was blind. I didn’t have glasses because my parents couldn’t afford to get my glasses. I didn’t have glasses until the fourth grade. When I went to high school, I did a lot better.” Also, when she entered her freshman year, she was required to take algebra, but placed in basic math. She visited with the counselor and Jauregui told her she needed to have algebra. “When she told me I placed in basic math, I started crying,” she said. “I said I had to take algebra because I had to go to the university. I needed four solid years of higher-level math, starting with algebra. “She said I was going to fail.” Jauregui promised to work hard.

“She stands up and slapped her hand on the desk,” she recalled. “She said, ‘You can’t do it. You’re going to fail.’ I did not fail. I had two sisters who were very good in math. I think I was able to get a B. I was motivated on my own to do what I needed to do. I was successful.”

Norma Jaurgui, Glendale Elementary School District’s new assistant superintendent for educational services, had her own set of challenges growing up. (Photo by Ashleigh Carpenter)

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