District News

During this week of thankfulness, we’d like to highlight the students and staff at Cimarron Springs that thanked and honored their principal, Mrs. Richards with special drawings of her dogs to celebrate her last month.

Students in Ms. Downey’s art class created special drawings of her precious Greyhound pups named Mystic, Miko and Luka.

Ms. Downey and Assistant Principal Deilani Ferguson worked together earlier in the year to create the surprise and asked for photos of Mrs. Richard’s dogs because they know how much they mean to her and how they hold a special place in her heart.

Principal Richards adopted all three dogs from Arizona Adopt a Greyhound who partners with Racing2ReHome from Australia to rehome Greyhounds after they are released from the race track. Mystic raced 82 races in Florida, Miko was trained for the track but never raced and later lost a leg and Luka competed in 36 races in Victoria, Australia.

During art class, the students were given photos of each pet as a reference and completed over 30 drawings of the three dogs. The students used famous greyhound artist Richard Skipworth as inspiration when capturing the likeness of Mystic, Miko and Luka.

Mrs. Ferguson and Ms. Downey brought Mrs. Richards into the art classroom and presented her with a wall filled with artwork of her beloved pets.

“I cried! I was so surprised and so moved by the gesture and seeing all the drawings completely overwhelmed me,” said Richards. “They both (Ferguson and Downey) know that my dogs mean so much to me!  My entire phone camera roll is of my dogs.”

“Our students recently poured their hearts and efforts into a special project for our principal, Mrs. Richards,” shared Ms. Ferguson. “This wasn’t just a chance to showcase their talents but also a meaningful way to strengthen the bond with a leader who inspires us daily. Through teamwork and dedication, the students not only created something memorable for Mrs. Richards but also fostered a sense of collaboration and pride across campus.”

“Little did I know that these pictures would end up in the hands of talented students to create such an amazing gift,” shared Richards.

Dysart High School, Valley Vista High School, and Willow Canyon High School students and staff earned Statesman awards at the SkillsUSA Camp Champion held in Williams, Arizona in November 2024.

Statesman awards honor students that demonstrate leadership abilities, personal skills, and SkillsUSA knowledge.  

Dysart High School had a total of eight students who received the AZ Statesman awards including: Abdullah Abdulsalam, Mikaela Acosta, Grace Brennan, Aiden Gouer, Zion Green, Jesus Ibarra Silva, Ian Morton, and Kenneth Stephenson. 

Additionally, Ryan Dimal, the Dysart High School SkillsUSA advisor, received the SkillsUSA Arizona Advanced Statesman award for going above the Statesman Award, and showing a mastery of understanding of SkillsUSA and Career and Technical Education.

Valley Vista High School had two students honored during the camp including Katlyn Gill who earned an AZ Statesman Award and Kaylee Clark who earned an Advanced Statesman award.

Willow Canyon High School had four students receive awards including Lily Robert who earned her AZ Statesman award and Sami Edgar, Mason Albin, Scott Russomano who earned Advanced Statesman awards. Sami, Mason, and Scott previously earned National Statesman awards at the Washington Leadership Training Institute last year.

The awards were presented at the SkillsUSA Camp Champion held November 6-8 at Lost Canyon in Williams, AZ.  The camp allowed for collaboration between SkillsUSA groups across the state, provided leadership activities and a chance to grow in knowledge of SkillsUSA. 

Kenneth Stephenson, Jacky Ruiz, Angelie Huynh, Sariah Mendoza, and Maritza Garcia from Dysart High School dedicated their entire visit to Camp Champion as volunteers in the kitchen, cooking meals and serving food to all 500 guests attending the camp. Kenneth was also recognized on stage for his strong leadership and hard work in the kitchen.

SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Education partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development by building and reinforcing self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills.

Three students were recognized at Canyon Ridge’s Veterans Day Commemoration on November 8, 2024 for their outstanding work on various patriotic themed projects.  

President of the Arizona Society of Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Rick Spargo presented awards to Canyon Ridge’s two national contest winners, eighth grader Payton Boyles and sixth grader Kiana Fernandez Del Valle.  Boyles won second place in the Sgt Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest, which is the highest honor ever received by an Arizona student in the national contest.  Fernandez Del Valle took home fourth place in the SAR Elementary School Poster Contest.

Seventh grader Kai Snider won the Sun City Elks Lodge Essay Contest with her essay, What Veterans Day Means to Me.  Barry Curseaden of The Armed Forces Support Group at The Grand presented Kai with a plaque in recognition of her accomplishment.

The Canyon Ridge School Veterans Day event featured performances by the Cougar Band and Cougar Choir, guest speakers from Veterans of Foreign Wars, an American Flag presentation by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and speeches by social studies teachers.  The celebration culminated in a veterans reception and breakfast hosted by Canyon Ridge, the PTA, and Dysart Unified District Food Services. 

Three Dysart High School seniors were recently named QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship finalists.  Camila Ayala, Camila Bassoco, and Angelie Huynh went up against over 25,500 applicants nationwide for the honor.  Ayala, Bassoco, and Huynh were selected for exhibiting outstanding academic achievement, including strong writing skills, intellectual curiosity, resilience, integrity, and motivation to succeed.

Founded in 1994, QuestBridge seeks to connect high-achieving students with top colleges and universities from around the country.  QuestBridge has over 50 college partners nationwide committed to providing high quality education at no cost to National College Match recipients. 

The scholarships cover tuition, room and board, books, and even transportation to and from their college campuses.  In addition to the financial benefits of the College Match program, all three students will have access to the QuestBridge Scholars Network for support during their collegiate years, and postgraduate support and networking opportunities through the Alumni Association.

Ayala is active both in her school and in her community via Key Club. This college-bound student also helps her peers navigate the college readiness pathway as part of her role in Dysart High School’s 'Be A Leader Club'.  Also a member of the school’s choir, Ayala loves showing off her creativity through music. Her top choice for college is the University of Pennsylvania where she hopes to study Criminology with the ultimate goal of a career with the FBI.

Bassoco is a three year member of Dysart High School’s Advancement Via Individual Determination Program (AVID), a Key Club consultant, Student Council Senior Class Secretary, and a member of the National Honor Society.  She is also involved with the Surprise Youth Council and is enrolled at West-MEC.  Bassoco has her sights set on owning a business in the future and is still deciding on her top QuestBridge partner school. 

Huynh is also a member of Key Club and the Surprise Youth Council, in addition to being involved in the Theatre Program.  Huynh is a four year AVID student, and credits the class for her success in the QuestBridge Scholarship Program, saying, “[AVID] has pushed me to take charge of my future and take advantage of opportunities such as QuestBridge. I wouldn't have been encouraged to participate in QuestBridge if my AVID teacher, Alesha Wisbey, had not motivated me to apply.” Huynh’s number one match choice is University of Southern California where she’ll seek a major in Business Administration. 

All three students have already been earning college credit through the Dual Enrollment program as well as being members of the Estrella Mountain ACE Program.  They expect to graduate high school with a year’s worth of college credits.  

QuestBridge will announce their early decision college matches on December 2, 2024.  If Ayala, Bassoco, and Huynh are not matched during the early decision rounds, they will move on to the QuestBridge Regular Decision Round, where participants apply to additional QuestBridge partner schools and have all their application fees waived.  Students matched in this process receive a generous financial aid package and access to the QuestBridge Scholars Network and the Alumni Association.

Congratulations to Valley Vista High School student, Malaiya Russell who received a National Merit Award for her Patriot’s Pen Essay, How Does America Inspire Me? She was recognized by Senior Vice Commander Gregory Akers and Quarter Master Todd Edgar of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post 285.

Conducted nationwide, the Patriot’s Pen essay competition gives students in 6th through 8th grades the opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. This past year's prompt was, "How Are You Inspired by America?".  More than 138,000 students participate nationwide in the annual Patriot’s Pen Contest that encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society.

Malaiya represented the VFW Post 12098, and was awarded the $500 Department of Pennsylvania 2015-16 “LDRSHIP” Award. 

Prior to this award, she was previously recognized as the first place winner for VFW Post 12098, District 3 and at the state level for her essay in the 2023-2024 school year.  

Below is an excerpt from her winning essay.

Our country is built off courage, perseverance, and unbeatable determination to be whoever you want. When you’re able to be free in your jobs, education, and your everyday life that’s where inspiration comes. America has been an enthusiastic lantern of opportunity and hope for newcomers globally. The importance of America can’t be overlooked– inspiring not only U.S citizens, but also foreigners. 

The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation and is currently accepting applications for the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen contests for this year through October 31, 2024.  Learn more at https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships.

Recently, nearly 300 Valley Vista High School students took part in Financial Fitness in Action, an educational exercise where students participate in a fun, post-high school simulation of saving, spending, and budgeting based on career choices and lifestyle decisions.  The program was open to students enrolled in Valley Vista’s AP Microeconomics and Economics classes. The Arizona Council on Economic Education (ACEE) provided the educational materials and partnered with school staff and twenty community volunteers, including banking professionals,  to put on the event.

Available for grades 7-12, the purpose of the program is to teach financial literacy early in life.  Students are given the opportunity to see how their decisions will impact them financially, such as renting an apartment alone or with a roommate, purchasing or leasing a vehicle, and paying for cable and telephones.

At the start of the two-hour event, Valley Vista students were provided a worksheet with their assigned career, salary, credit score, and family data.  With that information in hand, they visited a series of decision-making booths staffed by teachers, community volunteers, and banking industry leaders.  At each booth, they discussed how to best utilize their budget for things such as housing, auto insurance, investing, groceries, entertainment, healthcare, and more.  Students then filled out that portion of their budgeting worksheet, in effect making a financial decision for that category.

In the spirit of keeping the simulation realistic, students were randomly surprised with financial speedbumps like traffic tickets, car repairs, and other unplanned expenses.  Those who had saved for such events were able to absorb the cost, while those with less of a financial cushion found themselves back at the decision-making booths looking for ways to budget more effectively. 

Once the students had made their final spending decisions, they met one-on-one with financial advisors who reviewed their worksheets to ensure solvency or to help students learn how to better live within their means.

Financial Fitness in Action is one of the qualifying events to earn the Arizona Seal of Personal Finance for grades 9-12.  Dysart Schools proudly leads the way with the most Seals in the state, touting 642 districtwide last year.  Valley Vista High School accounts for 190 Seals. 

ACEE prepares teachers to educate students on personal finance, economics, and entrepreneurship.  They distribute proven economic resources to schools free of charge.  It is their goal to empower teachers, community volunteers, and parents in order to support students to become productive and responsible participants in a global economy. 

Mountain View School Principal Debby Cruz was named the Grand Canyon University (GCU) Principal of the Month for October.  

The GCU Principal of the Month awards are given to outstanding school leaders who demonstrate creativity and vision while implementing or supporting areas of focus including STEM-related pathways and programs, character education and innovations designed to increase student success.  Below is an excerpt from the nomination letter submitted by Mountain View School staff.

Principal Cruz was honored for her dedication to inspiring children to learn, grow and succeed and for going above and beyond to promote STEM learning at Mountain View.  Principal Cruz has supported Mountain View School to continuously improve in STEM to include STEM professional development opportunities, improving the STEAM Night with the support of PTA and staff, and she also connected the school with the NAU STEM Focused School of the Future Grant. 

Throughout the past two years, Principal Cruz has created a positive environment, where teachers and staff at Mountain View have felt supported and appreciated. Principal Cruz has brought many fun aspects of celebration to the school culture including Monthly Student Award Assemblies, Staff Perfect Attendance Awards, and Staff Golden Paw Awards, where she seeks out community nominations of wonderful staff and how they have positively impacted their children. She even made a "Golden Treat Cart" that she stocks up with snacks for the class that has the best overall attendance for the month. Principal Cruz has made gains with STEM education throughout all classes, the school label improved from a B to an A this past year under her leadership, highlighting the hard work of her and all staff members.

Debby was recognized at a recent district principal meeting in front of her peers by GCU and received a gift basket, plaque and gift card celebrating her efforts.

Ten teachers from across the district were the lucky recipients of the 2024 APS Supply My Class grant. The Arizona based utility company started the program seven years ago to help local educators teaching in Title I, K-12 schools get the supplies they need to support their students’ success.  

Applications for the program were open over the summer. Qualified applicants were entered into a random drawing that was held before the start of the school year. This year, 500 teachers from the APS service area were each awarded a $500 virtual gift card with which to stock up their classrooms.

The names of the ten winners from the Dysart Unified School District were kept under wraps until APS representatives paid a surprise visit to their classrooms to present the award with the help of the schools’ administration.

Second grade teacher Tori Dymond from Kingswood Elementary School was both shocked and humbled by the award. “It means the world to me that such major companies are able to give back to their communities and help out in the classroom.” 

Kindergarten Interventionist Andrina Jimenez from Thompson Ranch Elementary School also expressed her gratitude. “I feel very lucky to have been selected for the APS Supply My Class grant. It helps me remember that what I do on a daily basis means something to others in the community.” 

All the teachers are excited to put their gift cards to good use. Their shopping lists include everything from basic school supplies and manipulatives, to flexible seating and student incentives. One thing they all have in common, however, is they all plan to use every last penny to purchase supplies that will directly benefit their students.

This year’s winners encourage their fellow educators to apply for the grant next summer.  With no essay requirement, all it takes is a five minute application that could win them $500.

2024 APS Supply My Class Winners

Allyssa Jebrail - Ashton Ranch Middle School  

Jennifer Dawn - Ashton Ranch Middle School  

Lindsey Serene - Freedom Traditional Academy 

Karin Salsberry - Dysart Middle School  

Keegan Cook - Dysart High School 

Tori Dymond - Kingswood Elementary School  

Alex Carrion - Surprise Elementary School 

Natasha Ludwig - Surprise Elementary 

Xe Yang - Thompson Ranch Elementary School 

Andrina Jimenez - Thompson Ranch Elementary School

Eleven educators completed a fellowship with the Arizona STEM Acceleration Project (ASAP) in partnership with Arizona State University. 

ASAP is an initiative that provides direct support, resources, and funding to Arizona’s K-12 educators as they deliver high-quality, hands-on STEM education to our state’s future leaders.  Fellows are given a host of high-quality professional development opportunities and a stipend for their participation in creating lesson plans, hosting STEM projects, and enriching STEM for their students.

Recipients include Janet Anderson from Valley Vista High School, Kathy Berger from Riverview School, Huda Clemens from Western Peaks Elementary School, Megan Collins from Luke Elementary School, Liana Gillespie from Canyon Ridge School, Ellen Hunt from Countryside Elementary School, Kristina Jallo from Surprise Elementary School, Lacey Merritt from Canyon Ridge School, Lisa Moberg from Sunset Hills Elementary School, Cassie Strahota from Mountain View School, and Alexis Wilson from Thompson Ranch Elementary School.

The requirements for the fellowship include 30 hours of STEM professional development, submission of four lesson plans to the STEM Lesson Plan Repository, a STEM project with students, and end of year report. 

Seven of the awardees celebrated the accomplishment at the ASAP STEM Exchange Conference this summer, which was hosted at ASU SkySong.  The conference featured breakout sessions, access to free STEM supplies for each teacher, and allowed for connections between teachers across the state.

The fellowship opens up a network of opportunities for staff and allows teachers to share successful lesson plans and projects state-wide. ASAP Fellows receive a $2,000 stipend to purchase STEM supplies for projects, a $4,500 stipend, and access to a broad range of STEM professional development opportunities throughout Arizona.

Dysart teachers represent the largest number of ASAP fellows in the entire state of Arizona.  Teacher lesson plans and projects are viewable by searching each fellow’s name in the STEM Lesson Plan Repository.  Subjects include Stoichiometry, Coding, Snowflake Geometry, 3D Shoe Design, Wind Powered Cars, Treehouse Design, Cell Membrane Study, Soil Exploration, Science of Sound, Exploring Weather Patterns with Code, and more.

“This program has allowed my campus to receive supplies and other materials and resources related to science and STEM,” said Megan Collins. “Being an ASAP fellow has challenged me and allowed me to incorporate STEAM lessons into each grade level art class including a new elective called Art and Technology.” 

Founded in 2022, ASAP is a grassroots effort to enhance and accelerate STEM activities in schools across Arizona. It provides vital funding and guidance to schools and professional development organizations, increasing their ability to foster engagement, update curricula, and acquire materials needed to improve STEM education for Arizona’s youth and young adults.  ASAP has supported, funded, and provided guidance to over 700 teacher fellows looking to accelerate STEM activities, enrich lessons, and provide materials for students.

Recent Valley Vista High School graduate Ava Stevenson placed first in the state of Arizona in the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Foundation’s Spring 2024 National InvestWrite Competition.  During her senior year Ava took part in The Stock Market Game, a SIFMA Foundation financial education program where students invest a hypothetical $100,000 in an online portfolio of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and cash.  During the competition, she and her team developed a diversified investment portfolio aimed at securing long term financial success

After successfully completing The Stock Market Game program, Ava decided to take the next step offered by SIFMA and entered the InvestWrite Competition, which is a written challenge that addresses real-world financial issues and situations.  In their essays, students had to analyze, think critically and problem solve about a long-term saving and investing scenario.  Essays were judged by financial professionals who evaluated the students’ understanding of long-term investing, diversification, the global capital markets, and factors that drive investments as well as their expression of investment ideas in essay form.

Ava’s essay rocketed her to first place, captivating the panel of expert judges with her astute insights into the dynamics of capital markets. In recognition of her accomplishment, Ava and her teacher, Mitchell Pinda, were honored by the SIFMA Foundation during a special ceremony held at Valley Vista.

Ava is currently pursuing a career as a Pharmacy Technician.  As she explains in her award winning essay, she will be using her economic and investment knowledge to create a long-term financial plan to help fund her education.

Winning Essay

Throughout the Stock Market Game, my team and I have invested in dozens of different company stocks, having to analyze fluctuating stock market trends and take the right action to earn the most profit. The most profitable stock that we have invested in thus far is DECK, which is the ticker for the corporation Deckers Brands. In just a few months, this stock has gained us a profit of over $10,500, which can likely be attributed to its improving cash flow, surging profit, and increasing earnings estimate revisions. Since Deckers is an apparel company, and the fashion industry is rapidly growing, this explains why DECK is so successful as of late. Additionally, online shopping has made these products far more accessible and convenient, which leads to an increase in sales. The company also has ownership of other popular brands such as Teva, Hoka One, and UGG. This means that these brands being successful will contribute to DECK’s overall sales and its general growth. Since these brands are continually adapting to new consumer preferences, they can reliably keep sales steady. As the company keeps growing, more investors are inclined to financially support the corporation. Since the company has shown overwhelming success, my group decided that it would be among one of the safest to invest in.

My goal for 2030 is to be able to pay off my student loans for my pharmacy technician schooling. Transportation costs, tuition, books, scrubs, and other equipment that I need for the class will likely cost around $40,000 for one year of schooling. With careful planning, my diversified $25,000 portfolio of stocks, bonds, and/or mutual funds would have about 60% of the overall investments be put into stocks. The stock portion would include about 25% of Deckers, 20% for technological companies like Adobe, and 15% for medical companies like Lilly (Eli) and Co. Adobe has earned around $5,000 in profit during the Stock Market Game, while Lilly (Eli) and Co. has earned us about $8,000 before we sold it for dividends. I would be sure to invest at least 10 shares for each company but invest about 30 shares for DECK because it’s such a profitable company. These are good sectors to invest in because of the growing necessity for these products. Technology is constantly improving to make life easier, and medicine is constantly evolving to make life more comfortable and increase life expectancies. As these advancements are made, the public will contribute more money towards their company to fund and inspire continual improvements in these areas. Therefore, these stocks will continue to find success as the companies prove that they can meet the demands of society. This portfolio is designed to capitalize on DECK Corporation’s powerful performance while also providing a variety of sectors to manage the chances of risk. All of these stocks are recommended to be invested in by websites such as bar charts, meaning that they are highly likely to earn me profit over time. 

Additionally, 30% of my money would be used for bonds, 15% for BND and another 15% for TIP. BND is formally called the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF, which allows me to invest at a generally low cost while also having a secure way to expand my portfolio. TIP is the iShares TIPS Bond ETF, which is linked to inflation trends. This means that my investment will be better protected against the effects of inflation, making it an overall safer place to put my money into. This is done by having the interest payments increase alongside inflation increases, meaning that investors will have more profits and less drastic losses in time of high inflation. Using bonds can also be beneficial because they typically provide more liquidity for investors, making the selling and buying of bonds quicker in comparison to stocks. Finally, the last 10% of creating my portfolio would be used for a mutual fund, likely through the Fidelity Contrafund (FCNTX). I would choose this option because it is more closely monitored and managed, and also provides opportunities for investing in more diversified stocks. This management makes it far easier and stress-free, since there are skilled portfolio managers to oversee the investment, and mutual funds are most successful when done with knowledgeable managers. By constructing a diversified portfolio such as this one, I will be positioning myself for financial success and achieve my goal of being able to afford my pharmacy technician education.    

About the SIFMA Foundation

The SIFMA Foundation is committed to closing the opportunity gap by fostering greater knowledge of the financial markets for young people of all backgrounds. Drawing on the support and expertise of educators and the financial industry, the Foundation provides financial education to strengthen economic opportunity across communities and increase awareness of the benefits of the global marketplace. 

About InvestWrite

InvestWrite is a culminating activity for Stock Market Game students extending their classroom learning with a written challenge to address real-world financial issues and situations. Students must analyze, think critically and problem solve about a long-term saving and investing scenario. Essays are judged by financial professionals who volunteer their time each year to ensure young people are exposed to the essentials of personal finance early in life. Judges evaluate students’ understanding of long-term investing, diversification, the global capital markets, and factors that drive investments as well as their expression of investment ideas in essay form. 

About the Arizona Council on Economic Education

The Arizona Council on Economic Education (ACEE) is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to improving economic and personal financial literacy in Arizona.  ACEE is the author of Arizona K-12 Economic Education Academic Standards and the only organization in Arizona which: provides teacher professional development in teaching personal finance and economics; has a strong, affiliated academic base with universities and community colleges; and distributes proven independent economic education curriculum resources to schools free of charge.

Willow Canyon High School SkillsUSA Chapter has been named a SkillsUSA Model of Excellence for 2024 in the Technical Skills Category.  The annual program recognizes the exceptional integration of Personal, Workplace and Technical Skills into chapter activities. Being selected as a Model of Excellence is the highest honor bestowed on chapters by SkillsUSA.  Members of the WCHS Chapter were presented with the award at the 2024 National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, GA.

“Our SkillsUSA top 24 Models of Excellence schools represent the best in chapter achievement and community involvement,” said Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA. “These students are America’s future skilled workforce and future leaders in their local communities. It is a tremendous honor for these schools and their recognition validates these outstanding SkillsUSA programs.”

This is the fourth time in the WCHS Chapter’s ten year history that they have received the honor.

Amy Morrison, Willow Canyon Graphic Design Teacher and SkillsUSA advisor, also took a top honor.  Morrison was presented with the Hall of Champions Award during the Opening Session of the Conference. The Hall of Champions Award is bestowed upon those who dedicate their lives to helping students develop the components of the SkillsUSA Framework. 

 “Amy has been successfully involved with SkillsUSA for many years and she has made huge contributions to career and technical education in Arizona,” said Chelle Travis.  “She is the first to say her involvement in SkillsUSA is both life changing and rewarding.”

SkillsUSA’s mission empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. That mission is accomplished through the SkillsUSA Framework of Personal Skills, Workplace Skills and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics, which is integrated into classroom curriculum.

We are thrilled to announce that Mr. Bennett, Engineering Teacher from Shadow Ridge High School, will be competing in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris this year in archery!  We'd like to encourage the entire Dysart Schools community to write letters to Mr. Bennett wishing him good luck in the competition. USA Archery will be collecting letters through July 8 to boost morale for the athletes as they compete on the world stage. Items can be mailed to USA Archery using the information below and they will hand them out to the athletes in Paris.  Join us in cheering on Mr. Bennett as he represents Team USA in his 5th Paralympics.

USA Archery

Attn: Eric Bennett

210 USA Cycling Point, Ste. 130

Colorado Springs, CO 80919 

Check out Mr. Bennett's road to the Paralympics in this Community Connect article from 2021.

Dysart Unified School District’s Growing Minds Preschool is adding a fourth satellite campus to serve children ages 3-5 this school year. The new site will be at Countryside Elementary School, located at 15034 North Parkview Place in Surprise, Arizona 85379. Enrollment applications are now available by selecting the Enroll Now button at Dysart.org/EnrollatGMP. 

Classes at Countryside Elementary will follow the district Preschool Calendar, and begin on Monday, August 5, 2024. It is a full day program, with the hours of operation being Monday through Friday, 7:30am through 4:30pm. The full-day rate for 5-days a week is $442. A 15% sibling discount is available for those with multiple children in the program.

Financial Assistance may be available to income qualified families through the Department of Economic Securities (DES) Child Care Services, or through a Quality First/First Things First scholarship. Quality First Scholarship applications are available here. Growing Minds also offers a Family Referral Program that provides a tuition credit to the currently enrolled family and newly enrolled family after 90 days of enrollment. 

Growing Minds Preschool has a Quality Plus, or 4-Star Rating, from Quality First program through First Things First, and serves children with the core value of cultivating learning by supporting the “Learn through Play” mantra. Through the application of Creative Curriculum, all children are provided with developmentally appropriate academics in reading, writing, academic vocabulary, oral language development, math, science and social studies. All Growing Minds Preschool skills are aligned with the Arizona Early Childhood Education standards.  

The Growing Minds Preschool main campus serves children ages 2-5, and is located at 17999 W. Surprise Farms Loop S., Surprise, AZ 85388. Satellite locations serve children ages 3-5, and are available at Countryside Elementary School (15034 N. Parkview Pl., Surprise 85379. Freedom Traditional Academy (16066 N. Parkview Pl., Surprise 85374), Marley Park Elementary School (15042 W. Sweetwater Ave., Surprise, AZ 85379), and Mountain View School (18302 W. Burton Ave., Waddell, AZ 85355). 

The Willow Canyon High School Best Buddies Club was selected as the 2023-2024 Top Overall School Chapter. 

The Best Buddies program is a national organization that builds one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering social interactions while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion. Through their participation, students form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that many other individuals enjoy.

The Best Buddies Club began back in 2015 with support from sponsor Christine Cook who teaches Special Education at Willow Canyon High School.   The chapter at Willow Canyon has 30 members and was chosen as the top chapter for their participation at state-wide events, leadership involvement at chapter training days, fundraising efforts and for going above and beyond to support students at Willow Canyon.

Chapter highlights from the past year include a Holiday ornament fundraiser, Homecoming, Prom, Best Buddies Friendship Ball and the Best Buddies Walk at Kiwanis Park where the club raised $2,000 to support the efforts.  Additionally, Kaydence Kautman who serves as the Best Buddies Secretary, attended the Best Buddies Leadership conference at Indiana University where she was able to learn beneficial leadership skills and built a club toolkit to implement at Willow Canyon in order to support a successful chapter.

“The club successfully held the required monthly activities on their campus and really showed that they put in a great effort to ensure that all the one-to-one friendships that were established were always supported,” shared Nicole Paxton, Best Buddies Director of Programs.  “It is clear to us that the presence of the Willow Canyon Best Buddies club is well supported on their campus.”

Due to their dedication in Arizona, the group was nominated for the Best Buddies International Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award.  The recipient will be selected and honored at the annual conference held in Indiana in July. 

Dysart Schools had three students receive honors in Arizona's Ninth Congressional District Art Competition, sponsored by Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09).  This annual competition started in 1982 and was designed to celebrate and encourage student artists from across the nation.  Every year, students submit entries to their local representative’s office, and the winners are selected by a panel of congressional district artists.

Abigail Acosta, a junior from Valley Vista High School, won 2nd place for her piece, Realism Animal Eye Portrait, done in Prismacolor pencils.  Her work will be on exhibit in Congressman Gosar’s Washington, D.C. office for a full year.  Additionally, Abigail was awarded a total of $4,500 in scholarships from Mohave Community College and Arizona Western College for her artistic accomplishments.

Parker Fisher, a Valley Vista High School senior, won 3rd place for his drawing, Sedona Skyline, also created using Prismacolor pencils.  His artwork will be displayed in the Congressman's district office in Goodyear, AZ for a full year.  Parker was awarded a total of $2,500 in scholarships from Mohave Community College and Arizona Western College.

Honorable mention went to Rosela Limas, a junior from Dysart High School.  Her piece, In a Box, was created using gouache paints.  Congressman Gosar presented Rosela with an Honorable Mention Certificate and a commemorative coin.        

The winning artwork was unveiled during an award ceremony at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg, Arizona.  Submissions included various mediums such as paintings, drawings, collages, prints, mixed media, computer generated art, and photographs.

Requests for early entrance into Dysart’s kindergarten program for the 2024-2025 school year will be accepted from May 9 through June 1, 2024. Eligible children must turn five prior to December 31 to qualify. Interested parents may register their child for the Early Entrance Into Kindergarten Screener at Dysart.org/EarlyKinder. 

Typically, children must turn five prior to August 31 in the school year for which they are applying to begin kindergarten. However, the Dysart Schools Governing Board approved a readiness screener as an option for those families that want to have their child(ren) screened for possible early kindergarten entry.  The screening, which may last up to 40 minutes, will be administered by a Dysart kindergarten teacher, and parents will be notified of the results within 7-10 business days after completion. During the screening, the child will work one-on-one with a certified teacher to take a variety of short assessments.   

The Early Entrance Into Kindergarten Screener will be offered on June 11, June 18 and July 8, and screening will take place between 8am and 3pm. There is a $60 nonrefundable fee for the screener. Screenings will take place at the Dysart district office, located at 15802 North Parkview Place, in Surprise. Details on the program are available at Dysart.org/EarlyKinder, or by calling the Academic Services Department at 623-876-7173.

The Dysart Unified School District held their annual All District Boys Volleyball, Baseball, and Softball Team Award presentations to recognize and celebrate the student athletes who displayed excellence in the Spring 2023-24 season. Athletes were selected by district coaches from Valley Vista, Shadow Ridge, Dysart, and Willow Canyon high schools.

All District Boys Volleyball

Honorable Mention

Gideon Barnes (Shadow Ridge)

Franklin Faulkner (Shadow Ridge)

Nehemiah Daguison (Valley Vista) 

Austin Henderson (Dysart HS) 

Marcos Villasana (Valley Vista)

Jackson Blair (Willow Canyon)

Ben Perkins (Willow Canyon)

Brady Stainbrook (Willow Canyon)

Player of the Year

Ryan Louis (Shadow Ridge)

All District Baseball

Honorable Mention

Ashton Trumble (Shadow Ridge)

Jackson Williams (Willow Canyon)

Owen Davidson (Willow Canyon)

Cooper Frisbie (Willow Canyon)

Kaile Hamlin (WIllow Canyon)

Juan Anaya Jr. (Dysart HS)

Ian Anderson (Dysart HS)

Eduardo Carranza (Dysart HS)

Ryan Miller (Willow Canyon)

Luis Prado Nevarez (Valley Vista)

Player of the Year

Trace Garrison (Shadow Ridge)

All District Softball

Honorable Mention

Charlyan Durazo (Valley Vista)

Savanna Gumowski (Valley Vista)

Mia Viramontes (Willow Canyon)

Izzy Ray (Willow Canyon)

Mataya Olson (Willow Canyon)

Abbigail Markus (Willow Canhyon)

Player of the Year

J'kai'a Graves (Shadow Ridge)

Teams from Valley Vista High School and Willow Canyon High School swept the top 3 spots in the 2023-2024 year-long Arizona Council on Economic Education Stock Market Game for the state of Arizona.  For the Spring 2024 semester, two Valley Vista teams placed second and third in the state.

The Stock Market Game (SMG) is an online simulation that allows students in grades 4-12 to interact in real time with the actual stock market without any actual money at stake.  Student teams are given $100,000 in virtual money to create a portfolio containing stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  They must decide what to invest in, when to buy and sell, and which risks to assume, all in the name of making a profit.  Incorporated into Economics courses, high schools across Arizona compete in both semester and year-long games to see who can make the most virtual equity. 

This school year, Mitch Pinda from Valley Vista had teams take first and second place in the year-long competition, both with over $182,000 in total equity.  Willow Canyon High School was a close third with a team from Brandon Scholtz’s class racking up an impressive $177,064 in total equity.  For the spring semester, one of Chris Dodrill’s Valley Vista teams placed second with a total equity of $132,255.  Fellow Monsoon Aimee Jensen had a team place third - trailing by a mere $212.

Students learned not only what stocks are, but how to read a stock table, how to determine a stock’s volatility using its beta score, and the concept of “buy low, sell high.”  It was then up to them to conduct their own research using various stock-related websites, determine their risk tolerance, then consult with their teammates to decide not only where to invest their virtual cash, but also when and how much.  While there’s always an element of luck involved, the teachers all agree that the most successful SMG teams were the ones that put in the time and effort to do their research, monitor trends, consistently watch risky stocks for the right time to sell, and reinvest when appropriate.  

“We are pretty proud of the kids for what they accomplished,” said Valley Vista Social Studies teacher Aimee Jensen.  “Most adults can't actually tell you what the Stock Market actually does and why it is important. This is a life skill, and hopefully one that will help (the students) profit in their adult lives.”

SMG is a nationally available program of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Foundation, and is presented locally by the Arizona Council on Economic Education whose mission it is to teach Arizona students to be financially responsible.

The City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage partnered with Dysart Unified School District to invite students in grades 3-12 to participate in the annual My El Mirage and My Surprise Essay Contests in November of 2023.  For the City of Surprise, this year’s prompt focused on how citizens could work together to provide a “clean, safe, and friendly community.”  City of El Mirage students in grades 3-8 were asked to respond to the prompt, “I love El Mirage!  What is it about El Mirage, AZ that makes it a place that you love?” City of El Mirage high school students were asked how citizens of El Mirage work together to “embrace progress while respecting its grand heritage.”  Essays were limited to 500 words and were evaluated based on creativity, clarity, sincerity of thought, and, of course, proper grammar. 

Winners from the City of Surprise were selected in specific grade bands and were honored at the Surprise City Council Meeting on March 5, 2024.  The City of Surprise winners were Kaylee Garcia from Surprise Elementary School in the Grades 3-4 category, Connor Kemnitz from Asante Preparatory Academy in the Grades 5-8 category, and Morgan Goates from Shadow Ridge High School in the Grades 9-12 category.  

Winners from the City El Mirage were also selected in grade bands, and additionally recognized 2nd and 3rd place winners.  These students were recognized at the City of El Mirage City Council Meeting on April 2nd, 2024. 

For grades 3-4, Caleb Figueroa of Surprise Elementary School took 1st Place, Carlie Scholl of El Mirage Elementary School placed 2nd, and Noel Cervantes Landaverde of El Mirage Elementary placed 3rd.  

For grades 5-6, 1st place was awarded to Alexa Cervantes Reyna, Adam Campbell took 2nd Place, and Daisha Jones took 3rd Place.  All three students are from Dysart Middle School. 

For grades 9-12, 1st place was awarded to Oscar Delgado from Valley Vista High School,  2nd Place went to Caden Braun Schreuer, also from Valley Vista High School, and  3rd Place went to Landon Navarro-Heaps from Dysart High School.  

 Excerpts included below:

City of El Mirage 1st Place Winner - Alexa Cervantes Reyna, Grade 6  

"El Mirage cares about its community deeply; they show this by not only providing many events for one to celebrate but also by offering the public lots of space for them to appreciate."

City of Surprise 1st Place Winner - Morgan Goates, Grade 11 

 "To me and many others, Surprise isn’t just a place on the map, it's a home and community centered around growth and happiness for all generations of life, and I’m thankful that I get to call it my home."

In addition to being recognized at their respective city council meetings, all first place winners received $50 gift cards provided by the Dysart Educational Foundation. 

Danielle Edgerton coordinated the dual city essay contest with support from teachers, administrators, and city leadership.  “It has been such a rewarding experience to partner with both the City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage to honor our scholars and writers,” said Edgerton.  “The essays submitted by all of the students were sincere celebrations of their schools and communities.”

The Dysart Unified School District held their annual All District Boys and Girls Basketball and Soccer Team Award presentations to recognize and celebrate the student athletes who displayed excellence in the Winter 2023-24 season. Athletes were selected by district coaches from Valley Vista, Shadow Ridge, Dysart, and Willow Canyon high schools.

All District Girls Basketball

Player of the Year - Jocelyn Chavez (Valley Vista)

All District Boys Soccer

Player of the Year - Jacob Engwall (Shadow Ridge)

All District Girls Soccer

Three Willow Canyon High School students recently received prestigious awards from Cambridge Assessment International Education, part of the University of Cambridge, in recognition of their outstanding achievements on the June 2023 series of examinations.   

Alexandra Silea is a second year recipient of the Cambridge Scholar Award with Distinction for earning three or more “A”s in Cambridge subjects, as well as the winner of the Top In Country Award for having the highest score in the United States on her American History exams.  Last year she won the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award for having the highest score in the country on her World History exams.  Alexandra plans on majoring in Biology before moving on to medical school, with the end goal of working in a pediatric hospital.

Gregory Virga received the Cambridge Scholar Award with Merit for earning three “B”s or higher in Cambridge subjects.  Also an avid swimmer, Gregory will continue his swimming career in college.  After completing four years of undergraduate work, he plans on earning his law degree and is interested in possibly becoming an attorney.

Tucker Potter also received the Cambridge Scholar Award with Merit.  Tucker’s post-graduate plans include serving a two-year mission for his church before attending Brigham Young University (BYU) Hawaii to major in Astrophysics. 

As a global organization with a 160-year history and part of the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Assessment International Education partners with schools and districts around the world with a shared goal of making education transformation a reality. This program is part of an internationally benchmarked program that allows students to earn college-level credit in high school. Cambridge International uniquely provides an instructional system across four stages (Primary through Advanced) aligning rigorous curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment for all students in grades K-12.  

Dysart Schools Governing Board President, Dawn Densmore, was named the Arizona School Board Member of the Year by the Arizona Coalition of School Board Members. The award was announced as part of the inaugural Excellence in Education Awards for The Coalition. Densmore was originally elected to the Dysart Governing Board in 2019, and was re-elected in 2022.  

About The Coalition

The Arizona Coalition of School Board Members was founded in 2021 with the purpose of promoting quality Arizona school board governance focused on delivering excellence in education that best meets the needs of individual students. More information about The Coalition is available at www.azcoalition.org.

Congratulations to the student athletes from all four high schools who signed letters of intent to play their respective sports at the collegiate level.  The following students participated in Signing Day:

Dysart High School

Kye Brown - Clark Atlanta University, Football

Luke Bear - Arizona Christian University, Football

Shadow Ridge High School 

Chase Whitley - South Mountain Community College,Baseball 

Shaelyn Anthony - Bethany College, Basketball 

Izaiah Fresquez - Ottawa University, Cheer 

Paige Thomas - Ottawa University, Cheer 

WestLee McLeod - Rocky Mountain College, Football 

Mia Loher - Scottsdale Community College, Soccer 

Jacquelyn Rivas Santiago - Glendale Community College, Soccer 

Jillian Young - Yavapai College, Soccer 

Derek Holstein - Ottawa University, Soccer 

Kaedon James-Skawski - Pierce College, Soccer 

Mary Stanley - Lawrence University, Softball 

Elayna Trinder - Grand Canyon University, Track 

Carter Cianfrogna - Central College, Wrestling

Valley Vista High School

Nathan Beard - Rocky Mountain College, Football

Anthony Hernandez - Rocky Mountain College, Football

Brooke Hyde - Minot State University, Softball

Stacy Jacobs- Rocky Mountain College, Football

Avery Jeffrey - Dillard - Butte College, Football

Olivia Moore - Glendale Community College, Volleyball

Nick Pleger - Maricopa Mustangs, Football

Tony Romano - Rocky Mountain College, Football

Willow Canyon High School

Harmony Andrade - Oregon State, Softball

Jason Campbell - Ottawa, Football

Ryley Clark - Fresno State, Swimming

Olivia DeFord - Phoenix College, Softball

Abbigail Markus - Western New Mexico, Softball

Einy Mendez - Westcliff University, Volleyball

Austin Rhodes - Ottawa, Football

Abagail Rudolph - Park University, Softball

Brianna Salazar - Edmond College, Softball

Rylee Turlington - Utah State, Softball

Mateo Valencia - Arizona Christian, Wrestling

Brenna Windahl - Western New Mexico, Softball

Congratulations to students and staff who took home top honors in the Patriot’s Pen Essay contest, Voice of Democracy contest, and the 2023 Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year program hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post (VFW).

Conducted nationwide, the Patriot’s Pen essay competition gives students in 6th  through 8th grades an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. This year's prompt was, "How Are You Inspired by America?". More than 138,000 students participate nationwide in the annual Patriot’s Pen Contest that encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society.

The Voice of Democracy is an audio-essay program that provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 25,000 9th through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. The theme of the contest was “What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?”.

The Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher program recognizes educators who promote civic responsibility and patriotism in their students with innovation and passion. Teachers are nominated by students and/or members of their school.  

The following students and staff were recognized by VFW Post 285:

Voice of Democracy

1st - Barbara Lopez, Dysart High School

2nd - Alexis Dytrt, Dysart High School

3rd - Isaiah Saldana, Dysart High School 

Patriot’s Pen

1st - Jocelyn Vazquez, Thompson Ranch Elementary School

2nd - Ativous Baez, Thompson Ranch Elementary School 

3rd - Spencer Johnson, Sunset Hills Elementary School  

2023 Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year Awards

Micaela Beck, Thompson Ranch Elementary School

JoAnna Boruch, Dysart High School 

Additionally, Malaiya Russell from Thompson Ranch Elementary School was recognized as the first place winner at the state level with VFW Post 12098 for her Patriot’s Pen essay. She will be going to Washington DC to compete for Nationals.  

For the past 40 years, the Shemer Art Center has hosted the New Horizons High School Student Art Exhibition, where two upperclassmen art students from each participating school are selected to have their artwork featured.  This year, five Dysart Unified School District students took home a total of seven scholarships from the event, and one student sold her work at the museum.    

This year’s winners were Delilah Brown and Parker Fisher from Valley Vista High School, Kaylee Bernal from Shadow Ridge High School, and Yeni Landaverde and Jaylan Williams from Dysart High School.

Delilah Brown, a second year art student, earned three scholarships for her ceramic piece, entitled "Seashell Tea Collection."  The coral motif was inspired by her love of the sea and her desire to share that love with her mother.  Delilah sold her award-winning artwork at the show, and even met with the buyer.  She plans on continuing Ceramics classes into her senior year.  

Parker Fisher won for his painting, "Horseshoe Bend," inspired by the Arizona landmark of the same name.  He is currently working on his nature themed portfolio, using photographs he has taken himself as references.  Parker is an adventure-seeking Advanced Placement Art and Design senior who enjoys sharing his artistic knowledge with his peers.

Kaylee Bernal took inspiration from her everyday surroundings to create her winning graphite drawing, "Bedroom Floor."  She has taken Visual Art courses all four years and is in Advanced Placement Art and Design.  She is also an accomplished dancer and cellist.  Kaylee is in her senior year and plans on becoming a dentist.    

Yeni Landaverde won for her frog adorned lemonade set, "Leaving the Lilypad."  Her ceramics teacher of the past three years said Yeni is, “a kind and gentle person who lights up (the) classroom each day.”  As a senior, she chose the amphibious design because it represents good luck and new beginnings, something she hopes to have as she embarks on her next chapter in life.

Jaylan Williams’ piece, "Shattered," is based around the stages of grief.  Jaylan, a senior, has taken fine art classes at Dysart all four years of high school and is currently in AP Studio Art.  According to his art teacher, he has a “passion for creating that expands beyond school hours, spending hours working on his creations.”  

Shemer Art Center is open Tuesday - Saturday, 10AM to 3PM.  The New Horizons High School Student Art Exhibition runs from January 10 through February 15, 2024.

Carolyn Austin, a senior from Shadow Ridge High School, was named a Flinn Scholar Semifinalist.  The Flinn Scholarship is a prestigious program that awards applicants based on academic achievement, leadership and involvement, service to the community, ability to communicate, and personal qualities. 

Carolyn is one of 80 high-achieving Arizona high-school seniors named as a semifinalist out of more than 1,000 applicants seeking the Flinn Scholarship.  By being named Flinn Scholarship Semifinalist, Carolyn will qualify for a specially designated scholarship from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or the University of Arizona.

Carolyn is an accomplished and involved student at Shadow Ridge.  She is ranked 8th in her class and has a 3.9 GPA.  She is a Shadow Ridge football manager and a member of the National Honor Society.  In her free time, Carolyn indulges her creative side by reading, writing, and drawing.  She can also be found stretching her culinary wings as she enjoys cooking and baking. After graduation, Carolyn plans to attend Northern Arizona University and is considering a major in English.

“To come this far in our very competitive process is an honor earned by just 8% of applicants from around the state,” said Anne Lassen, Flinn Foundation vice president, scholarship and education initiatives. “These students impressed reviewers with their academic achievement, service, and leadership.”

Carolyn will advance to the virtual interview portion later this month with an opportunity to be named one of 40 Flinn Scholarship Finalists invited to an in-person interview with the selection committee in March.  The Flinn Scholars Class of 2024 will be announced in April.

Now in its 39th year, the Flinn Scholarship is valued at more than $130,000 and includes funding for tuition, housing, meals, and study abroad. About 20 Arizona high-school seniors are selected each year and attend the honors colleges of the state’s three public universities. Each Flinn Scholarship Semifinalist who is not ultimately selected as a Flinn Scholar will receive a $15,000 annual scholarship if they attend one of the state’s three public universities. The Flinn Foundation is a privately endowed, philanthropic grantmaking organization established in 1965 by Dr. Robert S. and Irene P. Flinn. Its mission is to improve the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations.

Shadow Ridge Student Moves on to Final Interview

Below is the schedule of school early release times prior to Winter Break.  Please note, the K-4, K-5, and K-8 times have changed and are listed below.

The following schools will release at 11:15 AM on Friday, December 20, 2024:

• Canyon Ridge School
  
• Freedom Traditional Academy
  
• Kingswood Elementary School
  
• Riverview School
  
• Sunset Hills Elementary School
  

The following schools will release at 12:00 PM on Friday, December 20, 2024:

• Asante Preparatory Academy
  
• Countryside Elementary School 
• El Mirage Elementary School
  
• Mountain View School 
  
• Luke Elementary School 
  
• Marley Park Elementary School 
  
• Mountain View School 
  
• Rancho Gabriela Elementary School 
  
• Surprise Elementary School 
  
• Thompson Ranch Elementary School 
  
• West Point Elementary School
  
• Western Peaks Elementary School 
  

The Middle Schools and High School release times are as planned:

Middle Schools Final Exams and Early Release

Thursday, December 19, 2024 - 11:15 AM release

Friday, December 20, 2024 - 11:15 AM release

High School Final Exams Schedule and Early Release 

Thursday, December 19, 2024 - 10:30 AM release

Friday, December 20, 2024 - 10:30 AM release

Sundown Mountain Alternative Education Program will release at 1:15 PM on Friday December 20, 2024.

Schools and district offices will be closed December 23, 2024 - January 5, 2024.  School resumes on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025. 

The Dysart Unified School District held their All District Football and Volleyball Team Award presentation to recognize and celebrate the student athletes who displayed excellence in the Fall 2023 season. Athletes were selected by district coaches from Valley Vista, Shadow Ridge, Dysart, and Willow Canyon High Schools.

ALL DISTRICT FOOTBALL

Player of the Year - Jeramicheal Hernandez, Valley Vista 

Offensive Player of the Year - Kye Brown, Dysart 

Defensive Player of the Year - Austin Rhodes, Willow Canyon 

Coach of the Year - John Ganados, Dysart 

First Team Offensive

• Xavier Silvas (OL, Dysart)
• Austin Bouffard (OL, Willow Canyon)
• WestLee McLeod (OL, Shadow Ridge)
• Jonathan Carta (OL, Valley Vista)
• Dylan Escalante (OL, Shadow Ridge)
• Avion Bailey (WR, Dysart) 
• Caden Zlokich (WR, Dysart) 
• Damien DiMascio (WR, Shadow Ridge) 
• Damian Zuniga (RB, Valley Vista)
•  Xavier Armenta (RB, Shadow Ridge) 
• Miles Pringle (QB, Valley Vista) 
• Landon Borders (Flex, Willow Canyon) 

First Team Defensive

• Xavier Silvas (DL, Dysart) 
• Keaton Semendoff (DL, Willow Canyon) 
• Alex Ryan (DL, Shadow Ridge)
• Nicolas Pleger (DL, Valley Vista)
• Noah Ramirez (LB, Dysart)
• Abel Garza (LB, Shadow Ridge)
• Nathan Beard (LB, Valley Vista)
• Connor Stogner (DB, Dysart)
• Jayden Garcia (DB, Shadow Ridge)
• Avery Jeffrey-Dillard (DB, Valley Vista)
• Stacy Jacobs Jr. (DB, Valley Vista)
• Anthony Hernandez (Flex, Valley Vista)

First Team Special Teams 

• Max Cauley (Kicker, Shadow Ridge)
• Quinn Nichols (Punter, Willow Canyon)
• Landon Borders (Kick Returner, Willow Canyon)
• Jeramicheal Hernandez (Punt Returner, Valley Vista)
• Landon Borders (Long Snapper, Willow Canyon) 

Second Team Offensive 

• William Stackhouse (OL, Dysart)
• Dareion Pittman (OL, Willow Canyon)
• Lavell Thomas (OL, Shadow Ridge)
• Bobby Edelman (OL, Valley Vista)
• Ethan Penner (OL, Valley Vista)
• Luke Bear (WR, Dysart)
• Alexx Williams (WR, Valley Vista)
• Parker Brooks (WR, Shadow Ridge)
• Skyler Moreno (RB, Willow Canyon)
• Jaahad Parris-Worley (RB, Valley Vista)
• Jayden Pico (QB, Shadow Ridge)
• Jordan Harrison (Flex, Valley Vista) 

Second Team Defensive 

• Deshaun McCarrick (DL, Dysart)
• Will Norton (DL, Willow Canyon)
• Grant Jordan (SL, Shadow Ridge)
• Logan Arrowsmith (DL, Valley Vista)
• JR Ellington (LB, Dysart)
• Jared Parker (LB, Shadow Ridge)
• Gavin Anderson (LB, Willow Canyon)
• Maurice Morrison Jr. (DB, Willow Canyon)
• Jameson Akins (DB, Willow Canyon)
• Zackary Guy (DB, Shadow Ridge)
• Xavier Moore (DB, Valley Vista)
• Cameron Jackson (Flex, Dysart) 

Second Team Special Teams 

• Alex Valdez (Kicker, Valley Vista)
• Luis Lopez Silva (Punter, Dysart)
• Michael Cruz (Kick Returner, Shadow Ridge)
• Jayden Garcia (Punt Returner, Shadow Ridge)
• Everson Taylor (Long Snapper, Shadow Ridge) 

Honorable Mention:  Logan Haviland (Dysart),  Je'von Christmas (Dysart),  Joel Banuelos Jr. (Dysart),  Lucas Schnatz (Dysart),  Christian Hunter (Shadow Ridge),  Darian Lafitte (Shadow Ridge),  Michael Callejas (Shadow Ridge),  Camden Brown (Shadow Ridge),  Nehemiah Barnett (Shadow Ridge),  Johnny Villarreal Jr. (Valley Vista),  Sawyer Oliver (Valley Vista),  Treven Stewart (Valley Vista),  Jason Boltin (Valley Vista),  Jovon Cooper (Valley Vista),  Ismael Bedoy (Valley Vista),  Evan Friedrich (Willow Canyon),  Roman Thuyns (Willow Canyon),  Asher Vega (Willow Canyon),  Henry Hebard (Willow Canyon),  Morgan Frego (Willow Canyon),  Brody Roman (Willow Canyon) 

ALL DISTRICT VOLLEYBALL 

Player of the Year - Brooke Jenkins, Valley Vista 

First Team 

• Lizzy Moyer (OH, Valley Vista)
• Marielle Ramos (OH, Valley Vista)
• Olivia Moore (S, Valley Vista)
• Emma Welborn (OH, Shadow Ridge)
• Averee Morales (OH, Willow Canyon)
• Emory Scogin (L, Willow Canyon) 

Second Team 

• Bella Brewer (OH, Valley Vista)
• Ava Hewitt (OH, Valley Vista)
• Shia Chancellor (OH, Willow Canyon)
• Haley Cashatt (OH, Shadow Ridge)
• Rigley Garrison (S, Shadow Ridge)
• Ralynn DeJesus (L, Valley Vista)
• Angel Montez (OH, Dysart) 

Honorable Mention:  Briana Gonzalez (Willow Canyon),  Mackenzie Reid-Schwartz (Shadow Ridge),  Olivia Johnson (Shadow Ridge),  Natalie Carter (Dysart),  Mia Fleming (Dysart)

Felisha Yeager, Head Varsity Cheer Coach at Willow Canyon High School, was named the Arizona Cheer Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

This year’s honorees were selected based upon their coaching performance in the 2022-23 school year, lifetime community involvement, school involvement, and philosophy of coaching. The NFHS relies on its member state associations to recognize those who are leading their sport, shaping their athletes, and contributing in a positive way to their community. Yeager was nominated by the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA).

Yeager is in her 8th season leading the Wildcats Cheer team and has a decorated history of excellence with her students including 19 first place finishes in local, state, and national levels and three State Championships. 

“I believe athletics are the cornerstone of developing our youth into leaders and valuable members of our society. As a coach, I am proud to take part in that process,” shared Yeager.

“Coach Yeager runs a top-tier program and represents the Winning Culture at Willow Canyon,” shared Thom Luedemann, Principal at Willow Canyon High School.

NFHS serves its members by providing leadership for the administration of education-based high school athletics and activities through the writing of playing rules that emphasize health and safety, educational programs that develop leaders, and administrative support to increase opportunities and promote sportsmanship.

The AIA is a voluntary association of public and private high schools which was established by and is responsible to its members. The mission of the AIA is to create and sustain an ethical culture through activities that encourages maximum student participation by providing AIA member schools with an even playing field to ensure fair and equitable competition in interscholastic activities.

Easton Carleton, a senior from Dysart High School, was named a recipient for the Heisman High School Scholarship.  

The Heisman High School Scholarship honors the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors by recognizing and rewarding outstanding scholar-athletes who understand that the most important victories not only happen on the field, but in their schools and communities. These remarkable young leaders set an example and make a game-changing difference every day, paving the way to greatness for everyone around them.

Easton is a multi-sport athlete who participates in Varsity Basketball, Varsity Baseball, and the Best Buddies program at Dysart High School.  The Best Buddies program operates as a student-run friendship club, which creates buddy pairs between students with and without disabilities. Best Buddies helps to create an inclusive school climate for students and a community culture of acceptance.  Additionally, Easton participates in the AVID program at Dysart High School and attends the Physical Therapy program at West-Mec.  He’s been accepted to many schools around the country but is currently looking to attend Houghton University in New York to pursue an Exercise Science or Physical Therapy degree, and continue his athletic career and play baseball. 

More than 4,878 students have earned the honor of becoming School Winners in the Heisman High School Scholarship competition awarded by The Heisman Trophy Trust. One hundred of these School Winners will become State Winners with the opportunity to become part of 12 National Finalists and ultimately be named National Winners and earn lucrative scholarships.

The Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program grants classroom wishes to teachers across the state of Arizona.  As a way to support, celebrate and honor Arizona educators, teachers are invited to fill out an online application detailing their school and classroom wishes. Wishes are selected by a random drawing to receive a grant.  The following Dysart teachers were recognized and will receive a $2,500 grant courtesy of the Fiesta Bowl Charities and Palo Verde: 

Sunny Plant from Sonoran Heights Middle School plans to build a comfortable and quiet study area for their students to complete their work outside of the classroom.

Rachel Plitzuweit from Asante Preparatory Academy requested funds to provide volleyball and badminton equipment for their physical education class.

Angie Kemp from Cimarron Springs Middle School will use the funds to purchase new equipment for their physical education class.

Shermeka Henry from Countryside Elementary School would like to provide resources such as shoes, clothing, books and school supplies for their students.

Marichou Beltran from Kingswood Elementary School will use the grant to provide sensory and reading materials for their students.

Christina Tormollan from Luke Elementary School requested funds to build an e-sport arena in their school library.

Nicchia Bellitto from Mountain View Elementary School would like to purchase whiteboards for their classroom.

Mallory Stradley from Surprise Elementary School will utilize the grant to provide science materials for their class.

Lucy Blanco and Jessica Delgado from El Mirage Elementary School will purchase tablets and books for their Kindergarten students.

Crystal Salazar Campa from Rancho Gabriela Elementary School will use the funds to purchase sensory tools, math materials, and reading materials for their students.

Nadine Soto from Shadow Ridge High School will utilize the grant to provide resources, candy, and yard games as enrichment for their students.

In its eight years, Wishes for Teachers granted over $6.95 million to more than 2,100 Arizona teachers, impacting 920,000+ students across the state.  All wish recipients become part of the Fiesta Bowl family and can participate in community events throughout the year.  "The Fiesta Bowl Organization is deeply committed to Arizona teachers and their vital role in developing our future citizens, workforce, civic, community and business leaders. We are pleased to increase our support and provide funding to 500 teachers for supplemental resources to aid their students," said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. 

"The Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program means so much to teachers, who often spend money out of their own pockets to enhance their classrooms and to best serve their students. It's important that we celebrate, honor and support teachers for all they give to Arizona's students."

Congratulations to the talented students who were selected for the All State Show Choir by the Arizona Choral Educators. More than 400 students from high schools around Arizona auditioned on November 4 to be a part of the All State Show Choir at Horizon High School. The following students were selected:

Shadow Ridge High School 

Ajaya Miles (11th Chair Alto),  Nehemiah Williams (15th Chair Tenor)

Valley Vista High School

Alayna Alger (6th Chair Soprano), Amaya Rachiell (13th Chair Soprano), Samira Doxie (9th Chair Alto), Nadia Joiner (23rd Chair Alto),  Kelly Romero (27th Chair Alto), Stephen Neal III (6th Chair Tenor),  Maximus Brumbaugh (14th Chair Tenor), Josiah Chang (2nd Chair Bass), Adam Pernatozzi (6th Chair Bass), Jonathan Chang (7th Chair Bass), Brad Lee Aoki (11th Chair Bass), Levi Lundberg (2nd Alternate Tenor), Susanna Alger (5th Alternate Alto) 

Willow Canyon High School

Josiah Johnson (1st Alternate Bass)

“We are extremely proud of the hard work and dedication these students have put into their craft to continue to excel at the state level,” shared Danae Marinelli, Dysart Schools Director of Arts.

The All-State Show Choir  is a choir of approximately 44 high school students selected from the state. Selection is made through an audition process which requires a live singing and dancing audition. Selected students learn and memorize the performance songs before attending the three-day long festival where they learn the choreography and refine the music. 

The Arizona Choral Educators (ACE) is a constituent group of the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA) which serves the needs of elementary, junior high, high school, and collegiate directors throughout Arizona. AMEA was established in 1939 as a cooperative effort of music educators. Since that time, the association has become affiliated with The National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

Shadow Ridge High School “The Riot” Yearbook students had a successful day at the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association's (AIPA) annual convention and awards ceremony held at the Arizona State University Memorial Union on October 24, 2023. 

The AIPA awards recognize all levels of student journalism in the state of Arizona including TV broadcasting, school newspapers, and yearbooks.

Their 2022-2023 yearbook publication titled, Where Are We Now?, picked up third place overall for General Excellence in a Yearbook Publication category.  Individually, they received Superior awards for Student Life Spreads. The Stallions received Excellent awards for Theme Development, Academic Spread, Sports Spread Feature Photo, and Graphic Design. The group also received Honorable Mention awards for Headline Writing, People Spread, and Clubs Photo.

The students were thrilled to have a familiar guest speaker present at the conference. Donovan Johnson, Shadow Ridge High School Class of 2020 alumni and past “Riot” Yearbook Editor in Chief, presented a class on photo journalism. Donovan is now a senior at The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University (ASU).

“It was amazing to watch Donovan keep a room of students enthralled with knowledge and expertise in the subject matter,” shared Rodney Moore, Shadow Ridge High School Career and Technical Education Teacher and Yearbook Advisor.

The Arizona Interscholastic Press Association supports middle school and high school journalism programs including newspaper, yearbook, web, broadcast, and literary magazine across the state.

Maren Wenz, English Teacher at Shadow Ridge High School, was named a Rio Salado Outstanding Adjunct Faculty recipient for 2023. 

Ms. Wenz was honored for her efforts as an adjunct faculty member at Rio Salado through Dual Enrollment classes offered at Shadow Ridge High School.  Rio Salado College recognizes Outstanding Adjunct Faculty members and instructors on an annual basis for excellence and contributions in teaching and learning. Ms. Wenz is certified to teach Dual Enrollment English courses at Shadow Ridge and has taught ENG 101/102 in the district since 2018. Dual Enrollment opportunities are available at all four district high schools and students have the ability to take courses in which they may receive credit in high school as well as earning college credit.

Maren was nominated by Dr. Jennifer Shantz, Rio Salado Faculty Chair for her devotion and celebration of students and her ability to mentor fellow teachers.

“Since her students are made to feel at home, they take risks to venture on paths less traveled in academic discourse, without fear of being misconstrued, and their engagement in content discussion is unparalleled,” said Shantz in her nomination letter.

“Maren is always ready to share her knowledge and expertise with other instructors, and intentionally reaches out to new instructors to share samples of her class content.”

Mrs. Wenz has been an educator in Arizona for 29 years, teaching students in the Dysart Unified School District for twenty years.

“I am very proud of this recognition and even prouder of my approximately 170 Dual Enrollment students that I have the true blessing and pleasure of working with each year in the Dysart Unified School District,” shared Wenz.

Established in 1978, Rio Salado College is dedicated to providing innovative educational opportunities to meet the needs of today’s students. Rio Salado offers affordable access to higher education through college bridge pathways, community-based learning, corporate and government partnerships, early college initiatives, online learning and university transfer. Rio Salado supports learners and provides high-quality, flexible, and accessible education to empower individual goal attainment, foster partnerships, and strengthen communities.

As a reward for crushing the $15,000 Glow Run fundraising goal and raising $15,400, Countryside Elementary School Principal McNeese kissed Petunia the Pig. Petunia took a little coaxing with some tasty peaches and Cinnamon Toast Crunch to leave her cozy trailer. Petunia happily smiled for the camera as the students got to give her a pat on the head after the big smooch. A big thank you to all who helped to raise funds to support the school.

Students from Dysart High School, Shadow Ridge High School, and Valley Vista High School were recognized by the College Board National Recognitions Programs for excelling in College Board assessments and school work.

The College Board National Recognition Programs award academic honors to sophomores and juniors who take eligible administrations of AP, PSAT/NMSQT, or PSAT 10 exams, have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and identify as African American or Black, Hispanic or Latino, Indigenous or Native, or attend high school in a rural area or small town.  These programs celebrate students' hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance

Adrian Ramirez Machaen and Nahum Cabrera Olivas, both from Dysart High School, received the National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA).  Adrian has an interest in studying Civil Engineering in college and is considering several universities after high school including Arizona State University (ASU), University of Southern California, Northern Arizona University (NAU), Grand Canyon University (GCU), University of Arizona, and Grace College. Adrian is involved in AVID and currently serves as the Student Council Treasurer at Dysart High School. Nahum has an interest in Computer Science and Software Engineering and is considering NAU and Glendale Community College (GCC) after high school. He is involved in AVID, Tennis, ACE Program, Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy and volunteers at the Dysart Community Center afterschool program.

Ashlyn Zambrano from Valley Vista High School received the National African American Recognition Award (NAARA).  She plans to attend ASU to study pre-law and will continue her education to earn a Juris Doctorate degree. She is involved in Student Council, National Honor Society and Advanced Placement classes at Valley Vista High School. 

Shadow Ridge High School had 14 recipients. Carolyn Austin received the National Rural and Small Town Award (NRSTA) and has not determined a major but is considering several including History, Classical Studies, Philosophy, and Environmental Science.  Her top college choice is NAU.  She is the football manager at Shadow Ridge and assists the team with filming and technology on game days.  Brayden Buchberger received the (NRSTA) recognition and is interested in studying Engineering, Computer Science, Psychology and the medical fields.  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford are his top choices.  Brayden is involved in National Honor Society, debate, Engineering for SkillsUSA, and the Bring Change to Mind Club. Savannah Bowers received the (NRSTA) recognition and would like to pursue a major in Psychology at ASU and then University of Pennsylvania for medical school to become a psychiatrist. Travis Cain received the (NRSTA) recognition and is interested in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering and would like to attend ASU.  He is involved in track and field, SkillsUSA and marching band at Shadow Ridge.  Joseph Holm received the NHRA recognition. He would like to pursue a degree in Computer Science and has been accepted at ASU.  He enjoys coding and is involved in SkillsUSA at Shadow Ridge.  Garet Jurrens received the NRSTA recognition.  Garet has an interest in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and is involved in the Engineering Club at Shadow Ridge. Donovan Lerma received the NRSTA recognition and is interested in studying either Mechanical or Electrical Engineering at ASU and is involved in SkillsUSA for Engineering.  Rylee Maki received the NRSTA recognition. She is a member of the Junior Dance Company and would like to major in Nursing at GCC and do the Registered Nurse (RN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program to eventually become a Pediatric Nurse at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Danika Lynn Maves received the NRSTA recognition and would like to attend the University of Michigan to study either Computer Science or Data Analysis.  She participated in SkillsUSA for Graphic Design.  Analyse Sosa received the NHRA and is interested in attending either a university or technical school to study Psychology or Ultrasound Technician. She is involved in Technical Theatre at Shadow Ridge High School.  Additional awardees include Elijah Curnutt (NRSTA), Kloey Garcia (NHRA), Kloey Garcia (NHRA), and Alyssa Wong (NRSTA).

The College Board National Recognition Program grants underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them meaningfully connect to colleges and stand out during the admissions process.    

A huge congratulations goes out our own Luke Elementary Principal, Kara Sehr, who was recognized this past week as the Principal of the Month by Grand Canyon University for the entire state of Arizona! She was surprised in the gym by the entire school, district leadership, and GCU Staff, who came together to celebrate her tremendous accomplishments and leadership.

More than three hundred choir students from across the district participated in the D-backs Dysart Choir Night and sang the National Anthem on the field at the September 2nd Arizona Diamondbacks game vs the Baltimore Orioles at Chase Field.  The participating schools included Ashton Ranch Middle School, Asante Preparatory Academy, Canyon Ridge School,  Cimarron Springs Middle School, Countryside Elementary School, Dysart Middle School,  Marley Park Elementary School, Mountain View School, Sonoran Heights Middle School, Sunset Hills Elementary School, Thompson Ranch Elementary School, and West Point Elementary School.  Students and their families were able to buy discounted tickets to the game and a portion of the proceeds totalling $4,000 from ticket sales will go back to support our choir programs. 

“This event was a great success, thanks to all your amazing students! We look forward to making this an annual tradition,” said Derek Gensburg, Diamondbacks Account Executive for Group Events and Hospitality.

The Dysart Unified School District was recently recognized by Wellness Council of Arizona for efforts in workplace and employee health and wellness at the annual meeting in Tucson, Arizona on August 24, 2023. 

Dysart was presented with the Wellness Council of Arizona’s Official Gold Seal of Good Health Keeping Renewal Award. The renewal shows the district’s continued focus on employee health through an established relationship between the wellness program and health plan engagement with components such as incentives for annual exams, local produce baskets, financial wellness, health coaching, and screenings among other things. Dysart also earned second place in the Stride Through Spring Corporate Activity Step Challenge.  Team Dysart consisted of 69 staff members who competed in the four week challenge last April and walked an impressive 23,057,819 steps as a group.

Dr. Catherine Maynard, School Psychologist, was awarded the Personal Achievement award which recognizes an individual who has made great strides in health improvement and lifestyle.  Additionally, Dysart’s Benefits and Wellness Manager, Janis Peel, received the Champion of Worksite Wellness Senior Leadership award for her dedication in providing wellness opportunities for Dysart employees.  

The Wellness Council of Arizona strives to be the recognized leader and resource for worksite health promotion in Arizona and collaborates with healthcare providers, community leaders, businesses and institutions to improve the health of employees and their families.

Willow Canyon High School will host a dedication ceremony for their new turf field prior to their first home varsity football game of the 2023-2024 season on September 8. The ceremony will include city officials, as well as district and school leaders speaking on the field followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The field features a beautiful, yet durable, new turf playing field that highlights school colors and the mascot. The dedication ceremony will begin at 6:40pm with the game beginning at 7:00pm. The Wildcats are hosting Horizon High School. Willow Canyon High School is located at 17901 W. Lundberg Street, Surprise, AZ 85388. 

Tickets are required and can be purchased in advance on GoFan

Admission prices:      

Students with ID’s = $4

Students w/o ID’s = $5       

Adults = $5       

Senior Citizens = $4 (55 or older)

Members of the Military = $4 (with ID)      

Children 5 and under = Free

High School students from across the district traveled to several states this summer en route to international competitions through their Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. High marks in state competitions allowed students to participate on the national stage. 

All four high school Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) groups attended the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) competition in Orlando, Florida.  Students participated in networking events with students from other states and countries and learned valuable information to bring back to their DECA clubs. Valley Vista High School and Willow Canyon High School both won the School Based Enterprise Gold Certification Plaque.  Shadow Ridge High School won eight competency awards, 6th place in Virtual Business Enterprise for Retailing, and ninth place in Virtual Business Enterprise for Fashion.

DECA is a premier student organization that supports the development of marketing and management skills in career areas such as hospitality, finance, sales and service, business administration, and entrepreneurship.

Shadow Ridge High School and Willow Canyon High School students from the Graphic Design CTE program competed at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC)  in Atlanta, Georgia.  This event brought together thousands of students, instructors, business partners, and administrators and celebrated the accomplishments of those preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, and was an opportunity for students to showcase their talents and skills on the national level. Shadow Ridge participated in Pin Design and Willow Canyon competed in the Arts and Communications, Interactive Application and Game Design events, and earned seventh place in the Career Pathways competition.

SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Education partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development by building and reinforcing self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills. 

Dysart High School, Shadow Ridge High School and Willow Canyon High School attended the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas June 20-25, 2023.  The event focused on leadership, professional and technical skills, educational seminars, workshops and exhibits presented by professional partners that provide Information about current healthcare issues.  Willow Canyon High School Lab Assisting and Sports Medicine students participated in the Health Care Issues Exam, and the Mental Health Promotional Team.  Dysart High School Sports Medicine students also participated in the Healthcare Issues Exam and alumni Alyssa Blanford won the Bronze Barbara James Service Award for her volunteer hours and commitment to community service in health.  Shadow Ridge High School participated in the HOSA Quiz Bowl which provides members with the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills on various topics and situations in health, current health topics, HOSA, and parliamentary procedure.

HOSA is a student-led organization that seeks to empower students to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience. 

Valley Vista High School students from the Graphic Design and Technology Devices Maintenance programs attended the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia June 27-30, 2023. FBLA members had the opportunity to compete in leadership events, share their successes, and learn new ideas about shaping their career future through workshops and exhibits. Students participated in the Journalism and Management Information Systems competition.

“Attending the FBLA National Leadership Conference was the highlight of our CTSO organization for the 2022-2023 school year,” said Willie Walker, Valley Vista High School CTE Teacher. “It was a great opportunity for my students to meet and network with other students from across the country and world. It gave my students the confidence to share their knowledge base with others and be exposed and enlightened to what it takes to compete at the FBLA National level.”

FBLA inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.

Shadow Ridge High School Educational Professionals students attended the Educators Rising Nationals in Orlando, Florida June 29-July 2, 2023. The conference allowed students to connect and learn from each other through breakout sessions, network with other members from across the country, and compete for national titles in competitive events designed to allow students to develop and showcase their teaching skills.  Shadow Ridge competed in several competitions and found great success at the event placing 3rd in Lesson Planning and Delivery-STEM, 4th for the Inside Our Schools competition, 6th in Public Speaking, 7th in the Creative Lecture (Ted Talk), and 9th in the Researching Learning Challenges event.

Education Professions is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program that prepares students for employment or post secondary opportunities in the education field. The program provides instruction in education career choices, education structure and systems, theory, pedagogy, developmental stages, learning styles and methodology. The program also provides interactive experiences with students at different age levels, in a variety of content areas in educational environments.

DECA, SkillsUSA, HOSA, FBLA, and Education Professionals are a few of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities offered to prepare students for the academic and vocational skills necessary to successfully enter the workforce.  Learn more at dysart.org/cte.

Written by: Chloe Ranshaw – Manager, Marketing & Communications, Center for the Future of Arizona

Trystan Wright, a 17-year-old senior at Dysart High School in El Mirage, Ariz., is an outstanding student with a laundry list of extracurriculars. He loves to volunteer, played basketball at Dysart until suffering an injury then joined DECA, a club preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers. He traveled across the country with DECA, ranking top three in a national competition, and is now the 2023-2024 President. 

Despite these accomplishments, Wright struggled to land his first job. “I’ve applied to six jobs and had three interviews but didn’t get any so that’s a little bit frustrating,” he laments. Until, his Dysart HS Business and Marketing teacher, Leslie Palombo, recommended a virtual internship offered through Center for the Future of Arizona’s (CFA) Arizona Pathways to Prosperity (APTP) in partnership with Work Based Learning Alliance (WBLA). The virtual paid internship connects high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with Arizona-based companies. The students work in teams guided by mentors and WBLA’s Practera to complete projects solving real-life problems.  

The Spring 2023 cohort included 27 students, including Wright, and six employers from healthcare, economic development, energy, and more. Wright interned at Tucson Electric Power (TEP) under Joanne Kingman, Training Supervisor for Transmission and Distribution Operations. He describes the opportunity as “an easy yes.” Throughout the six-week internship, Wright and his fellow team members developed an updated retention and training program for TEP. They utilized artificial intelligence to formulate life-like scenarios and simulators, a highlight for Wright, to digitize on the job tasks. 

Wright’s team stretched across the state with some students in Tucson and Tempe. Teamwork is an advantage of the virtual setting and Wright’s favorite lesson. He says, “Not just in college but in the real world or any kind of job, it’s important to know how to work with different people.” Virtual also eliminates other barriers to entry. For example, an employer might not be able to house five interns in-person and students in rural areas might not be able to travel.  

Beyond these benefits, for young people, the internships foster necessary skill attainment including independence, confidence, problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, and more. For employers, the program gives companies a voice in workforce development, eliminates paperwork, expands bandwidth, and creates a low-risk environment for trial and error.  

According to the Arizona Progress Meters, 48% of Arizona residents ages 25-64 have completed a two or four year degree or have an active professional certificate or license. Yet, as of 2020, nearly 65% of all jobs in Arizona require more education after high school. Programs like APTP’s virtual internships move the needle towards Arizona’s 60% attainment goal aimed at building a stronger workforce. And, Arizonans support these efforts. According to a 2020 Gallup Arizona Survey, 84% of Arizonans agree a highly educated and skilled population is good for Arizona’s economy. “Young people need to have an awareness of an education plan leading to careers in high-demand sectors with livable wages. Those jobs are usually aligned with high-demand sectors in regions that spur economic development in those regions and across the state,” says Aaron Ball, CFA College & Career Pathways Director. 

As for Wright, he feels relieved to complete the internship with high remarks from TEP, “It was definitely an eyeopener since I had never worked before.” And, he also feels armed with necessary skills to continue on his career pathway by graduating high school and pursuing a business major in hospitability and tourism potentially at the University of Arizona in Tucson.  

Arizona Pathways to Prosperity plans to host additional cohorts and hopes to reach more students and employers, 105 students and 15 employers have participated to date, by collaborating with regional partners to take ownership and dedicate funding to support a defined number of students yearly.

Overall, APTP enables more young people to earn degrees and credentials for high-demand jobs, making it easier for them to enter the workforce and propel innovation and economic growth in the state. The initiative has impacted over 50,000 students in early college pathways at more than 40 middle and high school partners across Arizona. Learn more about strengthening pathways of education to training and careers at https://www.arizonafuture.org/programs/workforce-programs/. 

Each year Dysart opens up transportation applications once we are able to determine our available capacity for additional bus riders who are not typically eligible for transportation. Beginning Monday, August 28 at 8:00 am, Transportation Eligibility Applications will be accepted for K-8 students to apply for district transportation on an existing regular education bus route within the attendance boundary of the school in which the student is enrolled. Please note that availability is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Monday, August 28 at 8:00 a.m.  Details and the link to the application will be available on our website at Dysart.org/Transportation. 

We hope that this will be helpful to many of our K-8 families that need transportation assistance. Thank you.

Dysart High School will host a dedication ceremony for their new turf field prior to the first varsity football game of the 2023-2024 season on August 18. The ceremony will include local dignitaries, district and school leaders speaking on the field and a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The field showcases beautiful new turf, which boldly displays school spirit, and will provide students with a great surface to play, run, march and participate in activities on. The turf field comes as Dysart High School celebrates its 60th Anniversary, after officially opening for the 1963-1964 school year.  The Demons are hosting San Tan Valley High School for the football season opener.  The dedication ceremony will begin at 6:40pm with the game following at 7:00pm. Dysart High School is located at 11425 N Dysart Rd, El Mirage, AZ 85335.

Tickets are required and can be purchased in advance on GoFan. Cash is always welcome at the gate as well. 

Admission prices:

     Students with ID’s = $4; Students w/o ID’s = $5 

     Adults = $5 

     Senior Citizens = $4 (55 or older); Members of the Military = $4 (with ID) 

     Children 5 and under = Free

Willow Canyon High School Key Club attended the Key Club International Convention in Anaheim, California this summer. 

Willow Canyon Key Club won first place in the Platinum Division for their Signature Project for the Packages From Home, Hope, and K9 initiative.  Additionally, they earned the Distinguished Club Diamond award. This accolade is given for Key Clubs that exhibit a dedication to their community and efforts year over year.  Willow Canyon was honored for their extensive service hours, projects and participation of the 89 Key Club members

During the conference, students heard from inspiring keynote speakers, served as delegates and held caucuses, attended leadership sessions, completed a service project, and collaborated with other Key Clubs from all over the world.   

The Signature Project award recognizes clubs who participate in a recurring activity for at least the past three years.  The Packages From Home, Hope and K9 Project has been an ongoing service project at Willow Canyon for the past five years that provides donated items and letters of gratitude for military personnel and families of those who have served in the military.  

“Our kids have worked so hard this past year,” shared Kimberly Maust, Key Club Advisor.  “Winning at the International level is such an amazing accomplishment!”

During the conference, the group joined other Key Club students from around the country and completed a service project to create bookmarks to go along with donated books for children in need.  

Mrs. Maust has been the Key Club advisor for five years and her son, Mr. Warnas has been the co-advisor for the past two years. 

“It's an awesome thing working with your son at the same school and guiding students together to become the best they can be,” shared Maust.

Key Club is a student-led organization that provides its members with opportunities to provide service, build character and develop leadership. The Willow Canyon Key Club is part of the Estrella Division which aims to cooperate with administrators and teachers to provide high school students with invaluable experience in living and working together and to prepare them for useful citizenship.  Members develop initiative and leadership skills by serving their schools and communities.

Information Technology is planning to perform network maintenance beginning at 9:30 AM on Friday, July 7, 2023.  All internal network access will be affected for this time period. This includes website and phone systems as well. Anticipated down time is 2 to 3 hours.  

Dysart Unified School District has been selected as a 2022-2023 District of Distinction for its use of Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics.

After program usage was reviewed for the current school year, the district met the rigorous usage standards required for a District of Distinction designation. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of many administrators, teachers, staff, students, and parents.

“We’re proud of the commitment to learning shown by these schools and districts,” said Sari Factor, Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer at Imagine Learning. “It is our privilege to partner with educators across the country, and these awards serve to highlight their dedication to achieving greater learning outcomes for their students.”

Imagine Learning uses multiple measures, including usage and implementation data, to designate top schools and districts for the award.  Imagine Learning has found that meeting program usage and implementation goals is directly associated with increased student success and academic growth.

Imagine Learning currently delivers classroom-ready curriculum authored by Illustrative Mathematics through their digital platform to 4th-5th grade classrooms in our district.  Within this platform, teachers have access to lesson plans, presentations, narratives, activities, centers, practice and assessments that drive their planning.  When assigned content, students are able to practice items digitally and receive feedback from their teacher. 

“Imagine Learning has provided a user-friendly platform that helps Dysart Unified School District teachers move student learning forward.  We look forward to expanding this with K-3 in the 23-24 school year,” said Kamyle Bernard, K-12 Math Curriculum Specialist.

About Imagine Learning

Imagine Learning provides digital-first PreK–12 solutions for core instruction, supplemental and intervention, online courses, and virtual instruction. It’s mission is to ignite learning breakthroughs with forward-thinking solutions at the intersection of people, curricula, and technology. 

Along with the 2022 fundraising efforts and contributions from community partners, the Dysart Education Foundation (DEF) was able to award $80,500 to 17 graduating seniors from the four Dysart Unified School District high schools with scholarships funds to obtain higher education in their chosen fields.

The recipients were awarded their certificates at the fifth annual DEF Awards Dinner held at The Vista Center for the Arts in the presence of their families, principals, counselors, administration, governing board, community leaders from Surprise and El Mirage, and the donors of their scholarships.

The dinner also highlighted the talented high school students with the opening ceremony presentation of colors by the Dysart High School JROTC Color Guard, entertainment by Shadow Ridge High School Stellar FX choir, and Cohen Cunningham, a student photographer from Dysart High School who captured the memorable moments for these deserving scholarship recipients. Southwest Foodservice Excellence prepared the dinner along with the Valley Vista High School Career and Technical Education Culinary program instructors and students serving guests and preparing desserts. 

The following scholarships were awarded: 

Share the Love/DEF $5000 Scholarship  

Dysart High School: Maria De La Cruz, Khiya Maxwell, Danielle Lemoine, Nathan Balderas, Lesli Arredondo Matehuala

Shadow Ridge High School: Jessica Chappelle and Christian Franco

Valley Vista High School: Aiden Pinuelas and Aadem Isai

Willow Canyon High School: Trinity Kennemer and Ajianette Davis

Southwest Foodservice Excellence $5,000 Scholarship

Dysart High School: Hector Mora

Willow Canyon High School: Jake Sekosky

Dysart High School Alumni Committee $5,000 Scholarship

Dysart High School: Fabiola Reyna and Julian Laborin

Dr. Gail Pletnick Education Award $3,000 Scholarship

Valley Vista High School: Emma Sniff

Ty Timbrooks Memorial $2,500 Scholarship

Dysart High School: Briana Ramirez Medina

DEF is a non-profit volunteer organization founded in 1985 whose sole purpose is to enrich and enhance educational opportunities in the Dysart Unified School District through fundraising.  College scholarships are awarded to seniors who demonstrate academic excellence, community involvement and who are in need of financial assistance. 

DEF’s intent is to engage the community in supporting public education by stimulating community involvement in education.  Scholarships are available to apply in January through March 15 of the graduating school year and are administered by the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF). Visit www.defweb.org for more information and to offer donations.

Andrea Cosio, a Valley Vista High School student, has been accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and received a $30,000 grant.

Andrea learned she was accepted to the prestigious school back in March.  Her extensive list of  academic and extracurricular achievements include a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 4.733 weighted GPA, Class of 2023 valedictorian, president of the National Honor Society, and is a member of the Key Club, Science Club and Varsity Show Choir.  Additionally, she is an avid writer devoting several hours each week to writing poems and short stories.

Andrea considers Math as her strongest subject as she spent her summers taking advanced classes, participated in math competitions, and tutored high school students in the subject.

Andrea was also named a commended student in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program for her PSAT score.

At MIT, she plans to major in Chemical Engineering and minor in Material Science in order to pursue her passion for research.  

“I hope to invest myself into research and field project opportunities to produce materials that are biobased, sustainable, and ultimately, more efficient.”

Andrea’s family has been a strong influence on her academic interests.  Her mother and father are in the mathematical and science fields, and her siblings are in the medical and engineering fields.

“It's where my people are. Ultimately, being accepted here attests to the hard work of my own and of my nurturing parents and siblings. Acceptance here was a process of preparation and opportunity-meeting. Now, MIT here I come!”

The mission of MIT is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.  The Institute is committed to generating, disseminating, and preserving knowledge, and to working with others to bring this knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges. 

It was a busy season for Career and Technical Education (CTE)  students throughout the district who competed at the state level in the HOSA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and SkillsUSA state conferences.  

The FBLA State Leadership conference was held on April 3-5 in Tucson, Arizona. The event gives students the opportunity to advance to the national conference, compete in a variety of competitions, participate in workshops, and run for state office for FBLA.

Valley Vista High School saw great success with several awards:

4th Place Digital Animation - Jacob Jackson, Gavin Ronald, and Spencer Baker

5th Place Digital Animation - Sadie Bright and Chris Reynolds

3rd place Broadcast Journalism - Michael Brelsford, Genesis Martinez, and Rebecca Micula 

3rd Place Digital Video Production - Livia Tibbling, David Brazil, and Olivia Castro

5th Place Digital Video Production - Katherine Hibbard, Matthew Dietzman, and Niyah Durrett 

2nd Place Partnership with Business Project - Ryan Irish

4th Place Graphic Design, Journalism - Kade Ruff 

1st Place Management of Information Systems - Issac White, Skyler Spinella, and Barsin Edward

FBLA inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.

Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) students from all four high schools competed in the HOSA State Leadership Conference held in Tucson March 29 - 31st.

Students had the opportunity to compete in multiple different events, participate in workshops, and network with current healthcare professionals as well as other students from across the state. 

Congratulations to the following students for their achievements in their respective events:

Shadow Ridge High School students Jack Ceron, Nate Delage, Parker Kiepke, and Allision Chov won 2nd Place HOSA Bowl Team Event.

Willow Canyon High School had several students place including: 

3rd Place Mental Health - Marian Amezcua and Jayda Corzo

Alternate Top 5 Researched Persuasive Writing and Speaking - Sarena Strickland

2nd Place Physical Therapy - Jasmine Laibe

3rd Place Extemporaneous Writing - Gianna McCurdy 

Alternate Top 5 Medical Law and Ethics -  Tyrah Davis

Alternate Top 5 Pathophysiology - McKenna Lee

HOSA is a student-led organization that seeks to empower students to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience. The HOSA State Leadership conference provides students the opportunity to use the skills they have learned in their Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses and apply them to a competitive events program. 

Students from all four district high schools attended the SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference held April 11-12 in Phoenix. Several students competed and found success in their respective events. 

Willow Canyon students found success in the following events:

1st Place Interactive Application and Game Design - Jasper Nicholson and Jericho Nicholson

1st Place Career Pathways Showcase: Arts and Comm - Eli Hernandez, Maliah McCaffrey, and Gracie Hansom

4th Place Job Skill Demo A - Madison Albin

Top 10 Pin Design Finalist - Viviana Ibuado

Willow Canyon also received the Silver Chapter of Distinction Award and Willow Canyon Graphic Design teacher and advisor, Amy Morrison was inducted into the Arizona SkillsUSA Hall of Champions. 

Shadow Ridge High School found success in many events including:

Gold in Pin Design - Jonathan Hornberger 

Silver in Pin Design - Kaylee Bernal 

Silver in Mobile Robotics - Wyatt Wilson and Ryan Louis

Silver in Web Design & Development - Joseph Holm and Aaron Skol

Bronze in Computer Programming - Zachary Hampton

Bronze in Mobile Robotics - Abel Garza and Travis Cain

SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Education partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development by building and reinforcing self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service (including health) occupations.

These awards will qualify several students to compete at the national level this summer.  

HOSA, FBLA, and SkillsUSA are a few of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities offered to prepare students for the academic and vocational skills necessary to successfully enter the workforce.  Learn more at dysart.org/cte.

Dysart Schools held their annual All District Boys Volleyball, Baseball, and Softball Team Award presentations to recognize and celebrate the student-athletes who displayed excellence in the Spring 2023 season. Athletes were selected by district coaches from Valley Vista, Shadow Ridge, Dysart, and Willow Canyon High Schools.

All District Boys Volleyball

First Team 

Ryan Louis - Shadow Ridge 

Jean Russell - Willow Canyon 

Adair Blue - Willow Canyon 

Rett Larson - Shadow Ridge

Austin Kuehler - Shadow Ridge

Paul Petersen - Willow Canyon 

Cade Connolly - Shadow Ridge 

Second Team 

Noah Katzer - Valley Vista

Emilio Feliciano - Dysart High

Ethan Roth - Willow Canyon

Jacoby Larson - Shadow Ridge

Parker Katena - Valley Vista

Aaron Lagman - Dysart High

Braiden Gowan - Dysart High 

All Academic Team

Paul Petersen - Willow Canyon

Wesley Smith - Willow Canyon

Brandon Narang - Shadow Ridge

Brady McMullen - Shadow Ridge

Kade Erickson - Dysart High

Caden White - Dysart High

Travis Sakurai - Valley Vista

Parker Katena - Valley Vista 

All District Softball 

First Team 

Jadyn Scott - Shadow Ridge

J'kai'a Scott - Shadow Ridge

Allison Lindsay - Shadow Ridge

Jayden Hart - Shadow Ridge

Jordan Hart - Shadow Ridge

Kayleigh Bowers - Willow Canyon

Abbi Markus - Willow Canyon

Trinity Kennemer - Willow Canyon

Rylee Turlington - Willow Canyon

Brenna Windahl - Willow Canyon

Ruby Lara - Dysart High

Savannah Farmer - Dysart High

Mya Sias - Dysart High

Makaila Hickman - Valley Vista 

Second Team

Destiny Johnston - Shadow Ridge

Liliana Moreno - Shadow Ridge

Delaney Salasek - Shadow Ridge

Harmony Andrade - Willow Canyon 

Kylie Bearden - Willow Canyon  

Olivia DeFord - Willow Canyon

Cali Overs - Dysart High

Adria Garcia - Valley Vista 

Katie Mayen - Valley Vista

Teagen Sorensen - Valley Vista 

Honrable Mention

Raynecloud Dallas - Dysart High 

Anastacia Achleitner - Dysart High

Izzy Ray - Willow Canyon

Jena Petersen - Willow Canyon

Savanna Gumowski - Valley Vista

Brooke Hyde - Valley Vista

Makena Melara - Shadow Ridge

Taylor Agaman - Shadow Ridge 

All Academic Team

Rylee Turlington - Willow Canyon

Kayleigh Bowers - Willow Canyon

Jayden Hart - Shadow Ridge

Allison Lindsay - Shadow Ridge

Aubrey Messmer - Dysart High

Juliana Bustraan - Dysart High

Makaila Hickman - Valley Vista

Isabelle Black - Valley Vista  

Player of the Year

Marissa McCann - Willow Canyon

All District Baseball

First Team

Dominic Tizzano - Valley Vista

Phoenix Madsen - Shadow Ridge

Dyllan Curthoys - Willow Canyon

Ian Anderson - Dysart High

Adrian Montoya - Valley Vista

Elijah White - Valley Vista

Nate Morales - Dysart High 

Juan Anaya - Dysart High

Cameron Davidson - Willow Canyon

Chance Greene - Shadow Ridge

Austin Matranga - Shadow Ridge

Mathews Esrra - Valley Vista

Spencer Catanach - Willow Canyon

Easton Carleton - Dysart High 

Second Team

Jake Miller - Willow Canyon

Mark Vargas - Shadow Ridge

Owen House - Willow Canyon

Kaile Hamlin - Willow Canyon

Ryan Olivarria - Dysart High

Eduardo Carranza - Dysart High 

Tyler Giacoletti-Moody - Dysart High

Chase Whitley - Shadow Ridge

Cole Holtorf - Shadow Ridge

Jack Langley - Shadow Ridge 

Derek Wheeler - Valley Vista

Trace Garrison - Shadow Ridge

Stephen Neal - Valley Vista

Carter Holton - Willow Canyon   

Shara Rose, Exceptional Student Services (ESS) Coordinator, is this year’s recipient of the Council for Exceptional Children Division of Early Childhood (AzDEC) Linda M. Levine Outstanding Leadership Award.

The AzDEC Linda M. Levine Outstanding Leadership Award is given annually to an Arizona nominee who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in supporting early childhood general/special education and/or inclusive programming. The award recognizes a teacher, administrator, related services professional, home visitor, or paraprofessional who demonstrates leadership qualities in going beyond the everyday demands of their position to create an exceptional environment resulting in improved services and impacting the lives of young children with exceptionalities and their families.

Shara has been with the district for 19 years, serving as an administrator for 11 years.  Her current role is an ESS Coordinator.  In her current role, she supports special education provision in multiple campuses in grades preschool through 8th grade and oversees the district’s special education preschool inclusion program, professional development and programming for the district including the Arizona Department of Education monitoring for Child Find, and child outcome data reporting to the state and federal office of special education.  Shara was presented with the award at the AzDEC Spring Conference.  

“Shara Rose exhibits the highest level of commitment to our youngest learners and works hard to make connections with our preschool families at Dysart Schools.  She creates a culture of partnering with families so that we can all work together and impact student learning and outcomes,” shared Corey Montaño, Exceptional Student Services Director.

The Arizona Division for Early Childhood (DEC) is an organization designed for individuals who work with or on behalf of children with special needs, birth through age 8, and their families.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 05/05/2023

DYSART SCHOOLS - Dysart Unified School District will host high school graduation ceremonies for the 2023 senior class on Monday, May 22.  The four graduation ceremonies will take place at the State Farm Stadium located at 1 Cardinals Drive in Glendale, Arizona.  Ceremonies will begin at the following times: 

10:00 a.m. – Valley Vista High School  

12:30 p.m. – Dysart High School 

3:00 p.m. – Shadow Ridge High School 

5:30 p.m. – Willow Canyon High School 

All graduation ceremonies will be live-streamed by Dysart Student Broadcasting Live (DSB Live) students at Vimeo.com/DSBlive. DSB Live is a program to provide high school students with the opportunity for hands-on, real-world experience in broadcasting.  The live stream is free of charge, and will allow anyone to watch the ceremony live. The video recording will also be available to view or download after the event. 

Graduation ceremonies are open to the public. There is no charge for admission or parking and tickets are not required.

The students were named Overall Grand Champions for all categories, winning the contest for the second year in a row.  Additionally, they received Fastest Lap with an average speed of 19.3mph, Most Laps with 6, and the Maker Division Championship.

Working with teachers and mentors, students spend nine months preparing for race day. Along the way, they apply physics, engineering, and energy concepts. They solve real-world problems, using mathematical, analytical, and critical thinking skills. Students work in teams and collaborate on ideas. They are challenged to translate their ideas into a working prototype, and along the way, they build leadership skills. 

The Solar Stallions team consisted of seven students: Mea Buffa, Jacob Hilton, Landon Holm, Colton Meyers, Alden Kowalewsky, Von Caparas, and Andrew Retzlaff.  They competed against 13 Arizona high schools.

The team prepared for the event the entire year by gathering the materials, planning the design, building and testing the go-kart powered entirely by energy produced by the sun.

“We had a great team this year that worked extremely hard. They made a kart that was lean and fast. It was very rewarding to see them accomplish their goals,” shared Shadow Ridge coach and Engineering teacher, Eric Bennett.

Engineering is one of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in the district that prepares students to enter the workforce with the academic and vocational skills needed to compete successfully in the job market

The event was sponsored by the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair (SARSEF). SARSEF focuses on engaging students through exploration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), in order to gain critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are important for whatever career they choose. 

Students in 3rd through 8th grade from across the Dysart Unified School District participated in the annual Math Challenge on April 29th at Dysart High School.  All 20 of the district’s elementary and middle schools are invited to participate and each school can enter up to three teams of six students.

There were three rounds in the Math Challenge.  The first round was a speed round containing 30 problems that students must collaborate and solve in a 10 minute timeframe.  The second and third rounds had six questions each that are focused more on problem solving and get more intense as they progress.  The second and third rounds had a time limit of 20 minutes each.  

The purpose of the event was to entice, engage, and challenge students to solve math problems while along the way strengthening their math fundamentals.  Collaboration was also a strong focus of the event as teams must work together and strategize to complete the problems to the best of their ability within the time allowed.  Congratulations to all the students that participated!  The results are as follows:

3rd and 4th Grades 

First Place: El Mirage Team 2 

Second Place: Canyon Ridge Team 2  

Third Place: Marley Park Team 1

5th and 6th Grades 

First Place: Canyon Ridge Team 1 

Second Place: Freedom Traditional Team 2 

Third Place: Sonoran Heights Middle School Team 1

7th and 8th Grades 

First Place: Sunset Hills Team 1 

Second Place: Sunset Hills Team 2 

Third Place: Sonoran Heights Middle School Team 1

Students from Willow Canyon High School recently received prestigious awards from Cambridge Assessment International Education, part of the University of Cambridge, in recognition of their outstanding achievements on the June 2022 series of examinations. 

Eight students total received recognition for their achievements. Alexandra Silea received the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award for receiving the highest score in the United States for History. Alexandra also received the Cambridge Scholar Award with Distinction for receiving an “A” in three or more Cambridge Subjects. Chase Steinmetz, Emilia Escobar, Hannah Schmid, Jonathan Stein, Makenzie Henige, Sofiya (Aspen) Galanyuk, and Sydney Voorhees each received the Cambridge Scholar Award with Merit for receiving at least a “B” or higher in three or more Cambridge Subjects.

As a global organization with a 160-year history and part of the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Assessment International Education partners with schools and districts around the world with a shared goal of making education transformation a reality. This program is part of an internationally benchmarked program that allows students to earn college-level credit in high school. Cambridge International uniquely provides an instructional system across four stages (Primary through Advanced) aligning rigorous curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment for all students in grades K-12.  

Shadow Ridge High School Educators Rising students recently participated in the Educators Rising State Leadership Conference on March 20-22 held in Tucson. 

Fifteen students from Shadow Ridge attended the event and competed in various competitions related to the education profession. Six students placed in their events and have qualified to attend the national conference this summer. Halle Feltner took first place and Logan Gibbs took second place in Lesson Planning and Delivery - STEM, Sarah DeCovnivk and Remie Whitt placed first in the Ethical Dilemma team event, and Jilliana Chacon and Maddelyn Meirose took second place in the Inside Our School Presentation team event. Additionally, Darnell Arizaga-Edmond, Joseph Behner, Katelyn Finley, Ryndi Gentner, Nevaeh Heil, and Liana Vargas placed in the top ten in their respective events and also qualified to attend the national conference. 

The 2023 Educators Rising National Conference will take place June 29 - July 2 in Orlando, Florida. 

Educators Rising Arizona is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students participating in Education Professions that is dedicated to ensuring that the future is full of high quality educators starting in high school. Educators Rising Arizona provides students with the opportunities to take what they learn in their Early Childhood Education and Education Professions classes and apply them to relevant, scenario-based competitions at the annual State Leadership Conference. Educators Rising Arizona also offers professional development opportunities and practical applications for students who aspire to enter the teaching profession by providing them with engaging breakout sessions centered around best practices and leadership development. 

Education Professions is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program offered at Shadow Ridge High School that prepares students for employment or post-secondary opportunities in the education field. The program provides instruction in education career choices, education structure and systems, theory, pedagogy, developmental stages, learning styles and methodology. The program also provides interactive experiences with students at different age levels, in a variety of content areas in educational environments. 

The Dysart Unified School District will be reviewing and voting on the Student Fee Schedule for the 2023-2024 school year at the next Governing Board meeting, which will be held on Thursday, April 13 at 6:00p.m. Board meetings are held at the district office, located at 15802 N. Parkview Place, Surprise, AZ 85375, and are also live streamed at Youtube.com/DysartUSD.  

To view an agenda, please visit https://go.boarddocs.com/az/dysart/Board.nsf/vpublic?open. Those who wish to make a public comment during the in person meeting can do so by turning in a Request to Address the Governing Board form to the Board Secretary prior to the meeting.

The Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) chapters from Dysart Unified School District’s four high schools competed in the Arizona DECA State Career Development Conference in Phoenix this past month. Students had the opportunity to network with more than 2,200 peers from around the state while competing in one of 50 unique business competitions. Additionally, students also had the opportunity to visit with Arizona’s top colleges, top businesses, and learn first-hand how to be ready at any level, for any career. 

Valley Vista High School students George Lopez, Marco Pantoja and Rafael Jacobo-Flores received Gold Certification in Retail Sales for the Monsoon Market.  All three students will attend Nationals. Nicollette Thomas qualified for Nationals in Marketing Communications and Xavier Lamme qualified for Nationals in Accounting Applications.

Willow Canyon High School received Gold certification in both Food Operations and Retail Sales, and received awards including Top 10 finalists.  Additionally, nine students will attend Nationals.

Dysart High School students participated in several categories.  Trystan Wright earned third place in Accounting Applications and will attend Nationals. Clement Policarpio and Cali Overs placed in the Fashion Design Virtual Business Challenge and will also attend Nationals.

Shadow Ridge High School received Gold certification in both Food Operations and Retail Sales. They took a large group of students and placed in several competitions including: 

Ruby Adkins: Marketing Management Finalist, 5th Place and Business Solutions Project, 4th Place, National Qualifier 

Luke Aranda: Franchise Business Plan, 2nd Place and Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making Finalist, National Qualifier 

Noah Axelson: Financial Literacy Project, 2nd Place, National Qualifier 

Lexus Collins: Travel and Tourism Finalist, 3rd Place, National Qualifier 

Chelsey Crowder: Marketing Management Finalist, 5th Place and Business Solutions Project, 4th Place, National Qualifier 

Emma Donegan: Travel and Tourism Finalist, 3rd Place, National Qualifier

Krystina Dunham: Financial Consulting Test Medal, 2nd Place, National Qualifier

Troy Echito: Franchise Business Plan, 2nd Place and Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making Finalist, National Qualifier

Andrew Ingman: Financial Consulting Test Medal, 5th Place, National Qualifier

Trinity Johnston: Community Awareness Project 3rd Place, National Qualifier

Stephen MacKellar: Personal Financial Literacy Test Medal, Finalist, 2nd Place and Financial Literacy Project 2nd Place, National Qualifier

Lily McDaniel: Business Services Marketing Finalist, National Qualifier

Daxton Mills: Principles of Business Management and Administration Finalist, National Qualifier

Skylar Nelson: Personal Financial Literacy Finalist

Chloe Nowling: Marketing Communications Finalist and Community Awareness Project, 3rd Place, National Qualifier

Mackenzie Plant: Community Awareness Project, 3rd Place, National Qualifier

Tyler Ryder: Automotive Services Marketing Finalist and Franchise Business Plan, 2nd Place, National Qualifier

Tristan St. Germain: Professional Selling, 2nd Place, National Qualifier

Brooke Tantillo: Community Awareness Project, 4th Place, National Qualifier

Rebekah VanZile: Community Awareness Project, 4th Place, National Qualifier

Emma Welborn: Personal Financial Literacy Finalist, National Qualifier

Gavin Williams: Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling, 1st Place, National Qualifier Sydney Zaroslinski: Personal Financial Literacy Test Medal, Finalist 

Kloey Garcia  and Jamie Johnson, School Based Enterprise Fan Shop Gold Certified, National Qualifiers

Mark Heimall, Daxton Mills, and Varish Yadav, School Based Enterprise Snack Shop Gold Certified, National Qualifiers 

Lily Smith: National Qualifier

The DECA International Career Development Conference will take place April 23-25, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. 

DECA is a premier student organization that supports the development of marketing and management skills in career areas such as hospitality, finance, sales and service, business administration, and entrepreneurship.  DECA is one of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities offered to prepare students for the academic and vocational skills necessary to successfully enter the workforce. Learn more at dysart.org/cte.

In partnership with the City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage, students across the Dysart Unified School District were invited to participate in the My El Mirage and My Surprise Essay Contests in November of 2022.  Prompts were developed in partnership with each city to elicit responses that spoke about each city’s mission or vision.  

More than 200 students in grades 3-12 submitted their essays with schools choosing the top 128 district-wide.  The writings were evaluated based on understanding of city services/amenities, creativity, clarity, sincerity of thought, and proper grammar.

Winners from Surprise were selected in specific grade bands and were honored March 7 at the Surprise City Council meeting including: Cadence Fumia and Rose Vasquez from Countryside Elementary in the grade 3-4 division, Tatianna Pellegrino from Freedom Traditional School for 5-8th grade and Kaleb Delgado from Shadow Ridge High School who won for the high school division.  

Excerpts included below.

Cadence Fumia encourages people to live in Surprise: “My name is Cadence and I live in Surprise, Arizona. If you don’t, what the heck are you waiting for?”

Rose Vasquez expresses how she feels living in Surprise: “I am really happy I moved here because I have my family, a great school that I really like. I have some new friends, and it’s really clean, safe, and friendly.”

Tatianna Pellegrino shares this insight about Surprise: “Danish architect and urban design consultant, Jan Gehl once said, ‘A good city is like a good party–you stay for longer than you plan.’ Surprise isn’t just a good party; it's a great party.”  

Kaleb Delgado says: “[Surprise] carries nothing by surprises, and as a resident here, I am proud to be in such a beautiful community.” 

The City of El Mirage structured their essay winners a bit differently and awarded the top three students in grade 3-8: Esmeralda Olvera Martinez; 1st place, Lejla Tvrtkovic; 2nd place, and Kaleb Rodriquez; third place all from El Mirage Elementary School. High school recognitions include Nathaniel Cosio, and Andre Mena, both 11th grade students at Valley Vista High School.

The five students and their families were invited to attend the City of El Mirage Council meeting on March 7.  The students were recognized and received ribbons and certificates.

Esmeralda Olvera Martinez shares her reasons for loving her city: “So, do you want to know why El Mirage is special? Well, I’ll tell you. You’re going to love it.” She goes on to describe the schools, library, and festivals in El Mirage. 

Nathaniel Cosio shares the value of community: “In the El Mirage community, I feel like everyone knows each other and have fun just getting to live in the city.”

Student winners from both categories were recognized at the Dysart Unified School District Governing Board meeting on March 9th, 2023.

Danielle Edgerton coordinated the dual city essay contest with support from teachers, administrators, and city leaders.

“It has been such a rewarding experience to partner with both the City of Surprise and the City of El Mirage to honor our scholars and writers,” shared Edgerton. “The essays submitted by all of the students were sincere celebrations of their schools and communities.”

The Dysart Unified School District held their annual All District Boys and Girls Basketball and Soccer Team Award presentations to recognize and celebrate the student athletes who displayed excellence in the Winter 2022-23 season. Athletes were selected by district coaches from Valley Vista, Shadow Ridge, Dysart, and Willow Canyon high schools.

All District Girls Basketball

All District Boys Soccer

All District Girls Soccer

Photo Galleries:

All District Boys & Girls Basketball

All District Boys & Girls Soccer

Congratulations to the talented athletes who earned top honors at the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) State Wrestling Tournament held at Veterans Memorial Coliseum February 16-18, 2023. 

Julian Laborin from Dysart High School was named Heavyweight State Champion in Division III. Shadow Ridge High School had four students place including two State Champions in Division I with Ammon Passey taking home the top spot in the 150 lbs weight class and Abel Garza earned the championship in the 215 lbs weight class.  Stallions Jeremy LeBlanc earned 6th place in the 144 lbs weight class and Carter Cianfrogna earned 6th place in the 120 lbs weight class.  Valley Vista High School student Brianna Reyes won the State Championship in the 126 lbs weight class in girls wrestling.  Also from Valley Vista, Eddie Reyes earned the fourth place spot in Division I for the 150 lbs weight class.  Willow Canyon High School had three placements with Jazmine Rivera taking third place in the 107 lbs weight class, Andrew Manore earned second place for Division II in the 175 lbs weight class, and Dominic Jewell won fourth place for Division II in the 215 lbs weight class. 

The Winter Arts competition season was a banner year for Dysart Schools and our talented students.  Students competed in several events throughout the last few months in a variety of arts disciplines.

NAU Jazz Madrigal Festival

All four high school choirs competed at NAU Jazz Madrigal Festival.  The annual festival is one of the largest of its kind in the United States, featuring special guest clinicians and over 140 high school ensembles from Arizona and nearby states. The two-day festival includes a host concert in which choirs from NAU and professional groups of national and international stature appear.  

• The Valley Vista High School (VVHS) Concert Choir received a Superior
  
• Shadow Ridge High School (SRHS) Stellar FX Choir received an Excellent
  
• Shadow Ridge High School (SRHS) Constellation Choir received a Superior with a score of 34 out of 35 one point away from a perfect score
  
• Willow Canyon High School (WCHS)l Concert Choir received an Excellent.
  

Arizona Music Educators Association Awards (AMEA)

Dysart Schools had 29 students in grades 6-8 selected for AMEA All-State Band.  Students in 7-8th grade have to audition to be selected.  Dysart had eight students earn this honor.   

The following high school students were selected for AMEA Regional Ensembles:

• Choir (all VVHS students) -   Alayna Alger, Samira Doxie, Desirae Jones, Susanna Alger, Luke Lundberg, Stephen Neal, Josiah Chang
• Orchestra - Avery Slade (VVHS) 
• Band- Esteban Mejia (VVHS), Jonathan Chang (VVHS),  Esteban Mejia (VVHS) , Eli Hernandez (WCHS), Erin Chon (WCHS), Mallory McNeece (WCHS), Mosiah Johnson (SRHS), Ajaya Miles (SRHS), Carter Horrocks (SRHS), Savannah Larsen (WCHS), Rebecca Geiger (DHS), Ryan Cervantes (DHS)
  

In addition to Regionals and All State, 59 choral and piano students competed in the AMEA Solo and Ensemble competition.  They came away with ten Superior Ratings and 26 Excellent Ratings.   The two Shadow Ridge High School show choirs, Stellar FX and Constellation, came away with Superior ratings.   

Arizona Regional Acting Festival

Shadow Ridge High School and Willow Canyon High School Theatre competed at the Arizona Regional Acting Festival.   The following students qualified to compete at the National Thespian Conference this summer in Indiana.   

• Liam Carmichael; Monologue - SRHS
• Alexandra Richardson; Solo - SRHS
• Leilani Miranda; Solo - SRHS
  
• Alexandra Richardson; Leilani Miranda Duet - SRHS
  
• Leilani Miranda; Monologue - SRHS
  
• Giovanni Manganiello; Solo- WCHS
  
• Karlynn Edwards; Solo- WCHS
  
• Millie Hodges, Taryn Fay, Lily Perrigo; Musical Theatre - Group Musical- WCHS
  
• Matthew Cabello, Mia Hiniker; Musical Theatre - Duet- WCHS
  
• Matthew Cabello; Falsettos Musical Theatre - Solo- WCHS
  
• Mia Hiniker; Musical Theatre - Solo- WCHS
  
• Karlynn Edwards, Jillian Gleason; Musical Theatre - Duet-WCHS
  
• Giovanni Manganiello, Psymon Kelly; Acting - Duet Scenes- WCHS
  
• Lily Sekosky; Tech - Scenic Design- WCHS
  
• Jordan Davis; Tech - Costume Design-WCHS
  

Visual Arts Awards

Valley Vista High School student Jada Diaz won the Sue Hunter Scholarship at the 2023 New Horizons Art Show.  New Horizons is an annual, valley-wide high school student art exhibition that showcases local talent at the Shemer Art Center.

In partnership with the City of Surprise and the The Surprise Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission,  Dysart Schools student artwork is displayed at the Surprise City Art Gallery now through March 9, 2023.  

The Surprise Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission recognized the following students for artistic excellence within the show.  

• Kaci Ponte; K-2nd Grade - Riverview School
  
• Tessa Cibils; 3-5th Grade - Sunset Hills Elementary School
• Kaden Summers; 6-8th Grade - West Point Elementary School
  
• Maleeyah Denham; 9-12th Grade - Willow Canyon High School
  

The public is invited to view the artwork Monday - Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm at 16000 N. Civic Center Plaza, Surprise AZ 85374 through March 9, 2023.

Dysart Schools is proud to celebrate the achievements of our students within our arts programs.  These students along with many more will be featured at the Dysart Festival of Arts on Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 10am-3pm at Valley Vista High School.  This event showcases the visual and performing arts programs from 16 elementary schools, four middle schools, four high schools, and preschool students.  We hope you can join us.  Learn more about the event at www.dysart.org/artsfest.

The Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) chapters from Willow Canyon High School, Valley Vista High School, Dysart High School, and Shadow Ridge High School recently competed in the Arizona DECA District 6 Leadership Conference at Arizona State University in Tempe. The conference allows students to compete in various business and marketing events and are aligned with national curriculum standards and industry validated.  

Willow Canyon received their best results in recent years with 11 total medals in several different events. Four students received first place, four students received second place, and three students received third place in their respective events. Willow Canyon also had many first time competitors place in their events.

Valley Vista received eight medals including two first place medals, three second place medals, and one third place medal. Valley Vista also had several students place in the top five of their events for testing and role play.

Dysart High school found success in several events with over 11 medals, including six first place medals, one second place medal, and two third place medals.

Shadow Ridge had over 15 students receive test medals, 11 students receive first place medals, six students receive second place medals, and 12 students receive third place medals.

The students will have the opportunity to compete at the DECA State Career Development Conference February 23-25 in Phoenix, where they will compete against over 2,000 students from across the state.

DECA is a premier student organization that supports the development of marketing and management skills in career areas such as hospitality, finance, sales and service, business administration, and entrepreneurship. DECA is one of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities offered to prepare students for the academic and vocational skills necessary to successfully enter the workforce. Learn more at dysart.org/CTE

Fatem Kadhem from Valley Vista High School was named a Flinn Scholar Semifinalist.  The Flinn Scholarship is a prestigious program that awards applicants based on academic achievement, leadership and involvement, service to the community, ability to communicate, and personal qualities. 

Fatem is one of more than 80 high-achieving Arizona high-school seniors named as a semifinalist out of 1,045 applicants seeking the Flinn Scholarship.  

By being named Flinn Scholarship Semifinalist, Fatem will qualify for a specially designated scholarship from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, or the University of Arizona.

Fatem is quite accomplished and involved at Valley Vista.  She is in the top 1% of her class and has a 4.650 GPA.  She serves in many leadership roles including Key Club President, Book Club Co-founder and Treasurer, Science Olympiad Mentor and Member, Environmental Club President and Co-founder, and she is a member of the National Honor Society.  Fatem also was named a Commended student in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program for her PSAT score.

“To come this far in our very competitive process is an honor earned by just 8% of applicants from around the state. These students impressed reviewers with their academic achievement, service, and leadership,” said Anne Lassen, Flinn Foundation vice president, scholarship and education initiatives. 

Fatem will advance to the interview portion later this month with an opportunity to be named one of 40 Flinn Scholarship Finalists. Finalists will be interviewed again with a five-person selection committee at the Flinn Foundation. The Flinn Scholars Class of 2023 will be announced in April.

After graduation, Fatem plans to attend Arizona State University to major in Mechanical Engineering.

“Fatem Kadhem is an outstanding individual! She is kind, charismatic, has a wonderful sense of humor, and has the drive to succeed in anything she sets out to accomplish,” shared Valley Vista High School counselor, Larissa Scott. “If anyone deserves this opportunity, she is by far the best semifinalist out there.”

Now in its 38th year, the Flinn Scholarship is valued at more than $130,000 and includes funding for tuition, housing, meals, and study abroad. About 20 Arizona high-school seniors are selected each year and attend the honors colleges of the state’s three public universities.

The Flinn Foundation is a privately endowed, philanthropic grantmaking organization established in 1965 by Dr. Robert S. and Irene P. Flinn. Its mission is to improve the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations.

Update January 13, 2023

Fatem was named one of 39 Flinn Scholarship Finalists and will move on to the last stage of the competition with a chance to be named a Class of 2023 Flinn Scholar.  Interviews will take place in March with recipients announce in April.

Students from Dysart High School and Shadow Ridge High School were recently honored at the DECA Western Region Leadership Conference hosted in Anaheim, California. The competition allows students to compete in various business and marketing events.

Trystan Wright from Dysart High School received 3rd place overall in his section for Marketing Communications in the Western Region.

The Shadow Ridge High School recognitions include: 

• Ellen-Marie MacKellar and Chloe Nowling- 1st Place Role Play 
• Elisa Gongaware and Lily McDaniel- 2nd Place Role Play
• Gavin Williams and Varish Yadav- 3rd Place Role Play 
• Stephen MacKellar and Cohen Peters- 3rd Place Test 
• Brooke Tantillo and Rebekah Vanzile- 4th Place DECA Garage

DECA conferences are targeted, highly-focused learning experiences for students and advisors that support National Curriculum Standards and the development of 21st Century Skills. DECA conferences bring members into the larger DECA community while providing unique opportunities to extend classroom learning. Each of DECA’s conferences connects with corporate professionals to engage students in learning industry-related trends and content.

DECA is a Career and Technical Student Organization specifically for students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. To learn more about CTE programs in the district, visit dysart.org/CTE.

The Dysart Unified School District is currently seeking vendors for the Festival of the Arts on Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 10am-2pm at the Vista Center for the Arts.  This festival brings together the entire Dysart community for a day of celebrating the Arts. Last year's festival brought in approximately 7,500 people and we are planning to expand and offer more opportunities this year. We are seeking a variety of options including arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, and more! For more information please visit www.dysart.org/artsfest.

On Thursday, December 8, 2022 the board welcomed incoming board member, Jennifer Drake, and re-elected board member, Dawn Densmore, during an Oath of Office Swearing In ceremony. Their new 4-year terms will officially begin in January, 2023. The first meeting of the new year will be January 12, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Visit www.Dysart.org/GoverningBoard to see a list of the full five-member board or view the full board meeting schedule. All meetings are open to the public and are held at the Dysart Education Center, 15802 N Parkview Place, Surprise AZ 85374. They are also live streamed at Youtube.com/DysartUSD

The Dysart Unified School District held their All District Football and Volleyball Team Award presentation to recognize and celebrate the student athletes who displayed excellence in the Fall 2022 season. Athletes were selected by district coaches from Valley Vista, Shadow Ridge, Dysart, and Willow Canyon High Schools.

All District Football

Player of the Year - Jonah Flowers - Valley Vista 

Offensive Player of the Year - Jayden Pico - Shadow Ridge 

Defensive Player of the Year - Dominic Jewell - Willow Canyon

Coach of the Year - Justin Stangler - Willow Canyon

Coach of the Year - Derek Wahlstrom - Valley Vista

First Team Offensive 

Matt Spurlin (OL, Willow Canyon)

Logan Getejanc (OL, Shadow Ridge)

WestLee McLeod (OL, Shadow Ridge)

Quamire Jones (OL, Valley Vista)

Dion LaGuardia (OL, Valley Vista)

AJ Crespin (QB, Valley Vista)

Anthony Garcia (RB, Shadow Ridge)

Brady Ferris (RB, Willow Canyon)

Chase Whitley (WR, Shadow Ridge)

Adair Blue (WR, Willow Canyon)

Mikel Henderson (WR, Valley Vista)

Blaise Nelson (WR, Valley Vista)

Ethan Espinoza (Flex, Valley Vista)

First Team Defensive

Jason Carter (DB, Shadow Ridge)

Bryson Wilke (DB, Willow Canyon)

Stacy Jacobs (DB, Valley Vista)

Cee Baldemar Sanchez (DB, Shadow Ridge) 

Julian Laborin (DL, Dysart HS)

Josh Macon (DL, Willow Canyon)

Roy Dillard (DL, Valley Vista)

Paul Petersen (DL, Willow Canyon)

Filemoni Lauina (LB, Shadow Ridge)

Ismael Gamez (LB, Dysart HS)

Anthony Hernandez (LB, Valley Vista)

Nathan Beard (LB, Valley Vista)

Rocco Bonini (Flex, Shadow Ridge)

First Team Special Teams

Kicker - Bryson Wilke - Willow Canyon

Kick Returner - Blaise Nelson - Valley Vista

Long Snapper - Ryan Carter - Willow Canyon

Punter - Bryson Wilke - Willow Canyon

Punt Returner - Mikel Henderson - Valley Vista

Second Team Offensive

Ryan Carter (OL, Willow Canyon)

Lavelle Thomas (OL, Shadow Ridge)

Dylan Escalante (OL, Shadow Ridge)

Reece Shimonowsky (OL, Willow Canyon)

Bobby Peden (OL, Valley Vista)

Calvin Matthews (QB, Willow Canyon)

Damian Zuniga (RB, Valley Vista)

Carter Cianfrogna (RB, Shadow Ridge)

Parker Brooks (WR, Shadow Ridge)

Izeyah Fresquez (WR, Shadow Ridge)

Jeramicheal Hernandez (WR, Valley Vista)

Landon Borders (WR, Willow Canyon)

Taesean Allen (Flex, Dysart HS)

Second Team Defensive 

Avrey Jeffery-Dillard (DB, Valley Vista)

TJ Tucker (DB, Valley Vista)

Austin Rhodes (DB, Willow Canyon) 

ason Campbell (DB, Willow Canyon)

Brady Alfonso (DL, Willow Canyon)

Izeyah Torres (DL, Shadow Ridge)

Oscar Williams (DL, Shadow Ridge)

Logan Arrowsmith (DL, Valley Vista)

Tony Romano (LB, Valley Vista)

Drew Church (LB, Willow Canyon)

Dwayne Glean (LB, Willow Canyon) 

Jared Parker (LB, Shadow Ridge)

Dillon Grant (Flex, Dysart HS)

Second Team Special Teams

Kicker - Sam Cauley - Shadow Ridge

Kick Returner - Cee Baldemar Sanchez - Shadow Ridge

Long Snapper - Everson Taylor - Shadow Ridge

Punter - Camden Brown - Shadow Ridge

Punt Returner - Drew Church - Willow Canyon

Honorable Mention 

Johnny Villarreal (Valley Vista), Jason Jamison (Valley Vista), Jason Boltin (Valley Vista), Isaiah Sweeney (Valley Vista), Dallas Marker (Valley Vista), Miles Pringle (Valley Vista), Austin Bouffard (Willow Canyon), Morgan Frego (Willow Canyon), Thomas Gilbert (Willow Canyon), Braxton Vinson (Willow Canyon), Justin Lafitte (Willow Canyon), Beau Petersen (Willow Canyon), Caleb White (Shadow Ridge), Everson Taylor (Shadow Ridge), Khalil Young (Shadow Ridge), Jasiah Flores (Shadow Ridge), Jayden Garcia (Shadow rIdge), Abel Garza (Shadow Ridge), Izaiah Carrion (Dysart HS), Donovan Hinchey (Dysart HS), Xavier Silvas (Dysart HS), Ian Elliot (Dysart HS)

All District Volleyball

Offensive Player of the Year -  Addisyn Pohl - Shadow Ridge 

Defensive Player of the Year - Maddox Richtmyre - Willow Canyon

Coach of the Year - Joe Volkman - Shadow Ridge

Coach of the Year - David Chavez - Valley Vista 

First Team

Maren Matthews - Hitter/Middle Blocker - Valley Vista

Dafne Zamora - Hitter/Middle Blocker - Valley Vista

Marielle Ramos - Hitter/Middle Blocker - Valley Vista

Autumn White - Hitter/Middle Blocker - Shadow Ridge

Kobie Fowler - Setter - Shadow Ridge

Olivia Moore - Setter - Valley Vista

Christina Lopez - Libero - Valley Vista

Second Team

Danielle Welker - Hitter/Middle Blocker - Willow Canyon

Chyler Martin - Hitter/Middle Blocker - Willow Canyon

Angel Montez - Hitter/Middle Blocker - Dysart HS 

Emma Welborn - Hitter/Middle Blocker - Shadow Ridge

Madeline Stein - Setter - Willow Canyon

Natalie Carter - Setter - Dysart HS

Ashlynn Mainey - Libero - Shadow Ridge

All Academic Team

Angel Montez - Dysart HS

Mia Fleming - Dysart HS 

Olivia Nelson - Shadow Ridge HS

Autumn White - Shadow Ridge

Madeline Stein - Willow Canyon

Victoria Virgil - Willow Canyon

Julia Wilson - Valley Vista

Marielle Ramos - Valley Vista

Honorable Mention

Mia Fleming - Dysart

Lesli Arredondo Matehuala - Dysart 

Emilie Bojorquez-McFadden - Shadow Ridge 

Breilyn Costley - Shadow Ridge  

Anika Clermont - Willow Canyon

Ketzibe Villalobos - Willow Canyon

Elizabeth Moyer - Valley Vista

Kaleigh Glass - Valley Vista

Willow Canyon High School and Shadow Ridge High School theater students were both recognized at the Arizona Thespian Conference in downtown Phoenix November 18-19.  The event featured numerous productions presented by high schools throughout the state. Students also participated in a variety of workshops led by theater professionals from around the country. 

Willow Canyon High School thespians earned the Gold Honor Troupe, the highest honor that can be given.  The group was named gold for demonstrating excellence in high school theater by achieving high standards within the school year in the following categories: productions, thespian activities, school activities, and community services activities.

Shadow Ridge High School competed in the One Act Marathon during the conference and received a Superior honor for their play, Biscuit$.  Students Michael Festin, Payton Mortenson, Alexandra Richardson, Brooke Harrison, and Analyse Sosa were recognized for their contributions to the performance.

Arizona Thespians is a group of teachers, students, and professionals who are dedicated to promoting theater education in our schools and community through teamwork, diversity, gratitude, and accountability. Arizona Thespians are affiliated with the International Thespian Society and the Educational Theater Association. Over the last three and a half decades, Arizona Thespians have provided services to over 70,000 adolescents and thousands of educators.

Congratulations to the talented students who were selected for the All State Show Choir by the Arizona Choral Educators. More than 400 students from high schools around Arizona auditioned on November 5 to be a part of the All State Show Choir at Horizon High School. A total of ten Valley Vista High School students will represent the Monsoon including:

Laney Alger (4th Chair Soprano) 

Desi Jones (Second Chair Alto)

Zoie Foster (4th Chair Alto)

Samira Doxie (8th Chair Alto)

Celisa Scarbrough (12th Chair Alto)

Tristen Moran-Mills (2nd Chair Tenor)

Luke Lundberg (9th Chair Bass)

Andrew Estrella (11th Chair Bass)

And alternates:   

Levi Lundberg (1st Alternate Tenor) 

Josiah Chang (3rd Alternate Bass)

“We are extremely proud of the hard work and dedication these students have put into their craft to continue to excel at the state level,” shared Danae Marinelli, Dysart Schools Director of Arts.

The All-State Show Choir is part of the Arizona All-State Jazz/Show Choir Festival. It is a choir of approximately 60 high school students selected from the state. Selection is made through an audition process which requires a live singing and dancing audition. Selected students learn and memorize the performance songs before attending the three-day long festival where they learn the choreography and refine the music. This festival performance will be held on February 2nd at Mesa Community College Performing Arts Center with the All State Jazz Choir beginning at 6:30 pm followed by the All State Show Choir at 8:00 pm. 

The Arizona Choral Educators (ACE) is a constituent group of the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA) which serves the needs of elementary, junior high, high school, and collegiate directors throughout Arizona. AMEA was established in 1939 as a cooperative effort of music educators. Since that time, the association has become affiliated with The National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

To celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up month in September, Dysart Schools partnered with local libraries and encouraged students of all ages to apply for their library card and visit the library in their neighborhood.  

More than a thousand library cards were delivered throughout the district.  Rancho Gabriela Elementary School students had one of the biggest turnouts with more than 300 students receiving their card.  

Need a card? Visit one of the local branches in El Mirage, Surprise and Waddell including Asante Library, Northwest Regional Library, White Tank Library, Hollyhock Library and the El Mirage Library or visit https://mcldaz.org/en-US/.  A big thanks to the Maricopa Library District for encouraging the love of literacy in our students! 

Looking for information or resources? One of the best places you can go to find the information you need about Dysart Schools is our website. We post a lot of great information and links here, and in the blue bar at the top of the page you can easily find the content that relates most to you by selecting Parents, Students, or Community. Our home page features our most recent news items, a general calendar as well as links to arts and athletic event calendars, along with general information about our many offerings. 

If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the website, need to verify information, or have a pressing concern, we invite you to contact us directly. The Dysart Unified School District has established procedures to effectively and efficiently respond to questions and suggestions from parents and community members through our Guide to Solving Problems. The guide is meant to serve as a resource for parents and community members to identify the district staff that would have the most information to provide answers to their questions and concerns or solve problems. Typically we ask that you seek to resolve issues at the school site level first, and if the issue is still not resolved, the Guide will let you know the next person to reach out to. 

The Dysart Unified School District is here to meet the needs of all students, staff, parents and community members. Please don't hesitate to contact us, using the steps listed on the Guide to Solving Problems, whenever you have questions or concerns related to the school, district or your child's progress. It is our pleasure to serve you, and our goal is to always provide an outstanding experience for each of our students, parents, staff and community members.

Erika Adelman, Valley Vista High School Arts Teacher, was named one of three finalists for the 2022 Tancer Arts in Education Award.  The Tancer award recognizes Arizona teachers dedicated to sharing a love of the arts with their students.

Adelman has been an arts teacher in Arizona for more than 25 years, including 16 at Dysart Schools teaching at Canyon Ridge School and in her current role at Valley Vista High School.  She serves as a mentor to new art teachers, team lead, writes arts curriculum, and is serving as the district art lead at the high school level for this school year.

Adelman builds strong bonds with her students and encourages many to participate in art mentorships, community programs, and local competitions to feature their art outside of the classroom.  She collaborates with Advanced Placement teachers from around the state and recently became an Advanced Placement (AP) Reader for the National College Board AP Studio Art program in order to better prepare and score her students for the rigorous AP exam.

The award received its name in memory of Robert "Bob" Tancer, local art advocate extraordinaire, who passed away in March 2020. Bob was an active member of the Act One Board, believing in the organization's mission and working on the committee to expand the educational depth of the field trip experience.  Bob saw the tremendous role the teacher played in making the experience rich and educationally rewarding.

Act One is a nonprofit founded in 2011 to provide children in Title 1 schools in Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties with the opportunity to experience arts performances and exhibitions through field trips to professional theaters and museums. Act One provides meaningful arts experiences that enhance the academic and creative potential of children and families in Arizona. For more information on Act One, visit www.act1az.org.

Jim Grieshaber, Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Dysart Schools, was named the CTE Administrator of the Year by the Association for Career and Technical Education of Arizona (ACTEAZ).

This award recognizes ACTEAZ administrative CTE professionals at the school, district, or state level who have demonstrated leadership in ensuring teacher and student success and have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique, and effective career and technical education programs. 

Mr. Grieshaber has been instrumental in growing the understanding of CTE with district leadership. He continuously meets with site administrators to communicate opportunities for growth with programs and provides feedback on student and program performance data. Grieshaber has worked to implement programs and support CTE teachers through professional development, networking opportunities, and ensuring CTE programs have the equipment and resources.

Mr. Grieshaber is constantly evaluating programs, as well as community needs by attending Think Tanks, city council and workforce meetings, community business events, and networking events with industry partners. His involvement creates partnerships with local businesses and valuable internship opportunities for students.  

“Jim is an integral part of Dysart’s identity,” shared Dr. Shelley Isai, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Education Services at Dysart Schools.“ He has worked diligently over the years to build robust programs that ensure students have options after high school and are college and career ready.  No individual is more worthy of this award than Jim Grieshaber.”

Grieshaber has worked in the district for more than twenty years serving as an elementary teacher, high school teacher, assistant principal and principal.  He previously served as the Arizona Council of Occupational/Vocational Administrators (ACOVA) president which provides mentorship to other CTE Directors around the state.

The vision of ACTEAZ is to grow and promote CTE at local and national levels and provide members professional and leadership growth opportunities, creative ideas and statewide networking, access to local and national companies for products, career applications and community outreach.

Shadow Ridge High School Educators Rising students Halle Feltner and Rhys Davis recently participated in the Educators Rising National Leadership Conference held June 20-24 in Washington, DC. 

Each student qualified to attend the National Conference after competing at the State Leadership Conference held in Tucson this past spring. Halle Feltner placed second in STEM Lesson Planning and Delivery in which she designed, taught to third graders, and reflected on with the judging panel. 

“The National Educators Rising Conference was a great opportunity for students to compete with others from across the Nation,” said Andrea Haser, Shadow Ridge Educators Rising advisor. “They also connected with future educators and listened to great speakers at opening/closing and breakout sessions. The location of the conference in Washington D.C. also offered additional learning experiences as we toured parts of the nation's capital city.”

Educators Rising Arizona is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students participating in Education Professions that is dedicated to ensuring that the future is full of high quality educators starting in high school. Educators Rising Arizona provides students with the opportunities to take what they learn in their Early Childhood Education and Education Professions classes and apply them in relevant, scenario-based competitions at the annual State Leadership Conference. Educators Rising Arizona also offers professional development opportunities and practical applications for students who aspire to enter the teaching profession by providing them with engaging breakout sessions centered around best practices and leadership development.

Education Professions is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program offered at Shadow Ridge High School that prepares students for employment or post secondary opportunities in the education field. The program provides instruction in education career choices, education structure and systems, theory, pedagogy, developmental stages, learning styles and methodology. The program also provides interactive experiences with students at different age levels, in a variety of content areas in educational environments.

This summer, Emily Allen, 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher at Mountain View School, was invited to attend the Supreme Court Summer Institute (SCSI) in Washington DC by Street Law and the Supreme Court Historical Society. 

SCSI provides student centered learning strategies to teach both landmark and current court cases. Sixty teachers were selected nationwide from a competitive application process focused on teaching philosophy and implementation in the classroom. 

As an attendee, Emily increased her understanding of the Supreme Court, met resource experts (including clerks, lawyers who participated in famous cases, and the Solicitor General), and added engaging strategies to her educator toolbelt. 

“My favorite takeaways were a conflict deliberation structure and breakdown of different aspects of Supreme Court cases in various activities,” shared Allen. “These strategies will put students at the center of the classroom as they discuss, evaluate, and create arguments about the rights of citizens and the actions of the government.”

Street Law's mission is to advance civic and law related education to empower all people to positively transform their world.  Since 1995, over 1,500 social studies educators from across the country have come together for the Institute.

Anthony Taddei, Dysart Schools Federal Projects Specialist, was selected to receive the Friends of FosterEd Community Champion Award. This award recognizes, promotes, and celebrates professionals who advance the academic and social success of students experiencing foster care in Arizona’s education and child welfare systems.

The award was presented at the Virtual Student Success Awards and Recognition Ceremony. Anthony was nominated by Sandra Preciado from the Friends of FosterEd and was recognized for his belief in the power of empathy and collaboration.

“Anthony has continuously shown up to provide support for students in foster care with an empathic lens,” shared Preciado. “His actions prove he values strong collaboration among the various systems students are engaged with.”

Friends of FosterEd is committed to creating a reality where all system-involved youth graduate from high school with the widest array of possibilities for their future. They initiate and facilitate multiple state and regional collective impact campaigns, partnering with teams of state and local leaders, students, and families to build measured progress toward a shared vision for improving the educational conditions and opportunities for young people.

Ashlynn Luzier, a recent graduate from Valley Vista High School won first place in the state InvestWrite competition. InvestWrite is an extension of the Stock Market Game that students participated in during Economics class over the course of twelve weeks each semester.     

Students invested a hypothetical $100,000 into the stock market to try and make the most money possible. After competing in the game, students had a chance to reflect on what they learned from the game and apply it to an essay prompt: taking what you learned from the stock market game, how would you invest 100,000 dollars to cause the most growth over the next 30 years?    

Ashlynn invested in Blue Chip stocks such as Amazon, Apple and Microsoft and then put money into a US Treasury Bond and then a mutual fund.     

“I would like to apply what I have learned by doing my own personal investing,” shared Ashlynn in her essay submission. “Investing this money would help me pay for things such as my books and on-campus living expenses at college next year. It will also help me to build healthy financial habits and prepare for my future.”   

Ashlynn will go on to represent Arizona in the national competition.   

InvestWrite is a program of the SIFMA Foundation offered exclusively to teachers and students participating in The Stock Market Game and builds a bridge between classroom learning and the real world.    

The SIFMA Foundation is dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of the financial markets for individuals of all backgrounds. Drawing on the support and expertise of the financial industry, the SIFMA Foundation provides financial education programs and tools that strengthen economic opportunity across communities and increase individuals’ awareness of and access to the benefits of the global marketplace.

Savannah Leone, a 2022 graduate from Shadow Ridge High School received the Youth Kindness Achievement Award from the Be Kind People Project.  

Recipients are chosen based on how their kindness and leadership skills have been demonstrated among their peers and celebrates young people who shine in their communities.

Savannah received the honor at a recent Be Kind People Project awards ceremony for an event she hosted at Shadow Ridge.

You Matter Week was a school-wide celebration throughout campus built on the idea that everyone matters and no one is alone.  The event brought all students together to show that everyone should be seen and be heard.  Student names were written on cards throughout the halls and student and staff hosted “Ted Talks” to share how they’ve grown in their journey in life.

Savannah was recognized at the May 25 Governing Board meeting and shared an excerpt below from her acceptance speech. 

“I live life embracing my strengths so that I can fulfill my individual purpose. I undoubtedly believe that my responsibility on this earth is to make a difference and change lives. I’ve made it my mission to make sure everyone feels loved and included and that they belong.” 

Throughout her high school career, Savannah participated in various activities including soccer, cheer, football, tennis, student council, best buddies program, lacrosse and dance.  Savannah will attend the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University to study sociology and criminology.   

The Be Kind People Project® (BKPP) is a public 501 (c) 3 non-profit dedicated to providing students with comprehensive youth development programming that effectively uses a positive approach.

Valley Vista High School alumna Mikela Cooper has been invited to attend tryouts for the Greek U18 National Basketball Team, beginning on July 4. Cooper graduated from Valley Vista High School last month, and played varsity for the school’s five-time state championship girls basketball team for the last four years. 

“Playing for the Greek National Team has been a childhood dream,” said Cooper. “I always wanted to represent Greece on a national level… I’m extremely honored and grateful to be considered and given an opportunity to try out for the U18 National Team.” 

 ooper has strong roots in Greece, and her family actually lived in Chalkida, Greece for a brief time to assist her grandfather who was experiencing health issues. While there, she played club basketball and met some coaches from the Greek Basketball Federation. Since returning to the U.S. in 2018, Mikela has kept in touch with them and they have provided her continued feedback and guidance on her development as a basketball player.   

Cooper played power forward and shooting guard for Valley Vista High School, which was recently named the 2022 Arizona Republic Girls Team of the Year. In 21-22 she was selected for the 6A All Conference 1st Team. In her senior year, she averaged 13.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game. In December 2021 Cooper committed to play women’s basketball at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Dysart Schools have many opportunities for the community to assist schools in providing an amazing educational experience to each and every student. Volunteers help to enrich children’s learning opportunities, provide individual attention to children who need one-on-one assistance, promote a school-home-community partnership for quality education, provide staff members with more time to work with students, and assist staff members and support personnel with non-instructional tasks.

Where is Help Needed?

• Classroom and teacher support 
• One-on-one student assistance 
• Event help (preparations, setup, operations, tear-down)  
• Guest speakers (experts or retirees in various fields) 
• Front office assistance

How to Become a Volunteer:

1. Review the volunteer handbook and complete the volunteer application at Dysart.org/Volunteer 
2. Make an appointment for your volunteer orientation 
3. Coordinate your schedule through the school office 
4. Put on your volunteer badge and have fun!

Who Should Apply to Volunteer?

Anyone who cares about children and education is a potential volunteer. Parents, grandparents and community members 18 years of age or older who want to make a difference in the lives of children and support educators are encouraged to apply to become a volunteer with Dysart Unified School District. Volunteers are welcome in all of our schools and prior teaching experience is not necessary.

Learn more or apply here.

Dysart Nutrition Services ensures that students at all schools have fresh, wholesome and nutritious breakfast and lunch options to support their education and focus in class. Learn more about Nutrition Services at Dysart.org/Nutrition. Menus and nutritional information may be viewed at Dysart.Nutrislice.com.

Apply for Free and Reduced Meals

Beginning July 1, 2022 the USDA is returning to income eligibility guidelines for free or reduced meals. All families should complete a Free and Reduced Lunch Application at SchoolCafe.com to help maintain school funding and make sure that qualified families receive this and other benefits. Only one application is required per family, and may be completed at SchoolCafe.com.

How to Add Meal Funds to an Account

Cash and checks are accepted for meal purchases, or families may utilize SchoolCafe.com to prepay for meals online, view their balances, or place restrictions on purchases. Online payments take 24 hours to post to student accounts.  

Meal Prices 

• Elementary Lunch $2.60, Reduced $.40, Adult $3.50  
• Elementary Breakfast $1.25, Reduced $.30, Adult $1.75  High School Lunch $2.85, Reduced $.40, Adult $3.50  
• High School Breakfast $1.25, Reduced $.30, Adult $1.75 

A la carte and snack items are available for purchase on each campus, and additional meals are available for an added charge. Parents are always welcome to dine with their child, but please be sure to call in advance and check-in at the school office. Adult meals may be purchased for $1.75 for breakfast or $3.50 for lunch. 

Dysart is the largest employer in both the cities of Surprise and El Mirage with over 2,700 employees. Dysart Schools offer highly competitive salaries, full benefits and an inviting school-year calendar with holidays and weekends off for most positions. 

With a wide-variety of positions ranging from groundskeeper, to mechanic, to office staff, and teachers, we’re always looking for great people to join our Dysart team!

Current High Need Areas: 

•  Bus Drivers and Aides
•  Childcare and Preschool Aides
•  Paraprofessionals
•  Behavioral Technicians 
•  Speech and Language Pathologists 
•  Special Education Teachers 
•  Math Teachers 
•  Science Teachers 
•  ASL Teachers 
•  Health Services Assistants 
•  Crossing Guards 
•  Maintenance Workers and Plant Managers 
•  Social Workers

Check out our current openings at Dysart.org/Careers and apply today!

The Parent Portal is a great tool to stay informed 24/7 about your child’s academic progress. Grades, attendance, assignments and more are viewable in real time online or via the app, Campus Parent. A single login allows parents with multiple students to access information for all of their children in one place. Learn more at Dysart.org/ParentPortal.

Update Your Communication Preferences and Contact Info

To make sure that we can keep you informed in emergency situations, please ensure that your contact information is current in the Parent Portal. You are also able to adjust your communication preferences (phone, text, and/or email) at Dysart.org/ParentPortal or on the Campus Parent app to ensure you are getting the various message types in the way that you would like. Remember that if you select more than one type of communication per category, you will receive the message multiple times via each of those avenues.

Three Dysart Schools teachers were recently named D-backs Most Valuable Teachers in STEM by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Huda Clemens from Western Peaks Elementary School received the honor along with Canyon Ridge School teachers Stefanie Lump and Lacey Merritt.

This recognition supports ten outstanding educators monthly from April through August and provides an opportunity to showcase the state's teachers and acknowledge their commitment to students for going above and beyond.  

Below are excerpts from each nomination letter.

Huda Clemons was nominated by Lisa Garon. “She certainly deserves to be recognized for all her extra time, patience and desire to help students become better in the area of STEM,” shared Garon. 

 “Mrs. Clemens is our iExplore teacher and also runs an after-school Robotics Club.  Since she designs and records the morning announcements for our building, she engages our students in those so they can be a part of the process.” 

Stefanie Lump was nominated by Justean Palmer. “Mrs. Lump inspires students on a daily basis as she teaches STEM to her 5th graders,” said Palmer.

 “She supports all the teachers at Canyon Ridge with their Scientific Process, giving them ideas for STEM buckets with kindergarten classrooms and unique STEM projects with the upper grade levels. Her students build STEM projects monthly and she is our main contact for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE): A World in Motion program where retired engineers from General Motors provide valuable presentations to our students.

Lacey Merritt was nominated by Justean Palmer. “Lacey Merritt is a remarkable STEM educator and leader,” shared Palmer.  

“Being the Instructional Coach on campus, I see the dedication she has put into building our STEM program from attending workshops to teaching what STEM truly means, supporting teachers in the Engineering Design Process and challenging the students' thinking at Canyon Ridge. Her students thrive through her hands-on STEM projects that push their understanding of the human body to building structures that withstand a hurricane, all while being able to utilize the design and redesign process.”

The educators received a $1,000 classroom grant courtesy of the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Honeywell.  Additionally, the educators received tickets to a recent Diamondbacks game and on-field recognition.  They will be considered for the Most Valuable Teacher of the Year, which includes a $5,000 classroom grant and on-field recognition. 

It was a busy season for Career and Technical Education (CTE)  students throughout the district who competed at state and international level in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and SkillsUSA state conferences, and the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) International Career Development Conference.

The FCCLA State Leadership Conference was held on March 28-30, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona.  The competition allows students to compete in over 30 different events, meet the current State Executive Council and State Officer Candidates, qualify for the National Leadership Conference in San Diego, and network with members across Arizona.  

Valley Vista High School students received the following recognitions: Olivia Black earned a gold medal and a perfect score in Chicken Fabrication, Megan Gatz and Sierra Painter both won silver in Culinary Arts, and Joselyn Villegas won bronze in Food Innovations.

FCCLA offers members the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life - planning, goal setting, problem solving, decision making, and interpersonal communication - all necessary within the home and workplace. FCCLA is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members.

The FBLA State Leadership conference was held on April 4-6 in Tucson, Arizona. The event gives students the opportunity to advance to the national conference, compete in a variety of competitions, participate in workshops, and run for state office for FBLA. 

Dysart High School students Jared Wilson, Ryan Maisano, Bryan Naiuli, Damien Cordero, and Devonte Reed placed in the top five for Parliamentary Procedures. Valley High School students Lilly Smith and Raven Cardosi placed second in 3D Animation.

FBLA inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.

Students from all four district high schools competed in the SkillsUSA State Competition hosted April 19-20, 2022 in Phoenix.  This event is the premier showcase for Arizona’s trade, technology and service high school and college students. This annual championship features over 75 skills and leadership competitions that determine who will represent Arizona at the national SkillsUSA Championships.  

Gage Fuentes from Dysart High School earned the Silver medal in Auto Tech Basic.  Several students from Shadow Ridge High School earned medals including Jordyn Jones who earned a gold medal in T-Shirt Design and a Silver medal in Advertising Design.  Alysa Horton received a gold medal for Stage Coach Interview Skills.  Zachary Hampton and  Joseph Holm earned second Place Web Development & Design.  Jacob Bacome and Brian Bucsi won gold in 3D Visualization, and Tyler Winter and Tyler Cain won a bronze medal in Additive Manufacturing.  Willow Canyon High School students Allison Kotzbauer, Eli Hernandez, and Morgan West won gold in Career Pathways Showcase: Arts and Communication and the club was named a gold Chapter of Excellence.

SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Education partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development by building and reinforcing self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service (including health) occupations.

Students from Dysart High School, Shadow Ridge High School, and Willow Canyon High School competed in the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) on April 23-26 in Atlanta, Georgia.  The event allows students to compete with more than 10,000 DECA students from across the country.  Students participated in the Emerging Leaders Series in order to attain 21st Century Skills in the areas of collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity.  Students also network with hundreds of representatives in the college and career exhibits as they plan for their future.

Shadow Ridge High School student Jamie Springer was a top ten finalist in Project Management Community Awareness event, and Noah Axelson, Lily McDaniel, Kloey Garcia earned 6th place in the Virtual Business Restaurant. 

Irene Silva, Bethanie Lopez-Draeger and Servando Lopez from Dysart High School won a gold medal in the Small Business Enterprise Food Operations Competition.  Dysart High students Lorenzo Roman and Dawn Jones took fourth place in the Business Law and Ethics Competition. 

DECA is a premier student organization that supports the development of marketing and management skills in career areas such as hospitality, finance, sales and service, business administration, and entrepreneurship.  DECA is one of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities offered to prepare students for the academic and vocational skills necessary to successfully enter the workforce. Learn more at dysart.org/cte.

Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) students from Dysart High School, Willow Canyon High School, and Shadow Ridge High School competed in the HOSA State Leadership Conference held in Tucson March 30 - April 1. 

HOSA is a student-led organization that seeks to empower students to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience. The HOSA State Leadership conference provides students the opportunity to use the skills they have learned in their Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses and apply them to a competitive events program. 

Students had the opportunity to compete in multiple different events, participate in workshops, and network with current healthcare professionals as well as other students from across the state. 

Congratulations to the following students for their achievements in their respective events. 

Willow Canyon student Alyssa Morris placed second in Medical Terminology, Tyrah Davis placed fifth in Prepared Speaking, Kenna Moore placed fifth in Medical Law & Ethics, Hailey Amos placed fourth in Nursing Assisting, Kristin Anderson placed third in Human Growth & Development, and Melody Holland, Kenna Moore, Lauren Buseman, Elizabeth Wood and McKenna Moreno placed top eight in the Anatomage Competition. In addition, Kennedy Wilson and Isabella Buoscio qualified for the International Leadership Conference for their performance in the Healthcare Issues event. 

Dysart High School student Lindy Pottle placed first in Medical Reading, Maeve Shapera, Charity Sumner, Amaya Menjivar, Denice Calderon, Alyssa Blandford, and Alicia Parra placed first in MRC Partnership, Eden Mussleman, Sarah Weller, Victoria Mather, and Dora Mazariego placed third in Medical Innovations, Shayne Vasquez and Makenzie Maloof placed fourth in Medical Innovations, Abbigail Kizer and Ruben Jimenez placed fifth in Health Education, and Lane Vazquez Luna placed fifth in Epidemiology. Additionally, Marisol Trejo, Alejandro Arevalo and Briana Torres received the Barbara James Service Award, and Lane Vazquez Luna and Lindy Pottle were the recipients of HOSA scholarships in the amounts of $500 and $2,000. Overall, Dysart High School had 17 students qualify to compete in the International Conference.

The HOSA International Leadership Conference will take place on June 22-25, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. 

HOSA is a student-led Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) specifically for students enrolled in CTE programs. The mission of HOSA is to promote career opportunities in the healthcare industry. HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary and collegiate students interested in a career in health care. 

The Dysart Unified School District is preparing to destroy archived special education records from the 2017-2018 school year and will begin this process in October, 2022. Special Education records, including placement records, referrals, evaluations, testing data, etc. are maintained for four fiscal years after a student’s final enrollment in a special education program.  Final enrollment in a special education program is defined as the last day a student is enrolled in a special education program and is no longer receiving services. Parents, guardians, or eligible students have the right to review and/or receive a copy of these records before September, 2022. Individuals that would like to review records should contact ess.records@dysart.org or 623-876-7198 prior to September, 2022. 

Students from West Point Elementary School and Sunset Hills Elementary School were recently recognized for being named finalists in the annual Friends of the Surprise Libraries Bookmark Contest. Each year, Friends of the Surprise Libraries invites local sixth through eighth grade students to participate and create bookmarks depicting reading and literacy.  First place, honorable mention, and a Mayor’s Choice Award are selected in each grade category. The following Dysart students were selected as finalists: 

• First Place - Grace Luu (6th grade, Sunset Hills) and Layla Calico (8th grade, West Point). 
• Honorable Mention - Kayla Krise (6th grade, West Point), Isabella Jordan (7th grade, West Point), and Kayla Patnod (8th grade, West Point). 
  
• Mayor's Choice Award - Audrey Howat (8th grade, West Point)
  

Each student was recognized and presented a plaque with their winning bookmark, as well as a monetary award at the April 5, 2022 Surprise City Council Meeting. 

Friends of the Surprise Libraries is a non-profit organization supported by local citizens who volunteer their time to promote local Libraries, literacy and reading programs. They are dedicated to supporting the local community by sponsoring various programs, school grants, and providing gifts and donations to public libraries and literacy organizations.

Congratulations to the Shadow Ridge High School Educators Rising students who participated at the Educators Rising State Leadership conference hosted in Tucson March 28-30th. 

Ten Shadow Ridge students attended the event and competed in a variety of competitions related to teaching. Halle Feltner took third place in Lesson Planning and Delivery with her 5E STEM Lesson. Rhys Davis also placed in the top ten for Researching Non-Traditional Teaching Careers. Both have earned a place in the National competition this June in Washington D.C. 

Educators Rising Arizona is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students participating in Education Professions that is dedicated to ensuring that the future is full of high quality educators starting in high school. Educators Rising Arizona provides students with the opportunities to take what they learn in their Early Childhood Education and Education Professions classes and apply them in relevant, scenario-based competitions at the annual State Leadership Conference. Educators Rising Arizona also offers professional development opportunities and practical applications for students who aspire to enter the teaching profession by providing them with engaging breakout sessions centered around best practices and leadership development. 

Education Professions is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program offered at Shadow Ridge High School that prepares students for employment or post secondary opportunities in the education field. The program provides instruction in education career choices, education structure and systems, theory, pedagogy, developmental stages, learning styles and methodology. The program also provides interactive experiences with students at different age levels, in a variety of content areas in educational environments.

Dysart Schools held their annual All District Boys and Girls Soccer Team Award presentation to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary student athletes who displayed excellence in the 2021-2022 season. First Team, Second Team, and All Academic Team athletes were selected from Valley Vista, Shadow Ridge, Dysart, and Willow Canyon High Schools, as well as a Player of the Year.

All District Girls Soccer

• Kiara Sanchez- DHS 
• Brooke Williams- DHS 
• Estrella Chavez- DHS 
• Mia Lohr- SRHS 
• Kayleen Laramee- SRHS 
• Sophia Konieczny- SRHS 
• Logan White-SRHS 
• Kambria Steele- VVHS 
• Ellie Silva- VVHS 
• Lauryn Rodgers- VVHS 
• Isabella Pineda- WCHS 
• Grace Brown-WCHS 
• Katelyn Nylen- WCHS

• Briana Arellano- DHS 
• Karolina Quinonez- DHS 
• Jennifer Rocha- DHS 
• Ajaless Blackman-DHS 
• Alanna Zepeda- DHS 
• Olivia Arratia Rivera-SRHS 
• Mikayla James- SRHS 
• Izzy Blaco- SRHS 
• Sophia Bohon- SRHS 
• Kendyl Lopez- WCHS 
• Katzibe Villalobos-WCHS 
• Lexi Williams- WCHS 
• Olivia O’Neal-Kervick- WCHS

• Danielle LeMoine- DHS 
• Lesli Arredondo- DHS 
• Sophie Konieczny- SRHS 
• Izzy Blanco- SRHS 
• Madisyn Yazzie- VVHS 
• Kambrie Steele- VVHS 
• Kendyl Lopez- WCHS 
• Madeline Buoscio- WCHS

Player of the Year:  Paige Garcia- WCHS 

All District Boys Soccer

• Mauri Ortiz- DHS 
• Caden White- DHS 
• Ethan Clark- SRHS 
• Dominic Calandra- SRHS 
• Jacob Engwall- SRHS 
• David Flores- DHS 
• Gabriel Engwall- SRHS 
• Aidan Murray- SRHS 
• Daniel Benitez- VVHS 
• Aldhair Valenzuela Rodriguez- WCHS 
• Oscar Mendez- DHS 
• German Cervantes- DHS

• Kaeden Skawski- VVHS 
• Luis Esparza- VVHS 
• Bryson Wilke- WCHS  
• Caden Bott- SRHS 
• Eric Orozco-Zavala- DHS 
• Jackson Servais- VVHS 
• Camden Fleming- SRHS 
• Justin Suarez- VVHS 
• Macuna Patterson- WCHS 
• Tiesen Cudmore- SRHS 
• Domink Bormann- VVHS 
• Dezmon Valdivia- DHS 
• Eli Anderson - SRHS

• Caden White- DHS 
• Angel Rocha- DHS 
• Abdullah Hasan- VVHS 
• Daniel Benitez- VVHS 
• Bryson Wilke- WCHS  
• Devin Seay- WCHS 
• Dominic Calandra- SRHS 
• Aidan Murray- SRHS

Player of the Year:  Agustin Orozco, Jr.-DHS

Congratulations to the three Dysart Unified School District schools that earned top honors at state and national competitions.  During the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) State Cheer Competition held on March 12, 2022, Shadow Ridge placed first in the Coed Cheer 1-2 Division, Willow Canyon High School second, and Valley Vista High School earned third.  

The Coed Cheer category included a two minute and 30 second routine broken up into two elements – one minute of a crowd leading cheer, one minute and 30 seconds of music. Teams performed stunts, tumbling, jumps, and a dance during music sections and focused on a variety of coed skills, including coed partner stunting. 

Additionally, Willow Canyon High School Pom placed sixth at state in Division 2 Pom.

The pom routine incorporated dance based skills such as turns, leaps and jumps and focused on strong and precise motions, team synchronization and visual effects. 

Willow Canyon High School had two recognitions at the USA Spirit Nationals, held in Anaheim California.  The Cheer team earned first place in the Small Coed Show Cheer Advanced category making this a back to back win for the program. Additionally, the Wildcat Pom team earned second place for the Small Song/Pom Intermediate category. 

Dysart Schools held their annual All District Boys and Girls Basketball Team Award presentation to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary student athletes who displayed excellence in the 2021-2022 season. First Team, Second Team, and All Academic Team athletes were selected from Valley Vista, Shadow Ridge, , and Willow Canyon High Schools, as well as a Player of the Year. 

All District Girls Basketball 

• Jennah Isai- VVHS  
• Mikela Cooper- VVHS 
• Destiny Lunan- VVHS 
• Olivia Arvallo- VVHS  
• Chloe Lobmeyer- WCHS 
• Talia Dial- DHS  
• Kelsey Ericksen- SRHS

• Makayla Ramirez-WCHS 
• Leilani Soto- WCHS 
• Mia Martinez- WCHS 
• Rachel McClanahan- SRHS 
• Geneva Holman- DHS 
• Torah Dial- DHS 
• Qeirnin Acevedo- VVHS 

• Mikela Cooper- VVHS  
• Jennah Isai- VVHS  
• Nevaeh Henson-  WCHS 
• Mia Martinez- WCHS  
• Halle Bryan- SRHS 
• Rachel McClanahan- SRHS 
• Lieyla Albino- DHS 
• Talia Dial- DHS

Player of the Year:  Jennah Isai 

All District Boys Basketball

• Darius Anderson- DHS 
• Eli Flemming- DHS 
• Aadem Isai- VVHS 
• Dwayne Porter- VVHS 
• Luke Arington- SRHS 
• Pike Tancil- WCHS 
• David Bright- WCHS

• Tate DeBoer- WCHS 
• Aidan Carino- WCHS 
• Bryce Hanson-WCHS 
• Tyren Gibbs- SRHS 
• Dallas Marker- VVHS 
• Clayton Werner- VVHS 
• Nigel Anderson - DHS

• Pike Tancil- WCHS 
• Anthony Wheatley- WCHS 
• Nigel Anderson- DHS 
• Vincent Torres- DHS 
• Brenden Kohne- SRHS 
• Rocco Bonini-SRHS 
• Aadem Isai- VVHS 
• Clayton Werner- VVHS

Player of the Year:  Pike Tancil

The Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) chapters from Dysart Unified School District’s four high schools competed in the Arizona DECA State Career Development Conference in Phoenix this past month. Students had the opportunity to network with over 2,200 peers from around the state while competing in one of 50 unique business competitions. Additionally, students also had the opportunity to visit with Arizona’s top colleges, top businesses, and learn first-hand how to be ready at any level, for any career. 

Willow Canyon High School received Gold Certification in Retail Operations and Gold Recertification in Food Operations for their School Based Enterprise (SBE). Willow Canyon students Braxton Vinson and Ryan Carter also received fifth place in Team Decision Making, Entrepreneurship. 

Dysart High School received the State Affiliation Chapter Award, Gold Diamond Society Award, and the Gold School Based Enterprise Recertification Award. Several students were also finalists in their events and received a top 10% medal for their written exams including Clayton Williams (Principles of Hospitality and Tourism), Servando Lopez (Food Marketing Services), and Lorenzo Roman (Business Administration and Management). Dawn Jones and Lorenzo Roman also placed fourth in the state in Team Business Law and Ethics, and have qualified to attend the International Conference. 

Shadow Ridge High School had nine students place in their events, with several more students receiving test medals. Stephen MacKellar, Jamie Springer, Noah Axelson, Kloey Garcia, and Lily McDaniel received first place in their events with Stephen MacKellar and Jamie Springer also placing first overall. Additionally, Meghan Crisan placed second overall, and Krystina Dunham placed fourth overall. Shadow Ridge also received SBE Gold Certification, and have qualified to send several students to the International Conference. 

Valley Vista High School had seven students compete and received Bronze in the Chapter Community Service Competition and received the DECA Rising Star Award. 

The DECA International Career Development Conference will take place April 23-26, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. 

DECA is a premier student organization that supports the development of marketing and management skills in career areas such as hospitality, finance, sales and service, business administration, and entrepreneurship.  DECA is one of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities offered to prepare students for the academic and vocational skills necessary to successfully enter the workforce. Learn more at dysart.org/cte.

Congratulations to the Convergence Indoor Percussion group who kicked-off their competitive season with a first place win at Buckeye Union High School.  Convergence Indoor Percussion is a competitive indoor percussion ensemble consisting of students from high schools in the Dysart Unified School District.

The large group of 28 students from Shadow Ridge, Valley Vista, and Willow Canyon high schools performed portions of their 2022 show: "Sleep Tight Sandy" and earned an impressive score of 76.80 at the competition. Congratulations to the following students and coaches:

Students

Brandon Jones, Bass Drum (SRHS) 

Colten Mullins, Bass Drum (SRHS) 

Claire Hoffman, Bass Drum (WCHS) 

Brayden Hodge, Bass Drum (SRHS) 

Andrew Mekhail, Bass Drum (WCHS) 

Andres Barrera, Snare Drum (VVHS) 

Jeremiah Johnson, Snare Drum (WCHS) 

Tristan Edelman, Snare Drum (WCHS) 

Tyler Otero, Snare Drum (WCHS) 

Alex Bodine, Tenors (WCHS) 

Zachary Woodworth, Tenors (WCHS) 

Charles Green, Cymbals/Visual (WCHS) 

Corbin Comber, Cymbal/Visual (WCHS) 

Hayley Dunham, Cymbals/Visual (SRHS) 

Princess Jones, Cymbals/Visual (WCHS) 

Austin Woodworth, Visual (WCHS) 

Robyn Potter, Visual (WCHS) 

Brianna Carley, Marimba (WCHS) 

Maili Esquivel, Marimba (WCHS) 

Eli Hernandez, Vibraphone (WCHS) 

Julia Cody, Vibraphone (WCHS) 

Jose Cortez, Xylophone/Glockenspiel (WCHS) 

Steven Shade, Xylophone (WCHS) 

Alexander Jayme, Synth (WCHS) 

Dylan McCarter, Guitar (SRHS) 

Zoe Falkenberg, Malletkat (WCHS) 

Austin Templeton, Drumkit (WCHS) 

Jackson Reese, Rack (WCHS)

Coaches

Michaela Rademacher - Executive Director 

Stephen Goodman - Director 

Vincent Molina - Snare Tech 

Kyle Clouser - Bass Tech 

Mason Burris - Tenor Tech 

Cody Mullins - Front Ensemble Tech 

Kalob Clouser - Audio Tech

Based out of Willow Canyon High School, these students meet after school twice a week to practice their show and hone their musical abilities. The ensemble competes in the Independent A Class for the Winterguard Arizona (WGAZ) circuit and performances are evaluated on music and visual elements, and their ability to effectively communicate a storyline.

The Dysart Unified School District held their annual All District Football Team Award presentation to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary student athletes who displayed excellence in the 2021 season.   Athletes were selected by district coaches from Valley Vista, Shadow Ridge, Dysart, and Willow Canyon High Schools.

• Coach of the Year - Coach Stangler - Willow Canyon 
• Player of the Year - Xereque Parham - Willow Canyon 
• Offensive Player of the Year  - Anthony Garcia - Shadow Ridge 
• Defensive Player of the Year - Jaelin McCullen - Valley Vista

First Team Offense

• QB - Micah Hendricks - Shadow Ridge 
• RB - Meven Obregon - Valley Vista 
• RB - Brady Ferris - Willow Canyon 
• WR - Isaac Yates - Shadow Ridge 
• WR - Micahel Clymer - Dysart 
• WR - Mikel Henderson - Valley Vista 
• WR  - Blaise Nelson - Valley Vista 
• Flex - Robert Grier - Shadow Ridge 
• OL - Julian Laborin - Dysart 
• OL - Xavier Silvas - Dysart 
• OL - Logan Getejanc - Shadow Ridge 
• OL - Matt Spurlin - Willow Canyon 
• OL - Jaden Lay - Valley Vista

Second Team Offense

• QB AJ Crespin Valley Vista 
• RB Tryston Oliver Dysart 
• RB Marquez Smith Willow Canyon 
• WR  Donovan Williams Willow Canyon 
• WR Anthony Ordaz Valley Vista 
• WR Matin Strong Valley Vista 
• WR Reyes Navarro Dysart 
• OL Joseph Hill Willow Canyon 
• OL Deon LaGuardia Valley Vista 
• OL Devon Odom Valley Vista 
• OL Colton Allen Willow Canyon 
• OL Will Prince Shadow Ridge

First Team Defense

• DL - Josiah Gardiner - Willow Canyon 
• DL - Roy Dillard Valley - Vista 
• DL - Di’Juan Curtis - Shadow Ridge 
• DL - Xavier Silvas - Dysart 
• LB - Dominick Jewell - Willow Canyon 
• LB - Ismael Gamez - Dysart 
• LB - Brody Lindemann - Valley Vista 
• LB - Jacob Cano - Shadow Ridge 
• DB - Daunte Williams - Willow Canyon 
• DB - Carter Price - Valley Vista 
• DB - Austin Rhodes - Willow Canyon 
• DB - Michael James - Valley Vista Long Snapper - Preston Tucker - Valley Vista

Second Team Defense

• DL - Layton Sleight - Willow Canyon 
• DL - Julian Laborin - Dysart 
• DL - Preston Tucker - Valley Vista 
• DL - Ashton Broemer - Shadow Ridge 
• LB - Braxton Vinson - Willow Canyon 
• LB - Filamoni Lauina - Shadow Ridge 
• LB - Andrew Zacek - Valley Vista 
• LB - Jonah Flowers - Valley Vista 
• DB - Michael Clymer - Dysart 
• DB - Rocco Bonini - Shadow Ridge 
• DB - John Keenan - Valley Vista 
• DB - Trey Luna - Shadow Ridge 
• Long Snapper - Layton Sleight - Willow Canyon

Kicker

• 1st Team - Bryson Wilke - Willow Canyon 
• 2nd Team Chase Tornberg - Shadow Ridge

Punter

• 1st Team - Bryson Wilke - Willow Canyon 
• 2nd Team - Carter Price - Valley Vista

Kick Return 

• 1st Team - Blaise Nelson - Valley Vista 
• 2nd Team - Robert Grier - Shadow Ridge

Punt Returner

• 1st Team - Donovan Williams - Willow Canyon 
• 2nd Team - Michael James - Valley Vista

Dysart Parents and Guardians,

Greetings! As you are aware, there have been incidents of violence against schools around the country, and threats against schools locally. The recent school shootings are tragic, and I pray every day that our students will be safe from such attacks. 

Please be assured that Dysart Schools have a robust safety plan to prevent/prepare for a range of safety events (Dysart.org/Safety). Additionally, Dysart appreciates the extraordinary work by local police who assist with the safety of our students and staff. All threats to Dysart Schools are taken seriously and are reported to the police. 

Recently, there has been an increase in threats against schools, as well as false reports and fabrications of potential threats, all of which are thoroughly investigated by the police using advanced threat assessment protocols. I need your help to prevent future school disruptions, and to help students understand the serious legal consequences of making threats against a school. 

Please discuss these important points with your children:

1. Immediately share with a responsible adult information that could be considered threatening to you or our community. This could be a parent, teacher or school staff member. 
2. Threats and rumors should never be forwarded or shared online, because doing so impedes and prolongs police investigations. Students involved will be disciplined and/or arrested. 
3. Making threats or falsely reporting a threat to a school is extremely serious. These acts are a crime and a violation of our student handbook. Dysart has zero tolerance for threats against schools. Dysart will involve police and pursue criminal charges to the fullest extent of the law. If you become aware of an immediate threat, please call 911.  Otherwise, call law enforcement non-emergency lines to report potential threats towards our schools or the community in Surprise (623-222-4000), El Mirage (623-933-1341), or Maricopa County (602-876-1602). 

Another option for reporting school safety issues or concerns is through the Dysart Safe Schools Hotline (623-876-7009) or online at Dysart.org/SafeReport. Additional information, resources, and school safety tips can be found on our website at Dysart.org/Safety. 

Our teachers, social workers, counselors, administrators, students and parents are all vital to identifying and assessing potential threats. We all have a responsibility to be vigilant and should strive to prioritize the safety of our community. It is our sincere desire to ensure our campuses are a safe place for students and employees, and we appreciate your help in this effort.  

Respectfully, 

 Quinn R. Kellis, Ed.D. 

Superintendent 

Dysart Unified School District

The Dysart Unified School District Exceptional Student Services Department will be hosting a meeting for families to learn about the Child Find Process on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM in Training Room 2 at the Dysart Unified School District Support Facilities Building located at 13825 W. Desert Cove Rd., Surprise, AZ 85379.  The meeting will cover Child Find and the types of services the district is able to provide to families who reside within Dysart district boundaries or have chosen homeschool or to attend a private school within our district boundaries.

We welcome you to come learn about the Child Find process and specialized services the District is able to provide at no charge.  Child Find is a service that offers free developmental screenings for children aged 2 years 9 months through 21 years who may have suspected delays.  Free screenings and/or diagnostic evaluations help determine those children who may be eligible for special education services. 

Congratulations to the talented students who were selected for the All State Show Choir by the Arizona Choral Educators. More than 400 students from high schools around Arizona auditioned on November 6 to be a part of the 60 member All State Show Choir at Horizon High School. A total of eight Valley Vista High School students and one alternate will represent the Monsoon including:

• Kelly Romero (6th Chair Alto) 
• Desi Jones (9th Chair Alto) 
• Samira Doxie (11th Chair Alto) 
• Maddie O’Brien (14th Chair Alto) 
• Daniel Alger (13th Chair Tenor) 
• Enrique LeDoux (3rd Chair Bass) 
• Luke Lundberg (5th Chair Bass) 
• Cian Horner (11th Chair Bass) 
• Andrew Estrella (5th Alternate Bass)

Additionally, two students from Willow Canyon High School will serve as alternates:  Aidan Ramirez (Bass Alternate) and Aaron Mittelstadt (Tenor Alternate).

The Arizona Choral Educators (ACE) is a constituent group of the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA) which serves the needs of elementary, junior high, high school, and collegiate directors throughout Arizona. AMEA was established in 1939 as a cooperative effort of music educators. Since that time, the association has become affiliated with The National Association for Music Education (NAfME). 

Due to a maintenance update, the power at the Dysart District Office will shut down starting at 5:00 PM on Friday November 19, 2021 for approximately six hours. This outage affects the following district systems:

• All district websites & servers
  
• All district phone systems
• All district intranet or internet connection
  
• Power will only be shut down at the Dysart District Office, but this outage will affect our network at all sites district wide
  
• The District Office lobby will close at 4:00 PM in preparation for the power outage
  

Our Information Technology Department is scheduled to have everything operational by 10:00 PM that same evening. Components that do not power up appropriately may result in additional down time. Thank you for your patience during this time. If you have any questions please feel free to contact publicrelations@dysart.org.

Congratulations to six Dysart Unified School District teachers who received Wishes for Teachers grants from the Fiesta Bowl Charities.  

The Fiesta Bowl organization saw that many teachers spent their own money to enhance their classroom experience and developed a program to aid teachers in that effort. As a way to support, celebrate, and honor Arizona educators, teachers are invited to fill out an online application detailing their school and classroom’s individual wish.  The following Dysart teachers were recognized and will receive a $2,500 grant courtesy of the Fiesta Bowl Charities and Desert Financial:

Eric Bennett from Shadow Ridge High School plans to purchase programmable devices and equipment for STEM projects. 

Alexandria Cox from Riverview School and Amanda Johns from West Point Elementary will both use the funds for new seating options for students to promote a better learning environment.

Roxanne Lopez from Mountain View School wishes to purchase updated technology supplies to participate in district and state robotics competitions.

Melissa Reagan from El Mirage Elementary School will utilize the funds for sensory materials in her Special Education classroom to encourage more hands-on learning.

Andrew Woolridge from Surprise Elementary School will use the funds for additional materials and supplies for science experiments.

Created in 2016, the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program grants classroom wishes to teachers across the state of Arizona.  All wish recipients become part of the Fiesta Bowl family and can participate in community events throughout the year. This year, recipients are invited to the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on December 28, 2021 to be honored at the game during halftime.  Additionally, teachers are invited to the 50th Annual Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade to walk alongside the Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers bus with fellow recipients.  In its five years, Wishes for Teachers has granted over $3.7 million to Arizona teachers, impacting 300,000+ students at 400 schools across the state.  Fiesta Bowl Charities strives to enhance organizations that contribute to the success of their communities through youth, sports and education and charitable giving.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 10/29/21

The Dysart Unified School District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) department and Dysart Student Broadcasting Live (DSB Live) showcased a new mobile production trailer that will allow the DSB Live program to expand their livestream event operations.  The district recently hosted a showcase to unveil the new equipment. Students demonstrated how to use the equipment, students performed and CTE programs were highlighted. Guests were able to watch first-hand as students used the mobile production trailer and equipment, including a LED sports desk.

Through DSB Live, the Dysart Unified School District provides live stream broadcasts of school events free of charge to the community. DSB Live is student-driven and student-produced. Students in grades 9-12 at Dysart’s four high schools (Dysart HS, Shadow Ridge HS, Valley Vista HS, and Willow Canyon HS) learn, develop and run every aspect of the show, including operating state-of-the-art cameras and TriCasters, creating commercials, being sound technicians, producers, graphic operators, on-field reporters, and color commentators during sports broadcasts. 

Nearly 150 students are currently involved in DSB Live productions through their campus. New this year, students can choose to participate in DSB Live as an Internship and earn ½ high school credit per semester. 

Going into its second year, DSB Live covers a variety of academic, arts and athletic events throughout the year. A full schedule of events is available at Dysart.org/DSBlive. 215 livestream events were produced last year, in DSB Live’s inaugural year.

The DSB Live program compliments the media pathways in Dysart’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, but is open to any student.  The DSB Live program is sustained through sponsorship and donations.  For more information on participation, sponsorship or donation opportunities, please contact Brian Yoder at 623-256-5062 or brian.yoder@dysart.org.

View photos of the DSB Live Showcase and new mobile production trailer/equipment.

Media inquiries should be directed to renee.ryon@dysart.org or 623-876-7196.  

A big thanks goes out to the Maricopa County School Superintendent, Steve Watson who donated 60 packages of Lysol wipes to Cimarron Springs Middle School and El Mirage Elementary School.  Both school principals got a tour of the Maricopa County School STEM Resource Center and a meet and greet with Steve Watson.  

The Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent supports schools through the three main priorities:

• Amplifies teacher voice through advisory teams, feedback and teacher retention projects. 
  
• Elevates the teaching profession by telling the stories of great teaching, recognizes those that are doing great work, and provides opportunities for teachers to extend their talents beyond the walls of their classroom.
• Provides resources and creates relationships with organizations looking to support education and connects them with Maricopa County schools and teachers. The resources curated are intended to support educators to teach with creativity and autonomy.  
  

Learn more at https://schoolsup.org/.  

Logan MacDonald, Choir Director at Willow Canyon High School, was recently selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction by the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS).  This honor recognizes exemplary educators whose passion and devotion inspire their students to grow and develop as scholars, leaders and citizens.

Each year student members of the NSHSS are invited to nominate the educator who has made the most significant contribution to their academic career for the Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Award. 

MacDonald was nominated by Alexa Felix, a Willow Canyon High School senior and NSHSS member who has been in his choir class for all four years of high school. “Mr. Mac has taught me to be confident in who I am and to push forward through anything that comes my way,” said Alexa. “He always shows me that I can break down any limits I place on myself. He has also created a family in our choir program that has made me excited to go to school and grow with everyone around me.”

Mr. MacDonald is in his seventh year teaching and serving as the Choir Director at Willow Canyon. The choir groups have won several accolades under his leadership including Excellent and Superior ratings for concert choir, and top five honors for show choir in competitions throughout the southwest. "I am so lucky to be able to work with such amazing students every single day,” said MacDonald.  “Any recognition really belongs to the kids and the effort they give to make Willow Canyon Choir such an incredible experience!”

The National Society of High School Scholars seeks to advance the goals and aspirations of high-achieving students through unique learning experiences, scholarships, internships, international studies and peer networks.  For more information, visit www.nshss.org.

The students at El Mirage Elementary School got a very special visit from the Arizona Cardinals Milk and Cookies Program this week. Big Red, the mascot, got the students energized and ready for reading. Big Red was joined by Cardinals alumni Mark Maddox and cheerleaders Emily and Zaryn who read a selection of books to students.  The students were awarded the special assembly for perfect attendance and leadership skills.  After the reading, students enjoyed a yummy snack of milk and cookies, an Arizona Cardinals backpack, and mini football.

The Cardinals, SRP, and Albertsons-Safeway have teamed up for 19 years on the Milk and Cookies program, which supports and promotes literacy throughout Valley elementary schools.

Students, parents, teachers, and community members came together to gather artifacts to help celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Cimarron Springs Middle School for Mrs. Trujillo’s Spanish class. Items included a variety of food, clothing, and kitchen items with historical value from different Spanish-speaking countries. Students will be researching a figure from Hispanic history and presenting a small biography on them over the next four weeks. On September 24th, students had the opportunity to view and learn about customs and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries through artifacts brought in by Mrs. Trujillo and Lidia Goodman, a former Cimarron teacher and current district volunteer and substitute.  Mrs. Goodman shared several artifacts from her upbringing in Sonora, Mexico.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Mr. Steve Wallgren, Willow Canyon High School Theatre Teacher, was named one of five finalists for the 2021 Inaugural Tancer Arts in Education Award by Act One.  The Tancer award recognizes Arizona teachers dedicated to sharing a love of the arts with their students.

Wallgren has been a teacher and educator for 18 years, including eight years teaching students in Dysart Schools, and four as the theatre teacher at Willow Canyon.  He has produced nine shows including Noises Off, Shrek, Sister Act, and the latest production, Mary Poppins.  Tickets available at https://www.onthestage.tickets/willow-canyon-theatre. Wallgren was also a finalist for the Governor’s Arts Award last year. 

The award received its name in memory of Robert "Bob" Tancer, local art advocate extraordinaire, who passed away in March 2020. Bob was an active member of the Act One board, believing in the organization's mission and working on the committee to expand the educational depth of the field trip experience.  Bob saw the tremendous role the teacher played in making the experience rich and educationally rewarding.

Act One is a nonprofit founded in 2011 to provide children in Title 1 schools in Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties with the opportunity to experience arts performances and exhibitions through field trips to professional theaters and museums. Act One provides meaningful arts experiences that enhance the academic and creative potential of children and families in Arizona. For more information on Act One, visit www.act1az.org.

Luke Elementary School iExplore Teacher, Christina Tormollan, recently got a once in a lifetime opportunity to ride in a Cessna 172Nxi aircraft for a discovery flight with the United States Air Force (USAF) Civil Air Patrol as part of the Aerospace Education Member Program.  

“It allowed me to see my school from a different perspective,” said Tormollan.  “This state is no longer just a desert but rather an oasis of opportunities!”

Tormollan flew with Major Ron Marks, a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol since 1989, who also flies as a professional pilot for FedEx.  They traveled at around 150 miles per hour at an altitude between 1,500 and 3,000 feet above the Northwest Valley.

The purpose of the Aerospace Education Member Program is to provide teachers with these opportunities so they can share it with their students and get them interested in aviation and aerospace.   Luke Elementary School will tie aeronautical opportunities into their iExplore program through a partnership with Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the Civil Air Patrol.  They will provide opportunities for students to be involved in drone technology as well as robotics and coding.  Tormollan and Luke Elementary hope these partnerships for the students will help them transition to high school with the district’s Career and Technical Education programs such as Network Technology, Engineering, and Coding.

Kenneth Hicks, the Assistant Superintendent for Business Services at Dysart Schools, was recently recognized with the Bill Lovett Memorial Award by the Arizona Association of School Business Officials (AASBO) for his outstanding contribution to the organization.  

Hicks was honored at the annual conference for his dedication, service, and longevity to AASBO.  He has been an AASBO member for 23 years and continues to be a resource for AASBO and its members.  Hicks presents at annual conferences, served on several committees and boards including: the AASBO Executive Board, Education Finance Reform Group, Trust Alliance Board, Valley Schools Board, Auditor General’s School Finance Advisory Committee, ASBO International, Government Finance Officers Association and Governor’s Classroom First Initiative.  

“He is a positive and approachable advocate for Arizona public education and is a supportive member of AASBO, ” said Francie Wolfe-Baumann, Accounting Coordinator at Dysart Schools. 

The award was created in memory of  William “Bill” Lovett who served as the AASBO president from 1974-1975 and was the organization’s first Executive Director. 

AASBO is a professional organization; providing support and professional development opportunities for individuals in the field of education who provide management and services in accounting, finance, budget, food and nutrition, technology, maintenance and facilities, pupil transportation, and other support service operations.  The mission of AASBO is to promote the highest standards of school business management by providing quality training, legislative leadership, and cultivating the professional stature of its members.

Trevor Tuttle graduated in 2019 from Willow Canyon High School with a standard high school diploma and the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The IB Diploma is a rigorous two-year diploma where students are required to test in six different classes, write an extended essay, complete a course in Theory of Knowledge, and complete 150 hours in creativity, action and service. “Trevor is the typical IB Diploma candidate,” says IB Coordinator, Dr. Jason Ward. “He is the rule, not the exception. Most of our IB Diploma earners enter the university of their choice with plenty of public and private scholarships packaged with up to 24 credits that save students and their parents considerably in tuition dollars.” Dr. Ward took the time during the 2021 graduation week to sit down with Trevor and interview him as to his perceptions of the IB education he received. This interview comes two years after he graduated from high school allowing him to give an accurate and thoughtful reflection of what the IB Diploma really meant to him. 

What is your greatest memory from your International Baccalaureate education at Willow Canyon High School?

In studying for our exams, some of our teachers would hold a group study during class or outside of school. In the event where they did not, students would instead hold something together in order to study. While we were studying, we also realized that we were a little stressed and so we would joke around and try our best to enjoy that time together. The IB Program is small so most everyone is pretty close and everyone knows each other, and this even applies a bit to the relationships with teachers.

What was your favorite aspect of the IB Program? 

Looking back, I believe that the college level courses were the greatest part of the program. I learned high level material that was almost repeated to me in some of my college courses, but I also got experience in writing and taking exams at a college level. For example, the Extended Essay seemed like a huge undertaking but all of my extensive research papers that I have had to write while in college used those same skills, and since I had the experience, this was something that I did with ease. I think the CAS project was also a great aspect because it makes some of the active and social things that students want to do something that they need to do. While it is not on the same scale as a Capstone Project, it also prepares students for the Capstone Project that they will need to complete. A Capstone is a project that students complete in their junior or senior year which takes everything that they have learned in their courses, and they must apply it. For my Honors Capstone, I am in the middle of shooting a feature length documentary film using state-of-the-art equipment provided to me by the school.

What other activities did you participate in while in the IB Program?

While in the IB Program, I also participated in the National Honors Society, Willow Canyon’s Media Club, and the SkillsUSA chapter. In two of those clubs, I held an officer role. I also was involved in sports broadcasting for football and basketball.

Some may think that to participate in a program like IB, you have to give up everything else. How was your social life impacted as a result of your IB education?

IB feels like a lot of work and can be a little daunting, but while I was in the IB program, I was actually more social than before. I am not a social person but during this time, I hung out with friends a few times throughout the year, I attended both homecoming and prom, and many of the sports games. I had plenty of time to attend all the clubs I went to, and a lot of time to spend playing video games with my closest friends online after school. Currently, I created and I am running the first SkillsUSA chapter at NAU, working for the NAU Engineering College in Marketing,  all while taking 19-23 credits a semester. I have had plenty of time to go out and hang out with friends or spend time alone playing video games. Through IB, I learned how to manage my own time and workload in high school. 

My grandmother used to say “proof is in the pudding.” How did the IB diploma impact you (whether positively or negative)? In other words, was it worth it? If so, how? If not, how not? 

The IB diploma was worth it both for the credits that you can receive from taking the tests, but also for the ability to do a lot of rigorous coursework. Going into college, I received 19 transfer credits. I received two credits for English, six credits for two film classes that I did not have to take later in college, three credits for psychology, and eight credits for Spanish. As a film student with a minor in psychology, this definitely helped speed up my college career, but I also received plenty of credit for transfer classes. For example, while many people may not be studying a foreign language in college, some colleges require you to take a certain amount of foreign language. In the NAU Honors College, you are required to take two foreign language courses, something that was fulfilled by my IB credit. Another way in which IB impacted me was in regard to how much I could handle in my coursework. I know at the time, many of us were a little stressed in high school with IB, but once I got into college, my advisor told me that I was going to be taking 6 classes a week for a total of 16 credits. I told my advisor that I wanted to take 19 credits because after being in IB, taking less classes felt like I was getting it too easy. As of now, I have taken 18-19 credits a semester with ease and a 4.0 GPA in Honors. This last spring semester, I took a total of 21 credits, and this fall I will be ending my undergraduate career by taking 23 credits. Through my time in the IB Program, I learned how to manage my time, how to study effectively, and how to deal with stress, letting me take more credits than other college students around me. At NAU, I did receive the Lumberjack Scholars Award, meaning that my tuition was paid for. However, I still had to pay for housing which costs about $3600 a semester, around $1,000 in fees, plus expenses like food and school supplies. I will be graduating a year and a half earlier than my expected graduation, meaning I am saving at least $14, 000. With that being said, I do not use the meal plans on campus, saving some of the cost as well. NAU offers an IB Scholarship, but since it only covers tuition, I was not eligible since I received the Lumberjack Scholars Award. Overall, it was extremely worth it. Not only did I feel prepared for college level courses once I began my college classes, I also was told that my writing and other academic skills were a higher level than the level of classes I have taken so far. While writing research papers, I have been told that my writing reflects the 400 level or graduate level writing rather than the writing of a junior. I have also received an Honors Best Paper Award from the NAU Honors College for an essay that I had written in one of my Honors classes. In my film classes, I was with students who were touching cameras for the first time in their lives, while I was able to do everything the professor wanted without listening to the lecture. I was able to pick up important life and academic skills, skills related to specific courses like English and Film, and I was able to save thousands in the cost for my college education.

All things considered, would you do it again? Explain.

There is absolutely no part of me that could say no to this question. Knowing what I know now, I never would have doubted being in the IB Program. For a brief time, I figured that it was not going to help me as much as others talked about, but after entering college, I realized that I was instead helped more than I think most others expected. I do not think that I would have the grades, the social life, the work life, or the academic career that I currently have without that experience and time that I have spent in the IB Program.

What advice do you have for parents and students considering the IB program? 

IB feels like a lot of work and that the end-goal is hard to see at the moment, but it is worth it. You should definitely look at colleges and determine what credits you will get for passing the tests, as well as some of the liberal arts and elective courses that they may also require from students. IB prepares you for college classes in a way that puts you so ahead of the game that it is truly unbelievable. All of my teachers were extremely helpful and people who I respected and got to know a little more on a personal level. The cost can be a little intimidating but nothing compared to the cost of one semester in college. IB was definitely the greatest decision I probably made in high school and is one that has paid off so unbelievably for me.

The International Baccalaureate Program (IB) courses are offered exclusively at Willow Canyon High School and challenges academically talented students to reach high levels of achievement in a broad range of subjects and allow two different participation tracks: IB diploma and IB certificate. The International Baccalaureate Organizations Diploma Program is a demanding pre-university course of study that leads to examinations. IB schools have earned a reputation for rigorous assessment, giving IB diploma holders access to the world's leading universities. Students can apply for the IB program for their junior and senior years.  If any parent or student has questions regarding the IB Diploma, please reach out to Dr. Ward directly by emailing him at jason.ward@dysart.org.

The federal government has provided funding to support districts across Arizona and the nation during the COVID pandemic through the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER). With the most recently approved funding, ESSER III, and a longer timeline for usage, we are seeking input from the Dysart Unified School District community on how the funds should be used. Please take a few moments to respond to this survey to provide valuable feedback and input, which will be used to finalize Dysart’s plan. Please provide your feedback by July 30, 2021.

In compliance with §15-905.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, Dysart Unified School District is notifying its property taxpayers of Dysart Unified School District’s intention to raise its primary property taxes over the current level to pay for increased expenditures in those areas where the Governing Board has the authority to increase property taxes for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021. The Dysart Unified School District is proposing an increase in its primary property tax levy of $780,000.

The amount proposed above will cause Dysart Unified School District’s primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to be $4.81. Without the tax increase, the total taxes that would be owed would have been $0.00.

These amounts proposed are above the qualifying tax levies as prescribed by state law, if applicable. The increase is also exclusive of any changes that may occur from property tax levies for voter approved bonded indebtedness or budget and tax overrides.

All interested citizens are invited to attend the public hearing on the proposed tax increase scheduled to be held July 7, 2021 at 6:00 PM at 15802 N. Parkview Place Surprise, AZ 85374.

The Dysart Student Broadcast (DSB) Summer Media Camp launched this year and opened to middle level students, completing grades sixth through eighth.  The one week camp hosted at Willow Canyon High School featured field trips to State Farm Stadium and Huntington University. Students created over 20 videos with the help of Willow Canyon High School TV Production and DSB Live instructor Ms. Alyson Titkemeyer and Mr. Brian Yoder, Coordinator of Student Broadcasting and Multimedia Productions. Sam Harris, a Willow Canyon High School junior in TV Production, was also on hand to assist students and share his experience with the program.

At State Farm Stadium students learned the technical aspects of live broadcasting. Students met with graphic designers, audio engineers and learned the gear that helps run live football broadcasts and other events at the stadium. Participants toured Huntington University to learn about the degrees offered in graphic design, animation, film, and TV broadcasting. Students were also treated with hands-on experiences creating short scenes with graduates from the school. At Willow Canyon High School, students learned how to use green screen technology, create stop-motion animations, and in-camera trick photography. 

The goal of the program is to introduce students to graphic design, animation, film, TV and broadcasting with the hope that they continue their education in those subjects in high school. 

“It was a great opportunity for middle level students to have fun and explore their interests,” said Titkemeyer.  

DSB Live is student-driven, student-produced and offers live stream broadcasts of school events free of charge to the community. Students in grades 9-12 at Dysart’s four high schools learn, develop and run every aspect of the show, including operating state-of-the-art cameras and TriCasters, creating commercials, being sound technicians, producers, graphic operators, on-field reporters, and color commentators during sports broadcasts. DSB Live’s network compliments the media pathways in Dysart’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, but is open to any student, regardless of if they are enrolled in CTE classes or not. Students interested in participating should contact their high school broadcasting instructor or email brian.yoder@dysart.org.  To view past broadcasts of school events including graduation, visit https://vimeo.com/dsblive. 

Dana Knoebel, Curriculum Instruction and Assessment Director for Prek-8, has recently been awarded the Arizona School Administrators (ASA) Distinguished Administrator Award. This award is presented to exceptional Arizona administrators who have exemplified dedication and leadership towards their students, staff, and colleagues. 

Ms. Knoebel was named by the ASA as a Distinguished Administrator for the Educational Services Division. She was honored for her exemplary leadership during the COVID pandemic to lead a team to write and plan lessons for teachers to facilitate online learning when our schools closed last Spring.  She implemented Dysart’s first online school for K-8 students and enrollment exceeded 3,000 students for the 2020-2021 School Year.  As one of the first districts to open for in-person instruction in September 2020, Ms. Knoebel worked with school administration and teachers to redefine what teaching and learning looked like during the pandemic. Finally, Mrs. Knoebel led teams to create a new summer school program for June and July to tackle learning loss and better prepare students for the next school year.  

Ms Knoebel has served in her current position for four years. She previously was the principal at Marley Park Elementary School for six years and the school earned an A+ Excellence in Education Award from the Arizona Educational Foundation and a 'A' label from Arizona Department of Education under her leadership.

Ms. Knoebel will be formally recognized during the ASA Summer Conference Awards Luncheon on Monday, June 14, 2021 in Tucson.

The mission of Arizona School Administrators is to promote and support educational excellence in school leadership. Arizona School Administrators seeks to honor outstanding Arizona administrators for their professionalism, dedication, leadership, and exemplary contributions to education in Arizona. 

The Dysart Unified School District COVID-19 Vaccine Point of Dispensing (POD) Team was recently recognized by The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI) with a 2021 Hot Shot Award. The Hot Shot Award seeks to recognize individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond the call of duty during the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Dysart POD Team was recognized for their efforts to organize and facilitate a drive-thru COVID-19 Vaccination POD for local educators, school employees, and daycare workers in the community. The Vaccination POD was held on two dates during the months of February and March, and resulted in nearly 800 local educators being vaccinated against COVID-19. The Dysart POD team partnered with Maricopa County Public Health, Fry’s Pharmacy, the Surprise Fire-Medical and Police Departments who assisted with safety measures, and the Be Kind People Project who provided music, fun, and smiles to those being vaccinated.

The Dysart Vaccine POD team consists of Jacqueline Hoeffler, Lead Nurse; Alan Van Horn, Maintenance Administrator; Cynthia Williams, Regional Nurse; Lauree Marino, Regional Nurse; Doug Curry, Director of Transportation; Renee Ryon, Director of Public Relations; and Corey Montano, Director of Exceptional Student Services. The team was recognized during The Arizona Partnership for Immunization Outstanding Practice Cloud Virtual Awards Presentation on April 28, 2021. 

In addition, Jacqueline Hoeffler, Dysart Unified School District Lead Nurse, was honored with an Individual Hot Shot Award for her extraordinary efforts in the organization of the event, and her dedication to the health and safety of the community. 

The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI) is a non-profit statewide coalition of over 400 members that seek to foster community wellness and advocate for good public policy and best immunization practices. 

The Dysart Unified School District is proud to announce that Convergence Indoor Drumline and Colorguard are the Winter Guard Arizona (WGAZ) state champions in their respective divisions.   

These groups consist of students from all over the district, but call Willow Canyon High School home for the winter season. They meet after school every week hone their skills throughout the season. Under the direction of Michaela Rademacher, and their individual unit directors, these groups have been able to clench State Championships for the 2021 WGAZ Season. 

Convergence Percussion: Percussion Independent A Class Coaches to be congratulated: 

• Frank Angel - Music Composition 
• Justin Angel - Head Percussion Director/Show Designer 
• Stephen Goodman - Front Ensemble Tech 
• Anivia Torres - Front Ensemble Tech
• Kalob Clouser - Audio Tech 
• Isaac Barrio - Marching Tech/Choreographer

Convergence Winterguard: Independent A Class Coaches to be congratulated: 

• Joe and Marissa Keating - Show Design 
• Don Morrison - Head Winterguard Director 
• Jose Vega - Asst. Winterguard Coach 
• Gabriel Gastilo - Winterguard Tech 
• Katie Hohn - Winterguard Tech 
• Emily Garcia - Winterguard Tech

WGAZ was founded to draw together the growing winter guard, percussion, wind activity, standardize rules, and provide leadership and guidance in a competitive venue.  The two-day championship event showcases more than 160 ensembles from across the state of Arizona. Member units prepare for this event by competing in at least three WGAZ sanctioned competitions through a competition season.

The Dysart Leadership Council hosted a Covid Relief and Canned Food Drive in February and  March of this year.  In conjunction with 13 district schools/sites, and community partners including Spencer’s Place, and West-MEC, 4,866 lbs of items were donated to the Valley View Community Food Bank.  These efforts will feed 4,800 families and about 20,000 people in the Northwest Valley. 

The Dysart Leadership Council consists of students from all four high schools that meet on a monthly basis to support and unify the students across the district. The council plans district-wide service projects and spirit events, presents updates to the Governing Board, and serves as an outlet and voice for their fellow students. 

The Dysart Unified School District is proud to have many district high schools recognized for having outstanding school-based enterprises (SBEs) by the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA). A school-based enterprise is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market. SBEs are managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. SBEs have been utilized by DECA advisors as an effective educational tool for over four decades to provide students with realistic and practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction, enhance 21st century skill development, and prepare students for college and careers. 

The following school-based enterprises in the Dysart Unified School District achieved Gold Certification for the 2020-2021 school year:

• The Stable at Shadow Ridge High School 
• The Wildcat Den at Willow Canyon High School 
• The Hot Spot at Dysart High School

These schools were among 246 other schools across the country to achieve this honor. DECA’s SBE certification program provides recognition for outstanding achievements by school-based enterprises and to motivate SBE’s to strive for excellence and growth. SBEs can be certified at three levels: bronze, silver, or gold. In order to be eligible for certification, schools must submit extensive documentation that explains how their SBE demonstrates the practice of various marketing and retail standards. 

Additionally, several district students received recognition in a variety of DECA competitions. Dysart High School had 15 teams rank in the top 25 in state for the Virtual Business Challenge with Hailey Erickson taking 1st place in the state in Accounting. Brody Fussell from Shadow Ridge qualified during round one of the Virtual Business Challenge Restaurant event, and has been invited to compete in the Virtual International Career Development Conference in April. 

Aiden Volkman and Caitlyn Walton from Shadow Ridge received 9th place in the Western region during the 2020-2021 DECA Stock Market Game. Students were challenged in this online competition with developing and managing a virtual investment portfolio of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, with the aim of increasing the value of their portfolio, while maintaining its diversity. Aiden and Caitlyn have been invited to present their portfolio during the 2021 DECA Virtual International Career Development Conference in April. 

DECA is a Career and Technical Student Organization specifically for students enrolled in CTE programs. To learn more about CTE programs in the district, head to dysart.org/CTE.

Dysart Unified School District has five teachers that have been nominated for the 2021 Governor’s Arts Awards in the Arts in Education category. A total of 27 Arts in Education nominees were submitted across the State of Arizona, and will be honored at the 40th Annual Governor's Arts Awards event on March 26, 2021, where the winners will be announced.  

Nominees from the Dysart Unified School District include:

• Randall Badgard - music teacher, Sunset Hills Elementary School 
• Ashley Golden - art teacher, Surprise Elementary School 
• Preston MacDonald - choir teacher, Valley Vista High School 
• Laurel Ruff - music teacher, Marley Park Elementary (pictured)
  
• Steve Wallgren - theatre teacher, Willow Canyon High School

A volunteer selection panel of community, business and arts leaders from across the state review the nominations. Criteria for selection includes the significance of the contributions and achievements of the nominee; the range of individuals or groups served by the contributions of the nominee; and the length and degree to which the nominee is dedicated to the arts. This year, over 100 nominations across all categories were submitted.

The Governor’s Arts Awards are hosted by Arizona Citizens for the Arts (AzCA). AzCA is a nonprofit organization that acts as the eyes, ears and voice of the nonprofit arts and culture sector in Arizona – at the State Legislature, in local city halls and in partnerships with business and community leaders involved in building and supporting quality of life in Arizona. It is composed of 100 members arts organizations across Arizona and more than 5,000 individual citizen arts supporters. Learn more at azcitizensforthearts.org/governors-arts-awards/2021awards/

Growing Minds Preschool is proud to offer a new toddler room beginning February 1, 2021 for one year old children. Half-day and full-day options are available with year-round hours of operation, including school breaks, from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to accommodate working families. 

Additionally, Growing Minds is offering referral discounts for current and new families.  Each time a new child is enrolled, the currently enrolled referral family will receive a $75 tuition credit provided the student stays for at least 90 days. All new enrollments, as a result of a family referral, will have their application fee of $50 credited back after remaining in the program for 90 days.

Available for children ages 1-5, Growing Minds Preschool guides cognitive development in an environment that is fun and exciting. Creative expression and physical play is embedded in all activities, with a hands-on learning experience that ensures children will love to learn and grow.  The preschool experience advances cognitive development and cultivates social and emotional development, building respect, resilience, teamwork, optimism, innovation, and self-esteem through positive interaction with classmates and teachers.  The Creative Curriculum follows the Arizona Early Learning State Standards, allowing a child to initiate his or her own learning experience.

Growing Minds Preschool’s main campus is located at 17999 W Surprise Farms Loop S Surprise, AZ 85388. Satellite campuses are also available at Freedom Traditional Academy (16066 N Parkview Place, Surprise, AZ 85374), and Marley Park Elementary School (15042 W Sweetwater Ave., Surprise, AZ 85379). Hours of operation are 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., with academic time taking place from 8:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Visit GrowingMindsPreschool.org or call 623-876-7350 to learn more, view rates, a student handbook, or to enroll.

We would like to take this opportunity to share our utmost gratitude with community member, Jane Malone.  Jane donated more than 300 masks to our schools.  Jane, an avid seamstress, has spent countless hours sewing and donating masks to essential workers throughout the community.  She was inspired by her nieces who both work as nurses to begin sewing masks this past March.  Since then, she produced over 1,500 masks from her home in Sun City West and sent them to neighboring districts, food and clothing banks, hospitals, grocery stores and to the organization, Dress for Success to provide face coverings to those that work directly with the community. Jane summed up her inspiration to start this selfless act with her favorite quote,   “Character is how you treat those that can do nothing for you.”  We thank Jane for sharing her talents, hard work, and kindness to keep our students and staff safe. 

The Dysart Unified School District is celebrating 100 years of educating the community in the 2020-2021 school year. First established in 1920 as a one-room schoolhouse by Nathaniel Martin Dysart, the district has seen numerous achievements over the last 100 years. Although it is certainly not an exhaustive list, we narrowed down our top 100 Dysart Achievements below in honor of our Centennial.  

• 100 Dysart Achievements

Do you know of something that didn’t make the list, but want to make sure we have it recorded for history? Let us know here.

Meet Jordyn Kellick, a senior at Willow Canyon High School, and a stand out volleyball player. Like many of her teammates, Jordyn is awaiting the opportunity to compete this season. She helped lead the Wildcats last season as one of the team captains, and is hoping for the opportunity to continue in that role this season. With many unknowns still in the air, one thing is certain, Jordyn is excited and optimistic for the chance to connect with her teammates again, whether on or off the court. 

“I’m just looking forward to spending time with everyone,” said Kellick. “We can’t really go and hang out with people like we used to. This team is like family, so I’m just looking forward to being able to spend as much time with them as I can.”

From a young age, Jordyn has always loved playing a variety of sports. However, she didn’t realize her full appreciation for them until the sudden loss of her father when she was in the 6th grade. Her father was always a crucial source of inspiration for her, and after his passing, instead of losing the motivation to play, she was able to gain new confidence in knowing that her father would want her to keep pushing and chasing her dreams. Rather than turning to more adverse means of coping, Jordyn wanted to make her father proud, and decided to keep playing and progressing in her sport. 

“Volleyball was a light in the darkness, and has helped me through a lot and helped me stay the course,” she said.

Looking back over the years, one thing Jordyn can be proud of is her resiliency and perseverance to keep going. No matter the setback, she has kept the focus and determination to continue pushing forward. Much of that she credits to the support of her family, friends, coaches, and teammates along the way. 

“I have come a long way since freshman year, and have gained the mental toughness I didn’t know I had,” she said. “I appreciate everyone who has supported me and helped me through.” 

Jordyn is looking forward with expectancy for what lies ahead. After graduating, she hopes to play collegiate volleyball while studying to become an athletic trainer. “It has always been a dream to play in college. This is my passion, and playing would be a plus to the goals I have set for myself,” she said. After college, Jordyn hopes to become an athletic trainer for a professional sports team. 

As for now, she is focused on finishing out her senior year strong, and believes in what her team can accomplish. The team came close to the postseason last year, but fell just short of a playoff spot. This year, however, Jordyn is motivated to lead her team to win the region and make it to the championships. 

“I want this to be a comeback year,” she states. “Being one of only two seniors on the team, I want to go out with a bang, and I think we can do that. Especially with the talent we have.” 

Valley Vista High School Guidance Counselor, Heather Webb, and Dysart Unified School District Career and Technical Education Director, Jim Grieshaber, have recently been selected as award recipients by The Association for Career and Technical Education of Arizona (ACTEAZ). The ACTEAZ Awards recognize individuals for their accomplishments and dedication to students and to Career and Technical Education (CTE) in the State of Arizona. 

Ms. Webb was honored with the ACTEAZ Career Guidance Award for her commitment to connecting students with opportunities for success, utilizing innovation in career exploration and development, as well as being an advocate for CTE as a viable option for all students. 

Mr. Grieshaber was recognized as the Outstanding ACTEAZ Affiliate of the Year for his commitment and continuous service and support of ACTEAZ and CTE throughout the year. Mr. Grieshaber received the award in his current role as Executive Committee President of ACOVA. ACOVA is a non-profit professional association, whose mission is to build community, advocacy, and leadership for Arizona CTE Administrators, and provide them with the skills needed to successfully lead the CTE enterprise within school districts. 

The ACTEAZ seeks to grow and promote CTE at local, state and national levels by bringing together CTE Educators, Administrators and Counselors across the state of Arizona and providing them with professional and leadership growth opportunities, creative ideas and statewide networking, and access to local and national companies for products, career applications and community outreach.

In order to prevent outbreaks of vaccine preventable disease, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends continuing to vaccinate, while following social distancing and cleaning measures. We wanted to share an opportunity that is being provided locally by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health to ensure our students are protected from vaccine preventable diseases and ready to start school when school resumes. Vaccinations are FREE, and all children from preschool through 12th grade are invited. Families with or without insurance and those on AHCCCS are welcome to attend.

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health Immunization Clinic will be held on  Wednesday, July 22, 2020 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Freedom Traditional Academy, which is located at 16066 N Parkview Place, Surprise, AZ 85374.

Families attending will be asked to:

• Bring their own pen; 
• Wear a mask, if possible; 
• Bring the immunization record for the person being vaccinated; 
• Bring the insurance card, if available; and  
• Complete the consent form prior to visit, if possible.

In order to ensure safety at the clinic, the following practices will be in place:

• Will practice social distancing and monitoring the amount of people in the building at one time 
• Are asking only the person/s needing vaccine and or only one parent or guardian to accompany children. Everyone else is asked to remain outside of the building while practicing social distancing. 
• Ask families to maintain social distancing while waiting 
• Will clean the area and items between families 
• Are asking families to avoid coming to the immunization clinic when you or your child is sick with COVID-19 symptoms, which may include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.

Questions should be directed to Maricopa County Public Health at 602-506-6767.

Dysart High School student, Andrea Soliz, was recently named to the SkillsUSA National Officer Team as the Region 5 Vice President. Previously, Andrea served as the SkillsUSA Region 5 President for the State of Arizona. As a National Officer, Andrea is provided the opportunity to represent SkillsUSA and its members. National Officers serve as communicators, advocates and facilitators in a variety of leadership roles, helping instill skills and career-readiness to fellow members.

The newly elected officers were announced at a virtual recognition ceremony on June 26, 2020.  Before being selected, candidates went through a rigorous application process including written exams, essays, interviews, and a speech. Andrea is one of ten high school students from across the country selected to serve on the 2020-21 SkillsUSA National Officer Team. Being a national officer is one of the highest honors a student can achieve within the SkillsUSA organization.

Andrea is entering her senior year at Dysart High School, and is a dedicated leader on campus. She has worked tirelessly to be an advocate, role model, and mentor to fellow classmates, as well as the community. Through SkillsUSA, she has been provided with many opportunities and experiences that continue to prepare her for her future.  

SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Education partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development by building and reinforcing self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service (including health) occupations.

In compliance with A.R.S. 15-905.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, Dysart Unified School District No. 89 is notifying property taxpayers of Dysart Unified School District’s intention to raise its primary property taxes over the current level to pay for increased expenditures in those areas where the Governing Board has the authority to increase property taxes for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020. The Dysart Unified School District is proposing an increase in its primary property tax levy of $15,000. A public hearing is scheduled on June 24, 2020.

The amount proposed above will cause Dysart Unified School District’s primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to be $0.10. Without the tax increase, the total taxes that would be owed would have been $0.00.

These proposed amounts are above the qualifying tax levies as prescribed by state law, if applicable. The increase is also exclusive of any changes that may occur from property tax levies for voter approved bonded indebtedness or budget and tax overrides.

The Dysart Unified School District Governing Board will be enforcing the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s guidance to limit all public gatherings to ten people. As such, the June 24 public hearing will be held telephonically/remotely with no public, in-person attendance. Reference: Attorney Generals’ Opinion dated March 13, 2020 Re: Concerns Related to Arizona’s Open Meeting Law and COVID-19. This meeting is open to the public to listen and view at www.youtube.com/dysartusd.

All interested citizens are invited to submit public comments regarding the public hearing on the proposed tax increase scheduled to be held June 24, 2020 at 6:00 PM by emailing kenneth.hicks@dysart.org prior to 5:00 PM the day of the meeting. 

The Dysart Unified School District is excited to announce that Growing Minds Preschool received a 3-star rating from First Things First, and attending families are now eligible to apply for the Quality First Scholarships Program. The deadline to apply is June 22, 2020.

The purpose of the Quality First Scholarships Program is to ensure that families earning 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and below have access to quality early child care and education. Interested families may obtain the application online here.  Completed applications should be turned in at the main Growing Minds Preschool campus at 17999 W. Surprise Farms Loop S. Surprise, AZ 85388.  

Scholarship availability is limited. In order to be considered, the application and supporting documentation is due prior to June 22nd.  Families selected to receive the scholarship will be notified prior to July 1.  Those who do not receive a scholarship, but are eligible based on First Things First standards will be placed on a waiting list.

Growing Minds Preschool Summer Camp is open through July 24, and the 20-21 school year session begins July 29, 2020 and runs through May 28, 2021. Registration applications are accepted at GrowingMindsPreschool.org. Space is limited. For questions about enrollment call 623-876-7350 or email growingmindspreschool@dysart.org.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for everyone in our Dysart community who is committed to building bridges of peace, respect and harmony.

I am humbled by so many examples of courageous people doing extraordinary things to right the wrongs in our society; who advocate for, and who protect, our human rights; who open previously closed doors for civil discourse; and most of all, who ensure each and every individual can reap the full rewards of their education, hard work and talents.

I am saddened to think that even one Dysart student or employee has ever been victimized by hatred. We here in Dysart believe in, and are committed to, providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for learning and working. If there are ways we can do better, I invite you to responsibly communicate with me so that we can work together for a better future.

The Dysart District and surrounding communities of Surprise, El Mirage, Youngtown, Waddell and Luke Air Force Base are, indeed, extraordinary places to live, to learn and to work. I stand with our diverse community to say that the work of ensuring peace and togetherness is never done - rather, it is what we, collectively, must each do every hour of every day. I wish you faith, hope and love. Faith and hope for safe and healthy times ahead, and above all, love for peace in the hearts of all.

Sincerely, Quinn R. Kellis, Ed.D. 

Superintendent 

Dysart Unified School District

Michael Hawkins, Shadow Ridge High School Principal, and Jim Dean, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, have recently been awarded the Arizona School Administrators (ASA) Distinguished Administrator Award. This award is presented to exceptional Arizona administrators who have exemplified dedication and leadership towards their students, staff, and colleagues. 

Mr. Hawkins was named by the ASA as a Distinguished Administrator for the Secondary Division. Mr. Hawkins has been the principal at Shadow Ridge High School for 12 years. He has helped make Shadow Ridge a home to a community of learners that inspire student excellence. From the very beginning, this has been the foundation that served to help the school articulate their mission. He has helped lead Shadow Ridge to earning an “A” rating, as well as being named an A+ School of Excellence by the Arizona Education Foundation (AEF). Mr. Hawkins is involved in the Dysart Grading Committee, Multi Tiered Support Committee, High School Innovation Committee, Algebra Task Force, and the Dysart Site Administrators Association. He is admired on campus by both students and staff for his visibility, unwavering support, and direct association. 

Mr. Dean was named by the ASA as a Distinguished Administrator for the Education Services Division. Mr. Dean exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated, loyal, honest, and positive leader. He fully grasps the simple Dysart focus of Academics, Arts and Athletics. He also understands the full scope of public education thanks to his experience as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and now as an assistant superintendent which he has served for 10 years. He has filled his plate with strategic solutions to make Dysart the destination district for high school students. His leadership contributes to a positive student and employee climate, high morale among students, staff and colleagues, and improved educational programs. 

The mission of Arizona School Administrators is to promote and support educational excellence in school leadership. Arizona School Administrators seeks to honor outstanding Arizona administrators for their professionalism, dedication, leadership, and exemplary contributions to education in Arizona.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) students from Dysart Unified School District high schools recently competed in state competitions including the SkillsUSA Regional Conference hosted in Phoenix, and the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) State Career Development Conference also hosted in Phoenix. 

The following students competed in the Region 5 SkillsUSA Arizona Conference and received honors in their respective categories. The students' achievements have qualified them for the SkillsUSA Arizona Championships taking place in April. 

Shadow Ridge High School

• Gold Medal Architectural Drafting: Jordan Johansen 
• Gold Medal 3D Visualization and Animation: Andrew Valdez and Sean Enouen 
• Gold Medal Advertising Design: Ryan Enouen 
• Gold Medal American Sign Language: Madeline Deffinbaugh 
• Silver Medal 3D Visualization and Animation: Krystine Poore and Makayla Schuler 
• Silver Medal Advertising Design: Anna Schneider 
• Silver Medal Job Interview: Alysa Horton 
• Bronze Medal 3D Visualization and Animation: Anthony Salamanca and Dawson Zaucha 
• Fourth Place Advertising Design: Micah Fischer  
• Fifth Place Advertising Design: Riley Janovsky 
• Seventh Place Advertising Design: Cassidy Dato

Willow Canyon High School

• Silver Medal American Sign Language: Markus Alvarado  
• Silver Medal Chapter Display: Ariana Peterson and Isaac Barrio 
• Silver Medal Opening and Closing: Zydes Diggs, Ekemini MbekAnako, Joshua Dethlefsen, Malachi Delgado, Jessany Bramblett, Eyani Watkins, and Jaxon Magee  
• Silver Medal Audio Radio: Sarah Tuttle and Tyler Tuttle

The following students receive honors at the DECA State Career Development Conference, where they competed against over 2000 high school students from across the state. 

Valley Vista High School 

• Elite Member Executive Awards: Caroline Dors and Angel Cabrera 
• Elite Member Director Awards: Jordan DeLaro, Audrey Jimenez and Hailey Amos 
• Chapter Awards: Elite Chapter Award, Diamond Society Gold, Century Chapter, Membership Campaign - Thrive Level, and Promotional and Community Service Campaigns - Thrive Level  

The Membership Campaign, and Promotional and Community Service campaigns have earned Valley Vista four spots for students to attend the International Career Development Conference in Nashville, Tennessee in April. 

Shadow Ridge High School

The following students received honors in their respective categories, and have qualified to compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Nashville, TN. 

• First Place Overall: Emma Belanger, William Fussell, Austen Cucci, and Shane Rath 
• Third Place Overall: Paige Kelly and Zoe Classen 
• Fourth Place Overall: Mercedes Joyce  
• Elite Member Award: Serenity Senft, William Fussell, Ryan McDaniel, Shane Rath, Bryson Fussell, Cole Summers, Cole Callister,  Katelyn Smith, Zoe Classen, Meghan Crisan, Julianne Meyer, and Stephen MacKellar  
• Finalist: Austen Cucci 
• International Competition Qualifier: Bryson Fussell, Cody Kobus, and Nicole Glaba

Dysart Parents and Guardians,

We understand that there is much concern regarding the Coronavirus and its potential impact on schools. Please be assured that the safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. 

The Dysart Unified School District and each of our schools work closely with the Maricopa County Health Department regarding all potential health issues on a regular basis. Dysart takes direction from the Maricopa County Health Department on any public health issues that impact our schools and community. At this time there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in our district. Should any concerns arise regarding the Coronavirus, or any other community health issue, we would take immediate action to ensure the safety of our students and staff.  

Because protection from all respiratory viruses is similar, this is a good time to review strategies we can all use to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, such as the flu:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 
• Stay home when you are sick, and keep sick children home as well. 
• Cover your cough or sneeze, then immediately discard any tissues. 
• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces such as keyboards, phones, or door knobs.

Dysart Unified School District staff take these precautions at our schools in order to ensure a healthy learning environment for students.

We continue to work closely with public health officials and will keep you updated with any developments that could impact our schools. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure the health and safety of our students and campuses.

The Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) chapters from Dysart Unified School District’s four high schools competed in the Region 8 Career Development Competition in Phoenix this past month. The competition allows students to compete in various business and marketing events and are aligned with national curriculum standards and industry validated.

Shadow Ridge High School found success in several events and took home a total of 33 medals including 15 test medals, 13 first place medals, and five overall first place recognitions. “It is a great opportunity for students to practice or experience competing for the first time before the state conference,” says Shadow Ridge advisor, Ms. Fussell. 

Willow Canyon High School received  their best test scores in recent years, with eight test medals, six role play medals, and three overall medals. 

Dysart High School received nine  medals. Dysart High School DECA advisor Ms. Palombo says of the event, “This event is great for new members as this is the only time they get to really identify how a role play event functions and to experience it for the first time.”

Valley Vista High School received six  medals total, including two role play medals and three  overall medals. “This is usually the first competition of the season and for our new members this event gives them an idea of what competition is like, what to expect, and how to prepare,” says Valley Vista advisor, Ms. Urban. 

The students will represent their school at the DECA State Career Development Competition later this month and compete against over 2,000 students from across the valley.

DECA is a premier student organization that supports the development of marketing and management skills in career areas such as hospitality, finance, sales and service, business administration, and entrepreneurship.  DECA is one of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities offered to prepare students for the academic and vocational skills necessary to successfully enter the workforce. Learn more at dysart.org/cte.

All four Dysart Unified School District cheer and pom teams competed at the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Spiritline State Championships on February 1, 2020 at Chase Field in Phoenix.

• Willow Canyon High School received first place in Division II Pom, and third place in Division II All Girl Group Stunt.  
• Shadow Ridge High School received second place in Division I-III Small Coed Cheer. 
• Valley Vista High School  took second place in Division I-III Partner Stunt, and fourth place in Division I-III Small Coed Cheer.  
• Dysart High School received second place in Division I-III Large Coed Cheer. 

The talented student athletes from all four schools will compete on the national stage February 14-16, 2020, in Anaheim, California at the USA Spirit Nationals. 

The Dysart Unified School District Governing Board has been recognized for earning the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) Total Board Boardsmanship Award. The award is granted to a board when at least a quorum of members has attained the level of a Certificate of Boardsmanship, with the remainder of the board having earned the Certificate of Orientation to Boardsmanship following the attendance of ASBA’s New Board Member Orientation. The following Governing Board members were recognized: Dawn Densmore, Jay Leonard, Christine A.K. Pritchard, Traci Sawyer-Sinkbeil, and Jennifer Tanner.

The Dysart Unified School District held their annual All District Football Team Award presentation to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary student athletes who displayed excellence in the 2019 season. 

First Team, Second Team, and All Academic Team athletes were selected from Valley Vista, Shadow Ridge, Dysart, and Willow Canyon High Schools.

First Team

Offensive Line  

Isaiah Mercado, Shadow Ridge; Kindric Picklesimer, Willow Canyon; Jaden Lay, Valley Vista; Jack Chappelle, Shadow Ridge; Abel Aguirre, Dysart

Tight End  

Andrew Shahan, Shadow Ridge

Quarterback  

Kaiden Lansford, Shadow Ridge

Running Back  

Michael Clark, Shadow Ridge; Aiden Cunningham, Valley Vista

Flex  

Darvon Hubbard, Willow Canyon

Wide Receiver 

Liam Kelleher, Valley Vista; Makai Obregon, Valley Vista; Zachary Sutton, Shadow Ridge

Defensive Line  

DaryOn Lee, Valley Vista; Jaelin McCullen, Valley Vista; Joseph Semien, Willow Canyon

Linebacker  

Casey Lowe, Shadow Ridge; Trevor Kinnee, Willow Canyon; Trenton Foster, Valley Vista; Joseph Schindewolf, Dysart

Defensive Back  

Makai Obregon, Valley Vista; Jonathan HagEstad, Willow Canyon; Houston Mitton, Shadow Ridge; Ruben Falcon, Dysart

Flex  

Jeremiah Ruiz, Valley Vista

Special Teams Kicker 

Josh Hubbs, Willow Canyon 

Punter 

Josh Hubbs, Willow Canyon 

Returner 

Henry Brown, Valley Vista

Second Team

Offensive Line  

Michael Lyon, Shadow Ridge; Garrett Sutliffe, Valley Vista; Christopher Stoica, Shadow Ridge; Kevin Urbina, Dysart; Greg Gregory-Bey, Dysart

Tight End  

Carson Allcock, Valley Vista

Quarterback  

Burt DeLay, Valley Vista

Running Back  

Jacob Thurman, Shadow Ridge; Henry Brown, Valley Vista

Flex  

Ezekiel Alfonso, Valley Vista

Wide Receiver  

Prince Zombo, Dysart; Daunte Williams, Willow Canyon; Isaac Yates, Shadow Ridge

Defensive Line 

Israel Nolasco, Dysart; Carson McNutt, Shadow Ridge; Austin Mather, Dysart; Dylan Jones, Shadow Ridge

Linebacker  

Vernon Thompson, Valley Vista; Hayden Ortiz, Shadow Ridge; Josiah Meek, Willow Canyon; Anthony Salamanca, Shadow Ridge

Defensive Back  

Trenton Givens, Valley Vista; Tommy Thompson, Valley Vista; Isaac Yates, Shadow Ridge; Zachary Sutton, Shadow Ridge

Flex  

Josiah Gardner, Willow Canyon

Special Teams Kicker 

Angel Balderrama, Valley Vista 

Punter 

Gabriel Silvas, Dysart  

Returner 

Jonathan HagEstad, Willow Canyon

All Academic  

Makai Obregon, Valley Vista; Christopher Stoica, Shadow Ridge; Jesus Izaguirre, Dysart; Jonathan HagEstad, Willow Canyon; Hugo Soto, Willow Canyon; Joseph Schindewolf, Dysart; Jayden Jackson, Shadow Ridge; Aiden Cunningham, Valley Vista

Honorable Mention 

Justin Hernandez, Shadow Ridge; Andrew Sullivan, Valley Vista

Players of the Year 

Andrew Rumary, Valley Vista; Josh Cano, Shadow Ridge

The Dysart Unified School District held their annual All District Girls Volleyball Team Award presentation to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary student athletes who displayed excellence in the 2019 season. 

First Team, Second Team, and All Academic Team athletes were selected from Valley Vista, Shadow Ridge, Dysart, and Willow Canyon High Schools.

First Team  

Aliyah Moore, Valley Vista; Alina Nunez, Valley Vista; Abby Allen, Shadow Ridge; Elana Vargas, Willow Canyon; Neeley Eves, Shadow Ridge; Kailin Katena, Valley Vista; Anabelle Gregory, Shadow Ridge; Charlize Ziehmer, Shadow Ridge.

Second Team 

Maliyah Spencer, Willow Canyon; Madeline Davis, Shadow Ridge; Rylee Brown, Valley Vista; Kirstane Lopez-Draeger, Dysart; Gloria Moye, Shadow Ridge; Hailey Neumann, Dysart; Madilyn Heinle, Valley Vista; Maddox Richtmyre, Willow Canyon.

All Academic  

Hailey Neumann, Dysart; Aliyah Moore, Valley Vista; Kristy Salazar, Shadow Ridge; Tristen Turlington, Willow Canyon; Madeline Stein, Willow Canyon; Mikayla Cook, Shadow Ridge; Jordan Deal, Valley Vista; Hope Sumner, Dysart.

The All District Teams showcase the continued growth of athletics in the Dysart District, as teams exceed expectations. In the 2019 season, Valley Vista won the 6A Southwest Region, and Shadow Ridge followed in second place, qualifying both teams for the state playoffs.

Thespian groups from all four high schools in the Dysart Unified School District attended the Arizona State Thespian Festival held at the Phoenix Convention Center on November 15th and 16th.  The event featured numerous productions presented by high schools throughout the state. Students also participated in a variety of workshops led by theater professionals from around the country.  

Dysart High School brought 15 students to the festival who learned valuable skills through workshops and collaborated with other Thespians from around the Valley. The Demons competed in the One Act competition with the production, “Acme Studios,” a comedy involving a radio studio from the 1940’s. Dysart earned three Superior recognitions and were in the top ten of all of the One Act productions. 

Shadow Ridge High School theater students were among 47 schools competing in the Thespian Festival. The Stallions received a Straight Superior recognition and the highest score of the festival.  Additionally, the group was named Chapter Select and are invited to take their One Act, “Anatomy of Gray,” to the International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, Indiana this summer. Along with the Superior One Act, the Stallions were recognized as a Gold Honor Troupe for the third year in a row and ranked as a State Superior rated program. These accolades are based off of school involvement, community engagement and service, and scores received through One Act and Individual Event competitions throughout the year.

Valley Vista students from the Intermediate/Advanced acting class traveled to the Thespian Festival and competed in the One Act competition, attended workshops, and participated in the interview and scholarship portion of the event.  The Monsoon received an Excellent recognition in the One Act competition and were ranked a Silver Honor Troupe for the amount of productions, events, competitions, and activities the students participated in last year. Additionally, Sofia Rios, was able to present her Technical Theater portfolio to potential colleges and universities, and was called back for interviews at several post- secondary schools. 

Willow Canyon thespians presented their One Act entitled, “I Don’t Want to Talk About It,” and received a Superior rating from all three judges.  Additionally, the Wildcats took third place in the state.

Arizona Thespians is a group of teachers, students, and professionals who are dedicated to promoting theater education in our schools and community through teamwork, diversity, gratitude, and accountability. Arizona Thespians are affiliated with the International Thespian Society and the Educational Theater Association. Over the last three and a half decades, Arizona Thespians have provided services to over 70,000 adolescents and thousands of educators.

The Dysart Unified School District is proud to recognize three extraordinary students for the 64th National Merit Scholarship Program.  The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.  

Kristy Salazar, a senior at Shadow Ridge High School, was named one of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state on the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).  These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation.

Kristy is undecided in her college plans but is considering Arizona State University, Columbia University, or the University of Notre Dame.  She has a strong interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and is considering a major in Aerospace or Environmental Science.   

Aidan Johansson, a senior at Shadow Ridge High School and Brian Lunn a senior at Valley Vista High School, were both named Commended Scholars. Commended students represent more than two-thirds of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT and receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index score and some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.

Aidan is applying to several schools including Princeton, Harvard and the Michigan Institute of Technology.  He has a strong interest in Science pathways. 

Brian Lunn applied to West Point and received a Letter of Assurance this fall for a recommendation and cadetship from the United States Military Academy.

The mission of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is to recognize and honor the academically talented students of the United States. NMSC accomplishes its mission by conducting nationwide academic scholarship programs. The enduring goals of NMSC's scholarship programs are:

• To promote a wider and deeper respect for learning in general and for exceptionally talented individuals in particular 
• To shine a spotlight on brilliant students and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence at all levels of education 
• To stimulate increased support from individuals and organizations that wish to sponsor scholarships for outstanding scholastic talent.

The Surprise Independent, in partnership with Fellowship Square Surprise, recently hosted the Hometown Heroes awards ceremony, to recognize residents for their achievements and important contributions to the Surprise Community. The Dysart Unified School District is honored to have two nominees recognized as Hometown Heroes within the community. 

Heather Casey, a teacher at Willow Canyon High School, was selected as a Hometown Hero of Surprise in the Educator category. Ms. Casey was nominated by Willow Canyon staff for her leadership, advocacy, and commitment to students. Ms. Casey has been with the district for fifteen years as a visual arts teacher at Willow Canyon, and has been an exceptional leader and mentor to her students over the years. Several of her students have taken home recognition at local art shows, and have even contributed to city art murals and contests within the Surprise community. In addition, Ms. Casey assists in curriculum writing and revision, serves as a mentor to new teachers, and serves as the district High School Visual Arts lead. In addition to her leadership on campus, Ms. Casey donates to local animal shelters and dog rescues, and is an advocate for Ovarian and Breast Cancer research, volunteering her time to support those affected and help raise funds for research. 

Sharon Beard, a dedicated district volunteer, was nominated and selected as a Hometown Hero of Surprise in the Volunteer category. Mrs. Beard was nominated by Asante Preparatory Academy teacher, Rachel Kelley, where she currently donates her time assisting students. Mrs. Beard first began volunteering in the district with students at Thompson Ranch Elementary School, Surprise Elementary School, and Ashton Ranch Elementary School. In addition to volunteering her time in the classroom, Mrs. Beard serves as an educational surrogate for the Dysart district representing children in foster care and group homes. Prior to volunteering with the district, she enjoyed volunteering with students at the Desert Botanical Garden, and the Del Webb Hospital daycare for hospital employees. “Working with children is my joy and I am sure it keeps me young at heart!” says Mrs. Beard. 

Ms. Casey and Mrs. Beard, along with family, and friends, were invited to attend the Hometown Heroes Luncheon Celebration, on Wednesday, September 25th. The event was held at Fellowship Square, Surprise, and featured an awards ceremony where each recipient was honored for their achievements. 

The Dysart Unified School District is appreciative of the leadership and commitment both Ms. Casey, and Mrs. Beard have shown towards our students, and are honored to have them as a part of our extraordinary team.

UPDATE: 9:38AM Power has now been restored.  All schools will resume as normal. 

A power outage in the region has affected Freedom Traditional Academy, Ashton Ranch Elementary School, Countryside Elementary School, and the District Office.  We are working with the power company to assess what happened and a timeline.  Please check the district website and social media for the most up to date information.  An update will be posted by 9:45am.

Physical Education (PE) teachers across the district recently participated in a training through the Arizona Coyotes as a part of their “Raise the Pack” Street Hockey Program. As a part of this training, each teacher received curriculum on introducing students to the sport of hockey in their PE classes. The teachers received proper instruction on skills, athletic warm-ups, simple drills, as well as options for more advanced drills and lesson plans to implement over time. In addition, the Arizona Coyotes gifted each school with equipment including hockey sticks, street hockey balls, nets, and reversible jerseys for the students to utilize. The implementation of the new hockey curriculum into PE classes will seek to encourage sportsmanship, an active lifestyle, and a broader understanding and enjoyment of the game of hockey for all students. 

The Arizona Coyotes, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), developed the “Raise the Pack” Street Hockey Program for local valley school districts to implement hockey curriculum into their physical education classes, in an effort to grow hockey to exponential levels.

Dysart Parents and Guardians,

As we start a new school year, we are asking you to partner with us to keep our Dysart students and campuses safe and secure. Unfortunately, there have already been some stories in the media about school threats this year, and we are hoping to stem this issue with your help.

As a fellow community member, I ask you to please:

• Have a discussion with your child(ren) about the importance of immediately sharing information that could be considered threatening to our community with a responsible adult. This could be a - parent, teacher or school staff member. 
• Make it clear to your child(ren) that online threats and rumors should not be forwarded or shared, because doing so impedes police investigations. 
• Discuss with your child(ren) the seriousness of making threats toward schools, and remind them that there are a number of charges that can be filed against students – including felony offenses.

If you become aware of an immediate threat, please call 911.  Otherwise, call law enforcement non-emergency lines to report potential threats towards our schools or the community in Surprise (623-222-4000), El Mirage (623-933-1341), or Maricopa County (602-876-1602). 

Another option for reporting school safety issues or concerns is through our Safe Schools Hotline (623-876-7009) or online via Dysart Safe Report at Dysart.org/SafeReport. Additional information, resources, and school safety tips can be found on our website at Dysart.org/Safety. 

Dysart is proud of our relationships with local law enforcement agencies, and works collaboratively with them to ensure the safety of our students and staff.  We all have a responsibility to be vigilant and should strive to prioritize the well-being of our community. It is our sincere desire to ensure our campuses are always a safe place for our students, and we appreciate you partnering with us in this effort. 

Respectfully, 

Quinn R. Kellis, Ed.D. 

Superintendent 

Dysart Unified School District

The Dysart Unified School District is excited to welcome new assistant principals to our campuses. New assistant principals for the 2019-2020 school year are as follows:

• Guadalupe Alejos, Assistant Principal - Dysart Elementary School 
• Sarah Barkley Rosenthal, Assistant Principal - Luke Elementary School 
• Thom Luedemann, Assistant Principal - Willow Canyon High School 
• Erin McRae, Assistant Principal - Shadow Ridge High School 
• Amy Miles, Assistant Principal - Mountain View School 
• Gina Ostlund, Assistant Principal - Valley Vista High School 
• Danielle Parnell, Assistant Principal - Thompson Ranch Elementary School 
• Kaseylyn Romero, Assistant Principal - Kingswood Elementary School 
• Kara Sehr, Assistant Principal - Marley Park Elementary School 
• Jillian Strong, Dean of Students - Ashton Ranch Elementary School

Earlier this month we welcomed our new principals to the campuses. Click here to view a list of new principals for the 2019-2020 school year.