District News

Dysart Unified School District is accepting new PreK-12 student enrollment applications for the 2026-2027 school year. Parents and guardians can complete the necessary registration information online at Dysart.org/enroll at any time. Within the enrollment application, parents are able to select their home school, or request their child attend another school outside of their boundary school, including Freedom Traditional Academy, through Open Enrollment. Preschool enrollment options are also available on the main enrollment link above, as well as at GrowingMindsPreschool.org. Learn more at Dysart.org/Preschool.

For in-person enrollment assistance between June 8th and July 1st, families may visit the District Office Monday through Thursday at 15802 N. Parkview Place in Surprise, Arizona from 8am-4:30pm.  All K-12 school offices will reopen for in person enrollment on Wednesday, July 8

Please note that in order to finalize registration the following documents will be required: government issued photo identification; birth certificate; proof of residency; and immunization records. To keep up with their child’s academic progress, parents are encouraged to sign up for the Parent Portal at Dysart.org/parentportal or via the Campus Parent app, available as early as 24 hours after registration is finalized. To find out if your child is eligible for transportation, visit Dysart.org/Transportation.

Dysart Schools looks forward to serving the community by providing an outstanding preschool through high school experience for students. For additional assistance with student registration, families may contact their local school beginning July 8, call 623-876-7151, or email SISTeam@dysart.org.

Dysart High School Junior Mauricio Martinez-Hernandez was recently accepted into the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program. Mauricio is one of only 3,800 high school students accepted into the program for displaying high academic achievement and his personal character.

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

Through the College Prep Scholars program, Mauricio will visit one of Questbridge’s 55 partner colleges for a full university campus experience. The scholarship covers the full cost of travel, tuition, housing, meals, and supplies. In addition to the fully funded college experience, Mauricio received $1,000 for a new laptop and now has access to Questbridge's College Prep network. Being accepted in the College Prep Scholars program also grants Mauricio a unique advantage when applying for QuestBridge’s National Match Program, which offers a full four-year scholarship worth over $325,000.

Mauricio, who has been looking into colleges since the 8th grade, first learned about the QuestBridge College Prep Program from his Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program teacher, Alesha Wisbey. Mauricio credits his fellow classmate, who is also in AVID, for motivating him to apply for the program.

“One of my friends was applying for it,” he said “We've always been kind of competing, because we have similar test scores, similar everything. I didn't think I could do it, [but] he just told me to go for it.”

As of now, Mauricio says he is unsure which school he will visit this summer, but says he hopes to visit Stanford or Rice University. Mauricio plans to attend college for engineering or architecture when he graduates.

Veronica Rodriguez, a junior at Valley Vista High School, was recently recognized by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors as a winner of their America 250 essay contest.  The contest aimed to engage local youth in reflecting on what it means to be American as part of Maricopa County's America 250 celebrations.

The winners were announced on May 5, recognizing three students from across the Valley for their essays about American pride, symbols, and dreams.  Rodriguez took top honors among high school students with her essay "More Than a Dream."

“I feel blessed to have the chance to pursue my dreams in a place where, through hard work, dedication, and determination, I can achieve anything I want in life,” Rodriguez wrote in her essay.  “For me, it is the opportunity to wake up every day and fight for my goals.”

Her teacher offered the contest as a way to share their writing skills and personal stories, and Rodriguez jumped at the chance.  

“I typed it up really fast,” she said.  “It was something that was close to me, something I was passionate about, so it came out naturally.”  

She had forgotten about it until she got an email saying she had won.  “I was like, that’s cool!  I was really shocked.”  

The Board honored all three winners at an informal meeting, where Rodriguez got to read her essay aloud to the audience. The event marked the start of Maricopa County's planned activities for America 250.

“It just means a lot to me because it’s my life story, and it makes me proud of how much I’ve grown,” she shared.

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 5th annual writing competition.  Traditionally an essay contest, this year’s challenge took a more modern approach as students were challenged to write a video script that would be 30-90 seconds in length when filmed.  The prompts for the scripts were, “Why I love El Mirage” and “Why I love America” in honor of America’s 250th birthday.

El Mirage Mayor Alexis Hermosillo and Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor along with council members and library volunteers had the honor of selecting the winners. Scripts were evaluated on their message, creativity/originality, writing quality, visual thinking, and length/timing.

Winners from the City of Surprise were selected in grade bands.  They were honored at the Surprise City Council Meeting on April 21, 2026 where they received a certificate and an America 250 Commemorative Coin. 

The City of Surprise winners were Carmen Alyssa Pollick from Asante Preparatory Academy for the 3-5 grade category.  Andy Arroyo from Canyon Ridge School placed first for the 6-8 grade category.  He wrote, “With Freedom comes responsibility. Respecting others and using our rights wisely helps protect freedoms for future generations.”

Teagan Willis-McBeath from Dysart High School won first place for the 9-12 grade category for celebrating the opportunities the City of Surprise and America provide, saying, “Education is the cornerstone of progress. With each generation gaining access to better learning and more opportunities, we’re empowering them to excel and innovate. This isn’t just about personal success; it’s about building a brighter, more informed society.” 

Winners from the City of El Mirage were also selected in grade bands and additionally recognized second and third place winners.  These students were recognized at the City of El Mirage City Council Meeting on April 21, 2026, where they were presented with certificates and ribbons. 

For grades 3-5, first place was awarded to Kenzie Johnson and Lucas Dobos, who has this to say about their hometown, “[We] love El Mirage because even though we have a small city, we have a huge community with our neighbors and friends. We all work together to make our city the best it can be!”

Alexia Espinoza and Mia Espinosa placed second, and Billiabella Leyena and Nina Marmullaku rounded out the category placing third.  All three teams are from El Mirage Elementary School.   

For grades 6-8, first place was awarded to Xavier Chavez, who said of the project, “I realized how nice the El Mirage community is, and I started to attend events and interact with my community because the community made me feel good about me being who I am.”  

Trevor Scoles took second place, and Genesis Cottrell placed third.  All three submissions were from Riverview School.

At the high school level, first place was awarded to Othoniel Cida Valdez from Dysart High School, second place went to Ricardo Cano, also from Dysart High School, and Hayden Olson from Valley Vista High School placed third.

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

Danielle Edgerton coordinated the dual city script 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 scripts submitted by all of the students were sincere celebrations of their schools and communities.”

To watch a recording of the City Council meetings, click the buttons below.  Presentation of Awards for the City of El Mirage begins at the 8:00 mark.  Presentation of Awards for the City of Surprise starts at the 9:00 mark.  

Students in 3rd through 8th grade from across the Dysart Unified School District participated in the annual Math Challenge on May 2 at Willow Canyon High School.  All 20 of the district’s elementary 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.  During the second round, students had 15 minutes to answer six questions that were more focused on problem solving.  The Championship Round also had six questions with a time limit of 20 minutes.  

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: Freedom Traditional Academy (Team 1)
• Second Place: Western Peaks Elementary School (Team 1)
• Third Place: Freedom Traditional Academy (Team 2)

5th and 6th Grades

• First Place:  Freedom Traditional Academy (Team 2)
• Second Place: Marley Park Elementary School (Team 2)
• Third Place: Sunset Hills Elementary School (Team 1) 

7th and 8th Grades

• First Place: Canyon Ridge School (Team 1)
• Second Place (Tie): Marley Park (Team 2) & Freedom (Team 1)
• Third Place: Canyon Ridge School (Team 2)

Dysart Schools held their annual STEM & Robotics Challenge on April 20 at Shadow Ridge High School.  Students in grades three through eight from schools across the district participated as part of a school team on either a STEM or Robotics Challenge.  The event aims to help students develop the ability to collaborate, critically think, and problem solve as they engage in challenges in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

For the STEM Challenge, students were asked to identify a local problem that matters to them, research and define the need, and brainstorm creative solutions.  The teams then built physical models for their prototype during school STEM meetings.  Lastly, the teams created a Shark Tank Style presentation and presented it to a panel of judges.  The winners are:

STEM Challenge Results (Grades 3-4) 

1st Place - Countryside Elementary School 

2nd Place - West Point Elementary School 

3rd Place - Asante Preparatory Academy

STEM Challenge Results (Grades 5-8) 

1st Place - West Point Elementary School 

2nd Place - Western Peaks Elementary School 

3rd Place - Mountain View School

For the Robotics Challenge, each team had their robots go through four challenges:  

• Ramp It Up 
• Obstacle Course 
• Move It, Move It 
• World Changer 

This event was hosted by the Shadow Ridge High School Engineering students and their coach, Eric Bennett.  The winners are:

Robotics Challenge Results (Grades 3-4) 

1st Place - Western Peaks Elementary School 

2nd Place - Asante Preparatory Academy 

3rd Place - Marley Park Elementary School

Robotics Challenge Results (Grades 5-8) 

1st Place - Western Peaks Elementary School 

2nd Place - Sunset Hills Elementary School Team 1 

3rd Place - Sunset Hills Elementary School Team 2 

(Each school was allowed to bring up to 2 teams)

Two students, seniors Jay Lacek and Trenten Mueller, from Shadow Ridge High School’s Engineering program culminated a year-long effort on April 16 by presenting their Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) project to professors at the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University.  Their project was a three dimensional model of the school that was used by the Dysart Unified School District safety department along with local City of Surprise officials, police, and fire department personnel to simulate emergency scenarios and responses.     

It started about a year ago when Kevin Sartor, Dysart Unified School District Safety Coordinator and Mayor of Surprise, approached Eric Bennett, the Shadow Ridge Engineering teacher, about creating 3D-printed models of the school.  Mr. Bennett recognized right away that it would be perfect for his students to participate in EPICS.  EPICS is a national social entrepreneurship program. Teams design, build and deploy systems to solve engineering-based problems for charities, schools and other not-for-profit organizations.

“It was important that as we continue as a safety team to help schools become better at planning, preparing, and executing emergency plans that we had a model that they could use and visualize the different scenarios that we're working with,” said Sartor. 

Mueller and Lacek spent months preparing the models in a program called Solidworks, which is a computer-aided design (CAD) program.  They used a combination of the Maricopa County assessor’s website, schematics, and their own measurements to develop the structures.

“We went through a lot of prototyping with the wall thickness and how we were actually going to make the roofs for the buildings,” said Lacek.  “It was a long process.” 

“We just wanted a box and what they were able to produce was mind blowing,” said Sean Mattson, Safety Coordinator for the Dysart Unified School District.  “In fact, even Mr. Bennett commented that they went way above and beyond what his expectations were for the final product.” 

After completing the models, the City of Surprise organized a table-top exercise with local school administrators, police officers, fire personnel, and city officials.  Both Lacek and Mueller were invited to participate in the exercise to see their work be used in the real world.

“At first we didn't really feel the effect of our design, but seeing it at the table-top exercise, seeing how they're actually gonna use it, really opened our eyes,” said Trenten Mueller. 

Before the table-top exercise, Sartor presented both students with challenge coins for their work and service to the community.  

“I think anytime you can teach somebody something and then they can put a practical use to it in a real-world environment, I think it just adds that much more educational value,” said Sartor.  “It gives them a real-world project at the end of their high school career to really, you know, put all their skills to use and produce an amazing model.” 

Because most of the Dysart Unified School District high schools have a similar layout, the Shadow Ridge model will be used to develop plans for emergency response at the other schools as well.  However, both Sartor and Mattson are hoping to have students build models of elementary schools in the future. 

“It's been fun to watch them develop and see the amount of time and effort they put into it,” said Eric Bennett, Engineering teacher at Shadow Ridge High School.  “This meets the true criteria of what a real-world engineering project should be, and these students are well ahead of where they need to be when they go to college as they get ready to become engineers.”

Trenten Mueller will be attending Arizona State University in the fall majoring in mechanical engineering, while Jay Lacek will be attending Northern Arizona University to also major in engineering.

It’s Time to Complete the Annual Parent Survey!

Please remember to complete our annual Parent Survey if you haven’t already done so. We want to know what our district and school are doing well and how we can improve in the future. It should take about 5 minutes to complete and will be open through Sunday, February 15. Find it in English at www.dysart.org/survey and in Spanish at www.dysart.org/encuesta 

The Dysart Education Foundation (DEF) is pleased to announce that college scholarship applications are now being accepted through March 15, 2026. Graduating seniors from Dysart, Shadow Ridge, Valley Vista, Willow Canyon High Schools, including Sundown Alternative High School are invited to apply. DEF supports learning beyond a student’s K-12 experience. Each 2026 graduating senior may submit one application to be eligible for multiple scholarships from DEF. The FAFSA nor high school counselor sign-off is required.  

DEF offers one- and two-year scholarships. Students attending a trade school, community college, or university may apply to receive any one of the DEF scholarships. To apply visit: www.dysarteducationfoundation.org/scholarships and click on the direct link to apply. The recipients will be notified via email by April 3, 2026. The student recipients and their parents/guardians will be invited to attend the Eighth Annual Dysart Education Foundation Awards Dinner on Thursday, April 23, 2026 to accept their scholarships. 

Student scholarship recipients are responsible for keeping DEF informed of all current information concerning home address, emails, class schedules, GPA, and transcripts. A separate link will be provided via email from DEF to students in December 2026, May 2027, and December 2027 to update the organization and its scholarship donors each semester. Failure to provide required documents may result in the loss of the scholarship. 

2026 Sponsors Include: 

•  DEF Scholarship Award 
•  Subaru Share the Love Scholarship of Surprise 
•  SFE-Southwest Foodservice Excellence 
•  The Randy Sterna Grand Opportunity 
•  El Mirage Firefighter Charities Public Safety (El Mirage residents) 
•  Tyrus Timbrooks Memorial Scholarship (Dysart High School Students Only) 
•  Barnett Medical Related Occupations Scholarship 

The Dysart Education Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 committed to raising funds for supporting students and teachers in the classrooms in the Dysart Unified School District. They are composed of parents, educators, business owners, and city official volunteers who are passionate about supporting education in our community. For more information, please visit: www.dysarteducationfoundation.org or email scholarships@dysarteducationfoundation.org 

More than 220 students from the Dysart High School (DHS) Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program continued a multi-year tradition recently by decorating more than 1,000 coffee sleeves for local coffee house, Spencer’s Place.  The sleeves were decorated in holiday themes by the students just before Thanksgiving break and delivered to the coffee shop.  Each year this small gesture has been growing in popularity, and this year Spencer’s Place ran out in less than two weeks.  

The activity started a few years ago when Alesha Wisbey, the AVID Coordinator and Teacher, read on a teacher Facebook group about one school that was doing the project for a prominent coffee chain.  Wisbey had another idea in mind.  She once taught with Karin York, who now owns and operates Spencer’s Place.  Wisbey reached out to York, who said absolutely, and the tradition was born.

If you aren’t familiar with it, Spencer’s Place is a coffee house created in partnership with the Employed and Overjoyed Foundation to introduce equal employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Spencer’s Place provides adults with disabilities job training and direct skill development to earn a paycheck, build relationships, gain a sense of purpose, and show the community the beauty of diversity and inclusion.

The AVID students have individual community service hours that they have to earn as part of the program, but the coffee sleeves project is one that they do as a group. 

“The kids look forward to this activity so much,” said Wisbey.  “Mainly because they get to give back to the community, but I think a small part of them likes to have a stress reliever where they can just put their energy into art instead of the stress of school work.”

The AVID program has been a fixture at DHS since 2008 when it was first introduced to the district. AVID is a program that supports students in the academic middle who are motivated to attend post secondary education, but may not have all of the tools they need in order to be as successful as they can be in a college setting. Through the four-year program, students are taught note taking skills, time management, test taking skills, collaboration and critical reading skills, and are supported as they tackle rigorous curriculum.

Karin York shared that customers absolutely love the student-dectorated coffee sleeves, and even keep them to hang on their trees or use year over year.

“The coffee sleeves are just a little something that makes people’s days better,” said Layla Gonzales, a senior AVID student at Dysart High School. 

Senior Jocelyn Barrios echoed that statement.  

“I feel like since the community gives us a lot of things, it’s always nice to give back to them,” she shared.  “We want our community to see that AVID is a great program that helps kids.  The program boosts our motivation toward helping the community and doing our best in school.”

“Community service builds them into well rounded adults,” Wisbey shared.  “It’s all about helping kids get to where they want to go.”  

The Dysart Education Foundation (DEF) recently announced 15 recipients for the 2025 Laird Mini Grants totaling more than $22,000.  Funding for the mini grants was provided by the City of Surprise Community Outreach Program, Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE), Subaru Superstore of Surprise, Alicia Sterna of Western State Bank, and other local businesses and community members. 

 Mini grants were awarded for projects that incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) education, student need, and creativity in student learning.

• Alexander Goreski (Sonoran Heights Middle School)
• Ashley Meyer (Rancho Gabriela Elementary School)
• Cheryl Schubmehl (Mountain View School)
• Crystal Borges (Rancho Gabriela Elementary School)
• Douglas Middlebrooks (West Point Elementary School)
• Earl Simmons (Countryside Elementary School)
• Elena Gonzales (Dysart High School)
• Hannah Bridgeo (Dysart High School)
• Huda Clemens (Western Peaks Elementary School)
• Jack Broughton (Thompson Ranch Elementary School)
• Kathryn Berger (Riverview School)
• Kathryn Voss (Marley Park Elementary School)
• Lucy Blanco (El Mirage Elementary School)
• Lynne Gibson (Asante Preparatory Academy School)
• Sara Rivera (Kingswood Elementary School)

“Winning the Laird Grant means that I can purchase tools and materials for my students to use that will ignite their passion for storytelling and creativity,” Marley Park Elementary School iExplore teacher Kathryn Voss said of the honor “By providing this grant, DEF encourages teachers to not only teach the standards, but to show how those standards can be applied in innovative ways.”

Voss also had a message for her fellow educators. “I would definitely encourage teachers to apply for this grant, especially if they have an idea for a project or activity that promotes a students’ love of learning, but would otherwise have been shelved due to cost,” she said.

Dysart Education Foundation is a non-profit organization whose volunteers are committed to enriching the education of students in the Dysart Unified School District by providing scholarships to students and mini grants to teachers.  For more information about the Dysart Education Foundation, visit dysarteducationfoundation.org.  

Eight graders from Luke Elementary School recently got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as they traveled to the Phoenix International Raceway to participate in “Beyond the Finish Line,” an immersive STEM experience centered around motorsports.

Phoenix Raceway Charities partnered with the Larry Fitzgerald Foundation, Cox Communications, and NASCAR to put on the event giving students a hands-on introduction to the exciting intersection of STEM and racing.

“I could see it in their faces and in hearing their reactions,” said Stephanie McKinnis, seventh and eight grade language arts teacher at Luke Elementary School.  “So many of them were getting to experience things that they never had before.”

When students first arrived at the Phoenix Raceway they were treated to a lap around the track in their school bus.  Following the pace car and accompanied by former Arizona Cardinals pro bowl wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, the students got to experience the scale and scope of the raceway from a driver’s perspective.  

From there, students rotated through four stations set up by the raceway.  At the first station students learned about a car, which included an under-the-roof tour and getting strapped into the vehicle.

“My favorite station was probably going in the NASCAR cars,” said Ally Pernudi, eighth grader at Luke Elementary.  “I thought that was really cool just because we got to see how it worked.”  

The next three stations had a STEM aspect to them.  At one station students learned about friction and conducted experiments with remote control cars on different surfaces.  At another they made cars out of cardboard and balloons and conducted experiments on how to make them go faster and farther.  At the final station students took apart an entire computer tower and put it back together.  

“My brother has been struggling in school, and this was an opportunity for him to go and expand what his interests are,” said Alexia Lopez, a volunteer at the school.  “He’s very hands-on and into mechanics.  He’s really interested in how things work.  He would always have a follow up question to have a deeper understanding of everything.”  

“I could see that the activities we were doing were something they would totally want to do in their future,” said McKinnis.  “One student was talking about how he took apart a computer and put it back together himself, and he was so proud.  It helped broaden their experiences and their minds.”

After the stations and lunch, the students were given the ultimate parting gifts.  They first received two tickets to the NASCAR championship race.  Cox Communications also announced that each student was being given a laptop of their very own to take home.

“When I realized that Cox Communications was giving us all computers, I was sitting next to my friends, and everybody started screaming,” exclaimed Pernudi.  “I was sitting there in shock.  My jaw was wide open.  I was so happy and so surprised they would do this.”  

All of the eighth graders walked away not only with gifts, but a stronger sense of how the world of racing works and how education and STEM play a part in it, something they will soon not forget.  

“I just liked how there were very kind people there to help us,” said Pernudi.  “They were very happy to have us there, and they were all about making sure we had a good experience.  I was really honored they picked our school.” 

The Dysart Override Continuation and Bond initiatives focus on academic success, safety, and program offerings for students. ​If approved, here are a few of the ways students will be supported: 

• 150 additional teachers to maintain class sizes 
• Increased measures to keep students safe 
• Updated AC systems to ensure a safe learning environment 
• Full day Kindergarten to ensure a strong foundation 
• Safe transportation to and from school 
• Arts, physical education, and athletic programs 

Have questions and want to learn more? Please check out the links below for factual information:  

• Election Informational Pamphlet from the Maricopa County School Superintendent 
• Dysart.org/Election 
• Override Details 
• Bond Information 
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 
• Budget Video

Remember this is a mail-in only election! Mail your ballot by October 28, or drop it off at a ballot drop box by November 4, 2025.

If you miss this deadline, you can drop off your ballot at a Maricopa County Elections drop box. Find locations at https://elections.maricopa.gov/voting/where-to-vote.html

Learn more at Dysart.org/Election and VOTE TODAY!

Nearly 300 Valley Vista High School students took part in Financial Fitness in Action (FFA) recently, an educational exercise where students participate in an engaging, real-world simulation of saving, spending, and budgeting.  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 several community volunteers, including banking professionals, to put on the event.

The program is designed to provide students a strong foundation in financial literacy.  Participants are given a worksheet with their assigned career, salary, credit score, and family data.  With that information, students visited a series of decision-making booths staffed by teachers, community volunteers, and banking industry leaders.  Each booth focused on different expenses like housing, insurance, investing, groceries, entertainment, and healthcare.  Students would discuss the best way to use their budget for the given expense, then make their financial decision by filling out that portion of their worksheet.

To illustrate how unexpected events could impact their finances, students were required to visit the Wheel of Life booth.  Here, they spun a virtual Wheel of Life that could result in anything from a flat tire to a generous inheritance.  While some walked away with a little extra spending money, others found themselves re-evaluating their emergency savings goals. 

According to senior student Liv Castro, it was a lesson that underscored the reality of being financially responsible.  “It prepares you for what your future could look like, and it gives you a dose of reality,” she said  “It’s not like when you’re an adult you get money and you just pay your rent and that’s it.  You have a lot of things that go into living!”  

Once the students had completed their worksheets, they met one-on-one with financial advisors who reviewed their budgeting decision to see if they had achieved financial solvency or needed some additional guidance on how to better live within their means.

For senior Damir Ilicic, FFA gave him more realistic expectations.  “I knew you had to pay a whole lot of bills, but I didn’t really know they were this expensive and I had to make this much to break even!”  

Classmate Ryan Sims agreed, “There were some bills that I thought would be a lot worse than what they were, but even then, they still add up.”  

While the exercise can start out feeling like a budgeting bombshell, the students ultimately came away feeling more prepared and confident about the future.

“I think that you have to make a lot of sacrifices,” AP Microeconomics student Janisia Thurston said of her experience.  “It’s kind of nice though, because now that I know, I’m not going to be shocked when I have to pay all these bills and all these expenses.”  She added that she would recommend FFA to other students, “Absolutely, 100 percent.”

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 748 AZ State Seals of Personal Finance in 2025. 

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. 

This year, 15 teachers from across the district were the lucky recipients of the 2025 APS Supply My Class grant. The Arizona based utility company started the program eight 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 15 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 school’s administration.

Sixth-grade teacher Carli Kaye from Marley Park Elementary School expressed her sincere gratitude to APS. “This generous funding will allow me to purchase much-needed supplies and resources that will directly benefit my students’ learning. With these materials, I can create more engaging, hands-on lessons and provide students with tools that help them succeed every day. Your support not only enhances our classroom environment but also shows my students that their education matters to the wider community. Thank you for investing in our future leaders!”

Reading Interventionist Kelley Campbell-Hernandez from Countryside Elementary School states she is honored and shares how she plans to use her funding. “As a 26-year veteran teacher who has spent thousands of dollars on her classroom and students over the years, it is heartwarming that companies like APS are providing teachers a financial opportunity like this!    I am honored to have been chosen and look forward to purchasing supplemental materials and items for my Reading Intervention groups that will support their academic growth!”

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 that 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. 

2025 APS Supply My Class Winners

Cassidy Stevanov - Asante Preparatory Academy 

 Kelley Campbell-Hernandez - Countryside Elementary School 

 David Kearley - Cimarron Springs Middle School 

 Cheyenne Woody - El Mirage Elementary School 

 Katelyn Lee - Freedom Traditional Academy 

 Stacey Ritchie - Kingswood Elementary School 

 Carli Kaye - Marley Park Elementary School 

 Abigail Savage - Riverview Elementary School 

 Michael Mundstock - Riverview Elementary School 

 Bobby Ealim - Shadow Ridge High School 

 Jeri Bennett - Shadow Ridge High School 

 Naeli Ortiz - Sunset Hills Elementary School

 Kerry Cain - Surprise Elementary School

 Kelly Hansen - Western Peaks Elementary School

 Susan Whetsell - West Point Elementary School

Arizona All-State Show Choir auditions were held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 and numerous high school students from Dysart schools were selected.  Congratulations to these talented students who were selected for the All State Show Choir by the Arizona Choral Educators:  

Kaden Robison (Shadow Ridge High School, Tenor)  

Daisy Haggarton (Shadow Ridge High School, Soprano Alternate) 

Brooke Norman (Valley Vista High School, Soprano) 

Kayla Patnod (Valley Vista High School, Soprano) 

Stephanie Maya (Valley Vista High School, Alto) 

Cora Griffen (Valley Vista High School, Alto) 

Rosalind Batstone (Valley Vista High School, Alto) 

Kenzi Felder (Valley Vista High School, Alto) 

Zariah Byas (Valley Vista High School, Alto) 

Aftynn Bennett (Valley Vista High School, Alto) 

Leah Hill (Valley Vista High School, Alto) 

Lydia Williams (Valley Vista High School, Alto) 

Quinten Black (Valley Vista High School, Tenor) 

Max Brumbaugh (Valley Vista High School, Tenor) 

Sam Mills (Valley Vista High School, Tenor) 

Garret Suesue (Valley Vista High School, Bass) 

Floyd Daughters IV (Valley Vista High School, Bass) 

Roman Kelly (Valley Vista High School, Bass) 

Arianna Prescott (Willow Canyon High School, Alto) 

Evangeline Rice (Willow Canyon High School, Alto) 

Aryanna Denton-Lotts (Willow Canyon High School, Alto) 

Kristin Proctor (Willow Canyon High School, Soprano) 

Grace Rodgers (Willow Canyon High School, Alto Alternate)

The audition is rigorous and requires live singing and dancing.  The top 100 show choir students from around the state are chosen.  Selected students learn and memorize the performance songs before attending the three-day long festival in November where they learn the choreography and refine the music. 

“These students have demonstrated outstanding commitment and talent, and we’re thrilled to see their efforts recognized at the state level,” said Danae Marinelli, Dysart Schools Director of Arts.

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).

Student Broadcasting and Multimedia Productions Coordinator Brian Yoder was awarded a Special Commendation Award by the Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (AIAAA) at a ceremony on September 8. The award was presented to Yoder and his students for demonstrating exceptional leadership and service. Yoder and Dysart Student Broadcasting (DSB Live) students have partnered with AIAAA to capture and provide audio and visual material for various sports across multiple conferences. The AIAAA has recognized them as an essential part of the successful operation of conferences.

"We want to express our sincere gratitude to Brian Yoder and his students for their outstanding contributions to our association,” they said in a statement. “Mr. Yoder and his students have been incredible partners to the AIAAA.”

DSB Live is a student-run broadcasting program in the Dysart Unified School District led by Yoder that covers various sports and live events throughout the district and state. In the program, students have the opportunity to learn about running a broadcasting channel while gaining experience on and off the camera. 

"I am honored to have received this award on behalf of all of the hardworking DSB Live students that have worked long hours to have the ability to run state wide broadcasting events," Yoder said.

The AIAAA was created to foster higher standards of professionalism with the ranks of Arizona’s high school athletic directors.  They host a yearly conference, sponsor and teach classes, provide opportunities for professional certification, and are an affiliate of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.  The AIAAA works closely with the Arizona Interscholastic Association, the governing board for all Arizona high school athletics.

Kyl Rucker, a 7th and 8th Grade Social Studies teacher from Luke Elementary School, was among only 13 educators nationwide chosen by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to participate in the 2025-2026 Museum Teacher Fellowship Program.  Mr. Rucker was selected for his knowledge of Holocaust history, successful teaching experience, and participation in community and professional organizations and events.

Over the summer, Mr. Rucker participated in the Pines, Sarna, Statfeld Summer Institute for the Museum Teacher Fellowship Program, held at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.  As part of his fellowship, he will now implement a professional development event for educators in his community and share the Museum’s free educational resources.

“Being part of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellowship was an incredibly meaningful experience,” said Mr. Rucker. “I didn’t just learn more about the history of the Holocaust, I learned how to teach it in a way that honors the voices of survivors and encourages students to think deeply about the choices people made during that time.”  

But his experience won’t stop there.  Mr. Rucker plans on implementing what he learned to help his students think critically about history.  “One strategy I’ll be using in my classroom is the Holocaust Timeline activity, which helps students see how events unfolded gradually and how individuals and societies responded along the way.”

Established in 1996, the Museum Teacher Fellowship (MTF) program at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum develops a national corps of skilled teachers who provide ongoing professional development and share Museum resources in their schools, communities, and professional organizations. To date, 470 teachers have completed the program.

“The Museum Teacher Fellows play a vital role in bringing the lessons of the Holocaust to communities around the country,” said Kim Blevins-Relleva, manager of education programs in the Museum’s Levine Institute for Holocaust Education.  

As we approach the 2025–2026 school year, Dysart Unified School District has been hard at work over the summer to ensure a successful year ahead for all students. We are proud to share the ways we have invested in our staff and educational practices to strengthen learning and student achievement.

Our focus this summer has been centered around expanding our schools’ capacity through the Professional Learning Community (PLC) process, a proven framework that supports collaboration, instructional improvement, and increased student outcomes. Here's how we've prepared:

• Summer Curriculum Workshop (May): Over 900 teachers and staff members gathered to dive into essential standards, analyze student work, and align instruction to student needs.
• PLC Conference (June): Instructional leaders from each campus attended professional development to deepen their knowledge and strengthen their implementation of PLCs.
• Dysart Leadership Team Meetings (July): School principals and district leaders collaborated on training and planning to align goals and strategies for the new school year.
  
• New Educator Orientation (July): We welcomed new teachers to the Dysart team, introduced them to our systems and expectations, and began building collaboration around our shared goals for student success.
  
• Back-to-School Planning (July): All staff will return for training and planning sessions to ensure we are fully prepared to welcome students and start strong.
  

All of these efforts are rooted in our commitment to the PLC framework, which is designed to build, evaluate, and continuously improve our educational systems. As a result, we have seen measurable progress in student achievement, school ratings, and staff retention.

Thanks to our strategic investments and dedicated staff, Dysart is now an “A” rated district, with 100% of our schools earning “A” or “B” labels - a first in our history. Here's a snapshot of our progress:

• 2021–2022: 12 “A” rated schools, 10 “B” rated schools, 2 “C” rated schools 
• 2022–2023: 18 “A” rated schools, 4 “B” rated schools, 2 “C” rated schools, District rated “A” (Year 1 of PLC focus) 
• 2023–2024: 18 “A” rated schools, 6 “B” rated schools, District rated “A” 
• 2024-2025: We anticipate increased labels

Superintendent Dr. Croteau shares: 

“There was a clear turning point when we began to train on and truly embed the PLC framework into our processes. The return on investment is evident—more and more students are finding success in the classroom. Through our investment in PLCs, we are strategically using our budget in a fiscally responsible way that impacts student learning and drives long-term success for our community.”

This focus on improvement continues throughout the year. Teachers work in collaborative teams to review student data, reflect on instruction, and take shared responsibility for student learning. By embedding the PLC process into all levels of our system, we are building a lasting culture of excellence and accountability.

As we begin the new school year, please join us in thanking our dedicated staff for their continued commitment to ensuring every student achieves lifelong success.

We look forward to a fantastic year ahead!

More than 900 staff members across Dysart Unified School District participated in a four-day Curriculum Workshop focused on identifying student essential standards and developing instructional strategies to ensure students meet these standards.

Teachers attended the workshop from May 27 through May 30 at Cimarron Springs Middle School, Dysart Middle School, Dysart High School, Shadow Ridge High School, Sonoran Heights Middle School, and Sunset Hills Elementary.

The Dysart Curriculum Workshop is designed to be a time where teachers, district content specialists, and instructional leaders can work collaboratively to examine data, break down state standards into the required skills of each standard, implement instructional strategies, and create checks for understanding.  This helps create a strong foundation for continued Professional Learning Community (PLC) work throughout the year and allows teachers to be better prepared for the following school year to enhance the conditions for student success.

"We're learning about how we can take our summative assessments and make sure that they're aligned to our standards, so we know that our students are learning what we're expecting them to learn,” said Breann Wirth, Dysart High School math teacher.  “So, we're working collaboratively to go through those tests and making sure that we’re hitting the standards - especially our essential standards - so then we know our kids are seeing those essential standards multiple times.”

As an “A” rated district, Dysart is committed to ensuring every student has the best opportunity to be successful in the classroom.  Part of this effort includes embedding the PLC framework into everything.  It is a growth-minded process of continual evaluation of what’s being taught, how it’s being taught, how it’s assessed, and how to improve.  All of this is done with a clear focus on student learning and success.

“A teacher’s work is truly never done,” said Dr. John Croteau, Superintendent for Dysart Schools.  “These public servants work hard year-round to ensure they are prepared each year to welcome students into their classrooms and provide them with the very best education possible.”