Arizona Educational Foundation Announces Arizona's 2010 A+ Exemplary Programs

STATEWIDE – March 9, 2010 – The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) is proud to announce exemplary programs in seven Arizona public schools have been selected for the A+ Exemplary Program award. The 2010 A+ Exemplary Programs include:

• "Drug, Alcohol & Tobacco Awareness Team" at Casa Grande Middle School, Sylvia Trotter, Principal – Positive peer pressure is used to educate students about the consequences of using drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The "Peer Educators" consist of 12 to 15 eighth-grade students demonstrating exemplary academic and leadership skills. These students devote their homeroom class time to researching and learning the effects of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and preparing lessons to present to 6th graders. The Peer Educators then present the lessons during sixth-grade homeroom period.



• "Dual Language Program" at Phoenix's Osborn School District (Encanto, Clarendon, Longview and Osborn Middle Schools), Noemi Cortes, Language Acquisition Coordinator – The Osborn Dual Language Program was established in 1998 to meet the needs of its growing English language learner population as well as diversify the academic learning opportunities for all students. Twelve years later the program serves more than 520 students in grades K-6. The program's mission is threefold: bilingualism and bi-literacy in English and Spanish; academic success in all Arizona Academic Standards; and positive cross-cultural awareness and understanding.



• "Manners Matter" at Tempe's Kyrene de la Mariposa Elementary School, Dr. Marianne Lescher, Principal – Manners Matter at Mariposa is a school wide program designed to encourage and emphasize good manners and positive decision making for student behavior. Miss Manners is the programs' alter-ego; she excites and rallies school wide by modeling and promoting good behavior with her enthusiastic attitude each morning on the announcements and with regular visits around campus and in classrooms.



• "Mock Trial Program" at the Casa Grande Elementary School District (Cactus, Villago and Casa Grande Middle Schools), Principals: Deanna Smith-Stout; Jeff Lavender and Sylvia Trotter – The Mock Trial Program is an intellectual sport available to 7th and 8th grade students at three middle schools in the Casa Grande Elementary District. While promoting academic excellence, the program enables students to become civic-minded citizens by contributing to their community and participating in the judicial system. Originally started in 2003 as an after-school activity for 15 students, the program has grown to 135 students and is now offered as an upper-level academic elective.



• "Media Center Enrichment Program" at Tucson's Mesquite Elementary School in the Vail District, Katie Dabney, Principal – Mesquite has taken the traditional concept of a library and transformed it into a much more effective and appealing learning center for students. With weekly visits to the Center, 2nd through 5th grade students engage in meaningful standards-based learning centers. There are six rotations throughout the school year that last about four weeks each, thus providing the students an opportunity to complete the cycle in all four learning centers. Student involvement culminates with a product or performance using one of four themes: written language, math, artistic creativity or technology.



• "P.A.W.S. (Providing All With Success)" at Prescott Valley's Coyote Springs Elementary School, Dr. Susan Fahrni, Principal – The P.A.W.S Program links assessments to instruction, compares results to standards, uses alternative assessments and challenges all students to meet high expectations in core academic areas. Staff and administration have identified a 30-40 minute block of time each day for differentiated instruction to provide support for all students using the latest educational research. All students are evaluated individually to see if they are making appropriate academic progress. During the P.A.W.S. block, students are placed and monitored in an appropriate educational setting: intensive intervention; strategic intervention; enrichment; or enrichment plus. Through the identification and intervention process that P.A.W.S. provides, Coyote Springs insures that all of its students achieve academic success.



• "Peace Program" at Montecito Community School, Phoenix (Osborn District), Maria O'Malley, Principal – In an effort to increase positive behaviors and decrease bullying, Montecito Community School created the Peace Program in 2006. Each year the theme changes slightly to focus on various specific aspects of peace. In 2007 the theme was "I am part of the puzzle; I keep the peace." The next year students and staff focused on the theme "I am part of the puzzle; I spread peace," This year's theme is "I am part of the puzzle; I am the peace." Teachers and students take an active role in participating in classroom discussions, presentations and in creating pieces of art that promote peace.

Awards will be presented at each individual school throughout February, March and April. The award package includes $100 and a plaque. Schools submitted applications in November for consideration. A+ Exemplary Programs are selected based on a program's scope, outcomes, measurability, innovation, creativity, sustainability, success and potential for replication. A+ Exemplary Programs serve as models for excellence to schools throughout Arizona. The application and more information are available on AEF's website: www.azedfoundation.org. Sponsors of the A+ School Recognition Program and the A+ Exemplary Programs awards are APS, The Arizona Republic/Season for Sharing, Desert Schools Federal Credit Union and Safeway with support for individual programs from Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ, Southwest Gas Corporation and the Tony & Shirley Perri Family Foundation.

About Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF)
Founded in 1983, the Arizona Educational Foundation's mission is to foster excellence in education by funding programs that enhance the capabilities of Arizona's public schools. AEF's results-driven approach brings leaders in education and business together in a joint partnership that promotes and celebrates exceptional students, teachers, schools and administrators. Its specialized approach recognizes excellence in education while also providing a framework for the continued success of Arizona schools including: strengthening the teaching profession, designing high quality curricula, stimulating student achievement and celebrating the successes in preschool through 12th grade. AEF's programs include: Arizona Teacher of the Year, A+ Schools of Excellence, Arizona Spelling Bee, Polly Rosenbaum Writing Contest and Principals' Leadership Academy of Arizona. For more information, please visit www.azedfoundation.org or call (480) 421-9376.