Sycamore Elementary School's "City within A School" Draws High Acclaim from Arizona Educational Foundation Judges

CORONA DE TUCSON - July 31, 2009 - "It's like a city within a school."

Those were the words Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) A+ Schools certification judges used to describe Corona de Tucson's Sycamore Elementary School. The campus was one of only 17 schools in Arizona to receive the A+ grade in 2009, the highest rating AEF can give.

Clearly the judges were swept off their feet while visiting the rapidly growing state-of-the-art campus, which has seen an increase from 300 to 770 students during its six-year history. They simply gushed about Sycamore's academics, claiming the school utilizes "...a sound instructional model for other schools to follow." They were equally as smitten by the school's principal, Ken Graff.

"(Graff) is a superior leader who is totally committed and dedicated to the school's best interest," the judges wrote.

The love for Sycamore Elementary School isn't limited to the AEF judges, according to the school's A+ certification entry. Graff and his staff wrote in addition to being an "innovative and high-achieving elementary school" Sycamore is also "...a gathering place for the entire community."

"Sycamore is much more than a school," the certification entry noted. "It is a hub of learning at the heart of Corona de Tucson ... It only takes a minute when walking around campus or chatting with parents to feel the pride and importance Sycamore has in their lives and the lives of their children."

The school's unique lay-out plays an intricate role in the collaborative academic atmosphere. Teachers' classrooms are arranged around a central work area, facilitating team planning, communication and relationships. In addition, all classroom buildings surround a central amphitheater - the setting for many school and community events.

The campus also shares several buildings with neighboring Corona Foothills Middle School. This design, "...allows for cross-collaboration between the schools and a way for older and younger students to work together in learning and mentoring relationships."

Graff says the Vail Unified School District campus's design also plays an important role in easing the transition for students to middle school.

Sycamore Elementary will maintain its A+ designation for three years.

According to the AEF website, azedfoundation.org, the A+ program celebrates education and brings to light the positive stories and successes happening in public schools every day. Created in 1983, the program's stated purpose is threefold:

• To identify and publicly recognize outstanding public schools in Arizona;
• To make available a comprehensive framework of key criteria for school effectiveness that can serve as a basis for participatory self-assessment and planning in schools;
• To facilitate communication and sharing of best practices within and among schools based on common criteria related to success.

In order to be recognized as an A+ school, each school must submit an application providing demographic information, a description of current programs and practices, documentation of parent and community involvement, a profile of the school principal and his/her vision of the commitment to excellence, equity, service; and sustained high achievement or significant improvement in assessment. The winning schools are recognized for their superior ability to meet the needs of their student populations.

The AEF A+ School Recognition Program is sponsored by APS, The Arizona Republic, Desert Schools Federal Credit Union, Safeway and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. To learn more about the AEF A+ School Recognition Program, please visit, http://www.azedfoundation.org/school-recogition-program.php.