Peoria's Santa Fe Elementary School a 'Lost Treasure,' Receives A+ Certification from Arizona Educational Foundation

PEORIA - September 24, 2009 - "The staff is the heart and soul of this school."

Those would be lofty words of praise and encouragement for the staff of any Arizona school. The commendation means ever more, however, for Peoria's Santa Fe Elementary School staff considering the source - the acclaim originated from the Arizona Educational Foundation's A+ Schools certification judges.

Santa Fe Elementary School was one of only 17 schools to earn A+ certification from the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) in 2009. And the praise from the AEF judges didn't stop with just the teachers and staff. It seems the AEF judges were smitten with Santa Fe Elementary School's students as well.

"(Santa Fe's) students are incredibly well behaved, respectful and kind," the judges wrote. "The school has a super safety net for students needing the support of a caring adult."

AEF judges obliviously whole-heartedly concurred with Principal Robert Miller and the Santa Fe staff, which wrote in the school's certification materials: "Santa Fe Elementary is an extended home for all who enter. ... (The School) prides itself on maintaining community relationships and establishing the feeling that every student, every parent, every staff member and administrative personnel have a home here under our roof....It is without question ... a lost treasure, hidden deep in the Valley of the Sun."

This 'lost treasure' might not stay hidden for long. Entering 2009, the school had caught the eye of state educators by receiving a "Performing Plus" rating for four consecutive years. Santa Fe's strong academic performance seems destined to continue - AEF judges applauded the Peoria school for its clearly communicated academic goals, engaging and interactive classes, precise instruction as well as its strategic use of data to identify and assist with students in need of academic support.

And Santa Fe Elementary School certainly isn't lost within its community. On the contrary, AEF judges lauded it for being the community's "center point" and for its participation in local events.

Santa Fe Elementary School will maintain its A+ designation for three years. That should keep the spotlight shining brightly on this 'lost treasure.'

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, www.azedfoundation.org/school-recogition-program.php.