Memories of Heroes Past Inspire Modern-Day 'Challengers' at Tempe's Kyrene de la Mariposa Elementary School

TEMPE - September 1, 2009 - Sometimes out of devastating tragedy years of inspiration can come.

Such is the case for Tempe's Kyrene de la Mariposa Elementary School. The Kyrene Elementary School District campus was one of only 17 schools in 2009 to earn an A+ certification from the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF). To reach such an impressive milestone, the students, teachers and staff at Kyrene de la Mariposa need only remember their motto - "Challengers Can!"

According to the school's A+ Certification paperwork, Mariposa's nickname became 'The Challengers' after the community sought to preserve the memory of those who lost their lives in the Challenger shuttle disaster.

"Our motto of 'Challengers Can!' reminds students that anything is possible," Principal Marianne Lucas Lescher and her staff wrote.

Some of the things the Challengers are accomplishing include routinely scoring above national averages on tests and earning an "Excelling" rating for the past five years. The school has also been able to draw great teachers. And once they're on campus, the school's low teacher turnover rate shows they stay.

Lescher and her staff believe Kyrene de la Mariposa's success can be attributed to four key facets of the school and community:

• Individualized and differentiated instruction for every student - all students receive small group and individualized support in the core areas of reading, writing and math.
• Literacy initiatives at all grade levels - programs are supported by a literacy coach and five trained paraprofessionals.
• Character education and life skills training.
• Teamwork among parents, staff and community - Mariposa teachers and parents work together to encourage and enhance all aspects of programming for students.

Kyrene de la Mariposa 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, www.azedfoundation.org/school-recogition-program.php.