Coveted A+ rank for 2 area schools

Corona del Sol High School and
Akimel a-Al Elementary School in
the Kyrene School District are among
34 public schools named winners of
Arizona Educational Foundation’s
coveted A+ School of Excellence
competition for the 2013-
2014 academic year.
Since 1983, AEF has honored
exemplary pre-kindergarten
through 12th grade public schools
in Arizona with this program, which
gives recognition to outstanding
public schools, and strives to create
a comprehensive framework of
successful programs and practices
that other schools throughout the
state and nation might adopt.
Applicant schools are evaluated
in the areas of student focus and
support, school culture, active
teaching and learning, curriculum,
leadership, community and parent
involvement and assessment data.
Applications are made available
to pre-kindergarten through 12th
grade public schools statewide.
Evaluation is based on a lengthy
written application submitted by
the school and a rigorous site visit
conducted by a team of judges.
In the application, each school
provides demographic information, a
description of current programs and
practices, documentation of parent
and community involvement, and a
profile of the school’s principal and
his or her commitment to excellence,
equity, service and sustained high
achievement.
Preparation of each school’s
application involves collaboration
among all stakeholders
including students, faculty, staff,
administrators and community
members.
Brent Brown is the principal at
Corona; Mike Deignan is principal at
Akimel.
A+ School of Excellence
schools receive $500 and a banner
designating it as an honors recipient.
Staff and faculty at the awardwinning
schools will be eligible for
partial scholarships from Argosy
University Phoenix.
The award is valid for 3½ years.