Construction of a playground extension with new play structures is set to begin in the near future at Encanto Elementary School (submitted photo).
Glendale Union High School District
District to host Teacher Career Fair
Looking for a rewarding career that inspires the next generation? The Glendale Union High School District (GUHSD) invites passionate, dedicated educators to join the district’s team at the Teacher Career Fair on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Greenway High School, located at 3930 W Greenway Rd, Phoenix.
As a nationally ranked district, GUHSD is committed to hiring exceptional teachers who will educate, innovate, and inspire its 16,500 students. The district offers a collaborative environment with a nationally acclaimed mentoring program, competitive pay, top-tier benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
To schedule an interview, please call 623-435-6017.
Survey seeks community input
The GUHSD Governing Board has launched a search for a new superintendent and is collaborating with Arizona School Administrators (ASA) to conduct a nationwide search. To ensure the best possible fit, ASA is seeking input from staff, families, and community members about the leadership qualities they value most in a superintendent. This feedback will play a key role in the screening and interview stages of the process.
To gather information, the district has opened an online community survey. To participate in the survey, visit https://www.guhsdaz.org/15793?articleID=17533 and click on the link in the article. Please note that the survey will close on Feb. 5, 2025.
Madison Rose Lane Elementary School teacher Melissa Mersch, who was awarded a $2,500 grant, posed with the “Wishes for Teachers” big check at the Fiesta Bowl (photo courtesy of Madison School District).
Madison School District
Teacher awarded classroom grant
The Madison Elementary School District congratulated Melissa Mersch, kindergarten teacher at Madison Rose Lane Elementary School, for being awarded the Fiesta Bowl’s “Wishes for Teachers” grant. Mersch was awarded $2,500 of the $1,250,000 dollars that was donated to teachers throughout Arizona.
Mersch is using the opportunity to enhance learning experiences for her students, and the district says it “couldn’t be prouder of her dedication to inspiring passion for learning and leading. Thank you, Fiesta Bowl, for supporting our educators and helping make a difference in classrooms like ours!”
Employment mixer scheduled
The Madison School District will host a “Fall in Love with Madison” employment mixer meet and greet event Feb. 11, 4:30-6 p.m. This event is an opportunity for individuals interested in joining Madison to learn more about working for the district and employee benefits and will be an opportunity to meet and talk with school and district leaders.
The event will be held at Madison Center for the Arts, 5601 N. 16th St. RSVPs are requested for this event. To RSVP, visit www.madisonaz.org/jobs.
Six Madison schools get “best” ranking
Six Madison schools were ranked in the U.S. News and World Report Best Elementary Schools and U.S. News Best Middle Schools in Arizona.
U.S. News and World Report published the rankings and data on more than 80,000 public elementary and middle schools across the United States. Schools are ranked at a district and state level focusing on two areas: math and reading proficiency, and how well students perform on standardized tests.
The six schools were Madison Camelview Elementary, Madison Heights Elementary, Madison Meadows Middle School, Madison No. 1 Middle School, Madison Simis Elementary and Madison Traditional Academy.
Osborn School District
Bond projects get underway
A playground extending the entire length of the recess field at Encanto Elementary School will come to fruition over the next few weeks, with a massive playground expansion also slated for Clarendon Elementary School. The playgrounds are part of Phase 1 of the district’s $100-million bond initiative, which was approved by voters in 2023. Projects will be completed in four phases from 2024-2032 and will include a variety of physical repairs and updates.
The groundbreaking for the Encanto playground will take place soon. To follow the progress of this and other bond initiative projects, visit www.osbornschools.org/bonddollars, where residents can explore how the bond funds are being invested by phase and by school.
Montessori registration opens
The Osborn School District announced that registration is open for the 2025-26 school year, and parents who are looking for a Montessori school for their 3- to 6-year-old, Osborn has space in its program.
Osborn’s Montessori program also has a dual language offering with spaces still available. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 602-707-2500 or email jsingh@osbornsd.org.
Learn more about the district by calling 602-707-2000 or visiting www.osbornnet.org.
Phoenix Union High School District
Camelback club receives honor
Camelback High School DECA was recently awarded the Thrive Chapter Campaign award for Community Service and Promotional Campaign for the 2024-2025 school year. The results were announced on decadirect.org.
Each fall, DECA recognizes leading chapters that have built strong local programs focused on serving an exceptional number of members, advisors, alumni and business partners. These chapters and individuals dedicate their year to academic and career preparation, community service projects, membership recruitment, school outreach activities and other DECA-related endeavors. The chapter’s advisor and student leaders have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to DECA.
In DECA’s community service campaign, chapters held a community service activity, engaged at least 75% of its members, and created at least one form of publicity or promotion.
“The DECA student members were adamant about giving back not only to their school but to the community at large. The students collaborated with several other entities to accomplish this as well as develop their own projects to do so.,” said Dominic Marino, one of the club’s advisors. “This is indicative of the quality of students in the DECA program, and as a student body here at Camelback. We are very proud to call them “Spartans,”
Of the 4,127 DECA chapters, only 1,000 chapters earned recognition in DECA’s chapter campaigns, and only 1,214 chapters earned recognition in DECA’s membership campaign.
District job fair offered at Camelback High
The Phoenix Union High School District will host a job fair for prospective employees on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Central High School, at 8:30 a.m. The district is recruiting for a number of different positions and will offer up to $2,000 as a signing bonus.
Central High School is located at 4525 N. Central Ave. To see the district’s job openings and apply in advance, visit www.pxu.org/talent.
WESD fifth-grade teacher Jennifer Spector (second from left) took part in the Fiesta Bowl Parade in December after being named a Top Five Ambassador for Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation (photo courtesy of WESD).
Washington Elementary School District
Teacher joins Fiesta Bowl Parade
Jennifer Spector, a fifth-grade teacher at Desert View Elementary School, was featured in the Fiesta Bowl Parade after being named a Top Five Ambassador for Excellence as part of Arizona Educational Foundation’s Teacher of the Year Award.
Spector also attended the game as she won a “Fiesta Bowl Experience” package including tickets and on-field recognition provided by Fiesta Bowl Charities.
Future Raider Night is Feb. 20
Parents and guardians of future sixth through eighth grade students are invited to the Royal Palm Middle School’s Future Raider Night, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 8520 N. 19th Ave. The event offers the opportunity for future sixth through eighth grade students and their families to tour the campus, meet the staff and learn about the programs and school culture.
For additional information, call 602-347-3200 or visit www.wesdschools.org/rp.
District hosts employment recruitment event
Washington Elementary School District (WESD) will host a districtwide job fair on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the WESD Administrative Center. Interviews will be held for a variety of certified and substitute positions, as well as support staff jobs including bus drivers, bus assistants and instructional assistants for KidSpace before and after-school programs.
The district says that it offers competitive teacher salaries of $53,000-$84,950 with performance pay, student loan forgiveness, school-age childcare discounts, medical, dental and vision benefits, employer-matched contributions to Arizona State Retirement and more. WESD also provides a high level of support for teachers including instructional coaches on every campus, weekly half-day Professional Learning Communities (PLC), comprehensive professional development and social workers on each campus who offer social and emotional assistance.
Walk-ins are welcome; however, those who would like to schedule an appointment should call Lydia Garcia at 602-347-2622. To review current job openings and apply online, visit https://jobs.wesdschools.org.
Teacher maintains certification
Chris McGraw, a first-grade teacher at Moon Mountain Elementary School, has maintained her National Board Certification as an early childhood generalist. Achieving and maintaining National Board Certification is no easy feat, the WESD said, as it is the highest certification available to teachers in the United States and is the most respected professional certification available in education.
