Glendale Union High School District
Graduation season has arrived
The Glendale Union High School District will celebrate the Class of 2026 with commencement ceremonies honoring more than 3,000 graduates on May 18 and May 20 at Desert Diamond Arena.
Ceremonies will begin on Monday, May 18, with Washington High School at 10 a.m., followed by Sunnyslope High School at 1 p.m., Independence High School at 4 p.m., and Thunderbird High School at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, May 20, Cortez High School will hold its ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by Apollo High School at 12:30 p.m., Glendale High School at 3 p.m., Greenway High School at 5:30 p.m., and Moon Valley High School at 8 p.m.
Families and community members unable to attend in person can watch the ceremony live on the district’s YouTube channel by searching @GUHSDAZ.
Washington High School’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Early Childhood program achieved outstanding success at the Arizona FCCLA State Leadership Conference in Tucson (photo courtesy of GUHSD).
Students earn honors at state leadership event
Students from Washington High School’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Early Childhood program achieved outstanding success at the Arizona FCCLA State Leadership Conference in Tucson.
Sophomore Danyelle Famularo earned both Member of the Month and Member of the Year honors for Arizona FCCLA, while the chapter received the Gold Chapter Award recognizing excellence in leadership, service and career preparation. Several students were recognized for their competitive projects, earning multiple gold, silver and bronze medals, including a first-place finish in the state for a Focus on Children project centered on early childhood literacy. That team will advance to the National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., this summer.
The conference concluded with Famularo being elected Arizona FCCLA vice president of Membership for the 2026–27 school year, capping off a highly successful event for Washington’s FCCLA Early Childhood program.
Coach Ray Portela celebrated the Open Division state championship with his son, Sunnyslope senior guard Rider Portela, who was named MVP (submitted photo).
Portela named top coach
Sunnyslope High School boys basketball coach Ray Portela has been named The Arizona Republic Coach of the Year for the 2025–26 season, according to azcentral.
Portela led the Vikings to a historic season, capturing the program’s first Open Division state championship and finishing with a 28-2 record. Along the way, Sunnyslope earned national recognition, climbing to No. 5 in the MaxPreps rankings and securing major tournament wins, including The Classic at Damien and Hoophall West. The team’s playoff run featured hard-fought victories over top programs, culminating in a 60–51 championship win over St. Mary’s.
According to The Arizona Republic, Sunnyslope’s success was fueled by strong defense, resilience, and the ability to close out games under pressure, securing the program’s fifth state title and Portela’s fourth since 2017.
District will offer new classes
Glendale Union High School District is launching a new Automation and Robotics program at Greenway High School and Moon Valley High School to prepare students for high-demand careers in advanced manufacturing.
In collaboration with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC Arizona), students will gain hands-on experience in electronics, sensors, control systems, troubleshooting and industrial safety. This pathway prepares students for opportunities such as equipment technician roles and other entry-level positions in semiconductor manufacturing. Students will graduate with real-world technical skills, confidence and a clear pathway into a growing industry right here in the community.
GUHSD offers open enrollment
With the school year winding down, Glendale Union High School District (GUHSD) says that now is a perfect time for families to plan and explore open enrollment in the district. GUHSD high schools are rated “A” and recognized among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report, offering students a high-quality education.
Through open enrollment, families across Arizona can apply to attend a school outside their attendance boundary, providing access to strong academics, career pathways and supportive programs that prepare students for college, career and life. GUHSD encourages families to take the next step before the school year ends by contacting their campus and completing the enrollment process for the 2026-27 school year.
Visit www.guhsdaz.org for more information.
Madison School District
Discover Spanish this summer
The Madison School District will host a Spanish Immersion Summer Camp June 1-18 for students entering kindergarten through fourth grade. The program focuses on strengthening children’s Spanish language skills through full immersion, utilizing hands-on activities, music, and games.
Students may register for the full three-week duration or for individual weeks. Each week focuses on a specific country: Week 1 (June 1-4), Mexico; Week 2 (June 9-12), Republica Dominicana; Week 3 (June 16-18), Argentina.
The daily itinerary includes communication activities and challenges, cultural exploration, virtual tours of landmarks and traditional games.
The camp will be held at Madison Heights Elementary School, 7150 N. 22nd St., from 8 a.m. to noon, June 1-18. For more information and to register, visit www.madisonaz.org/spanishcamp.
Madison Meadows Middle School’s Bianca Byrd was honored for significant contributions to the afterschool field by the National AfterSchool Association (photo courtesy of Madison School District).
Byrd receives national recognition
Bianca Byrd, the coordinator for the MAC (Madison Adventure Club) before- and after-school program at Madison Meadows Middle School, has been recognized by the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) as a 2026 Next Generation of AfterSchool Leaders honoree.
Selected from more than 140 nominations, 30 professionals aged 30 and under were chosen from across the country for this recognition. Coach Byrd and other early-career professionals were honored for their significant contributions to the afterschool field. The award highlights those who have demonstrated a passion for developing themselves and others, as well as a persistence in growing as leaders within their communities and organizations.
Byrd was officially recognized during the NAA’s national conference in March and will also be featured in a dedicated story in AfterSchool Today, the official biannual magazine of the National AfterSchool Association. Byrd has also previously received Madison School District’s “Shining Star” and “Truly Extraordinary” awards, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and providing quality programs for students.
Students explore culinary creativity
The district announced that Madison’s Top Chef was an incredible success. The district-wide student culinary competition showcased outstanding talent, creativity and a passion for nutrition and career exploration. From the initial recipe submissions to the final showdown on April 8, students demonstrated dedication and skill as they competed for the title of Madison’s Top Chef.
The talented student chefs made pad gaprao, rainbow kielbasa, kcichdi, Portuguese bifana, creamy Cajun shrimp pasta, vegetable fatteh, cookies ‘n’ cream cupcakes and steak frites
In a social media post, Madison district leadership said, “A sincere thank you to our Food & Nutrition Services Department, mentors, local chefs and all who supported and encouraged our students throughout this journey. And a big congratulations to Jordan, our 2026 Madison Top Chef!”
Guillermina Valles (center), a teacher at Solano Elementary School, was recently recognized by Chicanos por la Causa for her decades of embodying “esperanza,” or hope, guiding future generations toward success (submitted photo).
Osborn School District
Teacher receives Esperanza award
Step inside Mrs. Valles’ classroom, and you’ll find more than lessons – you’ll feel the joy, curiosity and magic that transform young children into eager learners who carry that spark for a lifetime, the Osborn School District says.
Guillermina Valles, a beloved early childhood educator in the Osborn School District, has been named a 2026 recipient of the prestigious CPLC (Chicanos por la Causa) Esperanza Latino Teacher Award. The award honors outstanding Latino educators across Arizona who embody “esperanza,” or hope, guiding future generations toward success.
Currently a preschool teacher at Solano Elementary, Valles brings nearly 30 years of experience across multiple grade levels, with much of her career at Longview Elementary. Over the decades, she has shaped the lives of hundreds – if not thousands – of students, known for her joyful spirit, compassion and natural ability to connect with children in their earliest years of learning.
“Her recognition not only celebrates an extraordinary educator, but also highlights the Osborn School District, where exceptional educators like Mrs. Valles create vibrant school communities where every child can truly thrive,” the district said.
Graduating Camelback High School senior Noame Rehema encourages incoming freshman to get involved in school clubs early (photo courtesy of PXU).
Phoenix Union High School District
PXU celebrates class of 2026
Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) is recognizing its graduating Class of 2026. From May 19-21, 2026, the district will celebrate thousands of students walking off the graduation stage and into the next chapter of their lives. That chapter will look different for every graduate, the district said, so they spoke to one graduating senior from every school in PXU to see what their plans are after graduation.
One of those students is Noame Rehema, a senior at Camelback High School who was born in Uganda and came to America at the age of 7. She originally wasn’t going to attend Camelback, but because she had an existing relationship with Camelback APS, Ms. Dahl, she decided to attend. Rehema says that from her first day, Camelback felt like home to her. This was due to her becoming involved early on, notably in yearbook and then student government. She also plays basketball, manages football and baseball, is a sports medicine student, and is in medical club, journalism, camera club and DECA, which occupies much of her time.
After graduation, Rehema plans to attend Augustana College in Illinois to double major in pre-law and either business management or marketing. Her career goal is to become a defense attorney who supports individuals that are wrongfully accused. In her free time, she is committed to service within her community, volunteering at her church, coaching younger students in basketball and tutoring kids, often from refugee or non-English speaking backgrounds.
To any prospective Camelback students, the student says, “I recommend joining clubs as a freshman. That first step helps you take another step, and then another, and suddenly you’re looking at your senior year with huge opportunities.”
Graduating senior Jeremiah Cook would tell incoming freshmen that “If you want to be good at something, you can’t just quit when it gets hard. You have to keep at it, even if it’s just a little bit every day” (photo courtesy of PXU).
Another PXU senior is Jeremiah Cook, who attends Camelback Montessori and came to the district from the Creighton Elementary School District after a teacher there let him know about Camelback Montessori and encouraged him to look into it.
At first, the Montessori format was an adjustment for Cook, and he was pushed outside of his comfort zone. He eventually acclimated and he feels that he has grown as a student since the beginning. His favorite part of his high school experience has been his high level of involvement, exploring multiple interests including football, band, National Honor Society, student leadership, and STEP.
After graduation, Cook plans to attend Claremont McKenna College in California to study finance with the goal of becoming a financial advisor. He feels that his communication skills and growth as an individual will help him thrive in this field. He is also looking forward to the strategy and intelligence he will need to tap into for this role. This career pathway is one that he feels will help him continue to be a role model for his younger siblings as one of the older siblings in his family. It is very important for him to be a motivator and guide for them.
In his free time, Cook enjoys playing and creating music on his alto saxophone, something he hopes to keep with him as a hobby.
To any current or prospective Camelback Montessori students, his advice is, “There’s that 10,000-hour rule about successful people. Kobe started playing basketball when he was three. If you want to be good at something, you can’t just quit when it gets hard. You have to keep at it, even if it’s just a little bit every day.”
Residents are encouraged to visit www.pxu.org/classof2026 to learn more about the choices other graduating seniors made for college, career and life. If any programs stand out, families are encouraged to visit www.pxu.org/enroll to submit an application for the 2026-27 school year.
Washington Elementary School District
Bea Scott at Sunnyslope School was one of a handful of WESD library media specialists recognized with a literacy grant in April (photo courtesy of WESD).
Library staff receive grants
The Washington Elementary School District (WESD) announced that several library media specialists are winners of the 2026 Barbara Park Memorial Literacy Grant. Sponsored by GBS Books, the annual grant program honors children’s author Barbara Park and allows recipients to select up to $500 worth of books for their school library.
Congratulations were extended to the eight winners, including those at schools within the North Central Phoenix corridor: Melissa Campbell at Maryland, Melissa Yoder at Orangewood and Bea Scott at Sunnyslope.
The district offered “A special thank you to GBS Books for supporting and promoting literacy in our schools!”
District names new superintendent
At its April 15 meeting, the Washington Elementary School District Governing Board unanimously selected Dr. Michael Robert as the district’s next superintendent, pending final contract approval.
Dr. Michael Robert
Robert currently serves as superintendent of the Osborn Elementary School District and was chosen after a multi-step selection process that included interviews, community input and a public forum.
Governing Board President Kyle Clayton said, “Dr. Robert brings real experience doing this work. He understands the challenges we are facing from enrollment and finances, to improving student outcomes, and he demonstrated a clear ability to balance strong systems with a people-centered approach. He listens, brings people together, and moves the work forward. We believe he is ready to lead our district on day one.”
Robert is expected to begin July 1, and will work closely with Interim Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hightower to support a smooth transition, the district said.
Sunnyslope victorious in reading challenge
Students at Sunnyslope School celebrated a major academic achievement after winning the Districtwide Valley Readers competition, recognizing the school’s exceptional commitment to literacy among its youngest students.
As a reward, kindergarten through third-grade students attended a special assembly featuring the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, in partnership with School Connect.
Sunnyslope’s K-3 students logged a combined 540,195 minutes of reading, with 272 participants averaging nearly 2,000 minutes each. Districtwide, students reached an impressive total of 3,770,186 minutes read. The milestone highlights the district’s ongoing efforts to promote literacy and foster a love of reading among students.
Supervisor selected as ‘Food’ fellow
WESD recognized Tim Briggs, program supervisor in Nutrition Services, for being selected as a 2026 Healthy School Food Pathway Fellow through the Chef Ann Foundation.
Now in its fourth year, this competitive national fellowship equips experienced school food professionals to lead healthier, more sustainable K-12 meal programs centered on scratch cooking and equitable food practices.
Chosen as one of just 23 participants nationwide, Briggs will spend the next 13 months strengthening his leadership skills and advancing efforts to provide fresh, nourishing meals that benefit thousands of students. He will also receive a $5,000 stipend to support a capstone project focused on expanding scratch cooking across the district.
The district said, “Congratulations to Tim! His leadership continues to make a meaningful impact on the future of student nutrition within the WESD.”
Kindergartners offered school Jumpstart
Registration is now open for WESD Jumpstart – a free, four-week, half-day program designed to help children get ready for kindergarten.
Multiple WESD schools will host the program this summer from May 26 through June 18. During Jumpstart, children will build friendships, learn kindergarten routines and develop important readiness skills in a fun, supportive environment. Plus, free breakfast and lunch are provided each day.
To participate, children must be registered for kindergarten at a WESD school for the 2026-27 school year. Complete registration online at www.wesdschools.org/families/registration or in-person at the WESD Welcome and Registration Center, located at 3200 W. Cholla Ave.
Visit http://www.wesdschools.org/jumpstart to enroll in Jumpstart.
