District Dialogue Bi-weekly news from the Laveen Elementary School District
March 6, 2020
Home Depot provides hands-on activities for Paseo students Members of the Home Depot in Avondale and volunteers from the University of Phoenix visited Paseo Pointe School to provide hands on experiences for 3rd and 5th grade students. Fifth graders first learned how to build a wooden hockey game or spring basket. Then, they taught and assisted third grade students. This project, developed by teacher Mr. Ren Fahey, taught the students how to follow written instructions and encouraged teamwork.
Paseo Pointe celebrates Black History Month with wax museum
Laveen students rewarded for growth with Suns game
Paseo Pointe School celebrated Black History Month by creating a wax museum. Students in kindergarten and first grade researched a well-known black individual, dressed as them, and presented information on the person's history and achievements. Statues included Morgan Freeman, Katherine Johnson, Malcom X, and Serena Williams.
Fifth grade Laveen School students in Mr. Logan Wasie’s class won the Laveen School/Phoenix Suns “Grow to Go Challenge.” Wasie’s class showed the most growth across the three district assessments. His entire class received tickets to last Friday’s game. Students who showed the most growth got to go onto the court, meet players, and get autographs on basketballs.
Guest readers help Laveen celebrate Read Across America Week Laveen’s schools celebrated Read Across America this week with a number of activities to encourage reading. Many special guests, including Laveen’s Governing Board members, visited the schools to read to students.
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New administrators named for 2020-21 With the retirement of district superintendent Dr. Bill Johnson at the end of this school year, several changes are taking place throughout the district and school administrations. The following individuals will be taking on new roles during the 2020-21 school year. Dr. Jeff Sprout, Superintendent Dr. Sprout has been with the Laveen School District for seven years serving, as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. Before joining Laveen, Dr. Sprout was a teacher, principal, and Director of STEM Research and Development in the Alhambra District. He is the recipient of the Excellence in Education teaching award, Rodel Exemplary Principal Award, and, along with his staff, received the A+ School of Excellence Award. He is past president of the Laveen Lions Club. Megan Hamburgh, Rogers Ranch Principal Megan Hamburgh is currently the assistant principal at Vista del Sur where she has been for the last four years. Hamburgh was an instructional coach for four years and a classroom teacher for six years. She is experienced in leading school-wide academic achievement and growth, building and sustaining positive school climate and culture, developing effective curriculum, and implementing restorative justice practices and positive behavior interventions and supports.
Jon Rohloff, Paseo Pointe Principal Jon Rohloff is an experienced educator with six years of principal experience in the Fowler Elementary School District. He was a classroom teacher for 10 years, teaching elementary, middle, and high school level courses. He is also bilingual in Spanish, making him an excellent choice to continue to grow Paseo’s Dual Language Immersion program. PAGE 2
Tim Thomas, Asst. Superintendent for Human Resources Tim Thomas has served as principal of Rogers Ranch School for the last seven years. Before that, he was a school administrator in the Alhambra District for four years and a classroom teacher for six years. Under his leadership, Rogers Ranch was named an A+ School of Excellence. He received the Milken Educator Award and was named a Rodel Exemplary Principal. Kristi Pashley, Cheatham Elementary Principal Kristi Pashley, current principal of Paseo Pointe School will be transferring to Cheatham. Pashley is an experienced administrator and has been with the Laveen School District since 2009, when she started as an Assistant Principal at Trailside Point. She was principal of Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy for five years and has been at Paseo Pointe for the last four years. She also has eight years experience as a classroom teacher. Under her leadership, Vista del Sur received the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award. Brett Humphrey, Trailside Point Principal Brett Humphrey has spent his entire career in the Laveen School District, beginning in 2007 as a classroom teacher. Since then, he served Trailside Point as instructional coach and has been the school’s assistant principal for the last five years. March 6, 2020
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Sarah Zembruski, Estrella Foothills Global Academy Principal Sarah Zembruski has served as the principal of Trailside Point since 2011. Under her leadership, Trailside has twice been named an A+ School of Excellence and has received the Gold Achievement Award for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports for the last five years. She launched Trailside’s successful performing arts program. She is the recipient of the Exemplary Principal Award.
Ashley Grant, Trailside Point Assistant Principal Ashley Grant has been with the Laveen School District for four years. She has served as an assistant principal at both Rogers Ranch and Laveen School and was a classroom teacher for six years. Grant was recognized as a Rodel Aspiring Principal in 2015.
Erin Scagnelli, Vista del Sur Assistant Principal Erin Scagnelli has been with the Laveen School District for nine years. She is currently an instructional coach at Cheatham Elementary. Before that, she was a classroom teacher for seven years at Rogers Ranch School.
Erin Lebish, Estrella Foothills Global Academy Dean of Students Erin Lebish started her career at Trailside Point as a classroom teacher in 2012. She has served as an instructional coach at Trailside Point since 2018.
Reed Brotherton, Laveen School Assistant Principal Reed Brotherton has been with the Laveen School District for five years. He is currently an instructional coach at Trailside Point and previously served as assistant principal in a smaller district.
Exceptional Service Awards honor classified staff Eleven classified staff members from across the district were recognized with the district’s Exceptional Service Award, the highest recognition Laveen has for its classified employees. Each of these employees was nominated by their supervisor based on their quality and quantity of work, expertise, initiative, teamwork, customer service, and attendance. Recipients were: Sarahi Balanzar, Cheatham guest teacher; Sara Contreras, Rogers Ranch café manager; Julie Carson, Support Services administrative assistant; Donnie Rodman, lead groundskeeper; Clara Munroe, Academic Services administrative assistant; Christina Carlos, Human Resources administrative assistant; Chris Madrid, Laveen School café manager; Reyna Leyva, M.C. Cash behavior monitor; Jennifer Silber, Paseo Pointe secretary; Susan Cortez, Rogers Ranch secretary; and Tehani Smith, Trailside Point health associate.
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March 6, 2020
LAVEEN' S 6TH ANNUAL
SPRING FESTIVAL Featuring activities, games, vendors, food, and entertainment.
APRIL 17 | 5 PM - 8 PM 5001 W. DOBBINS Admission is free. Tickets available for purchase for select activities. Proceeds benefit the Laveen Education Foundation. WWW.LAVEENSCHOOLS.ORG/SPRING-FESTIVAL