8 14 15 District Dialogue

District Dialogue Bi-weekly news from the Laveen Elementary School District

August 14, 2015

Laveen welcomes new school administrators

Administrators recognized

Several Laveen schools welcomed new administrators to their campuses this year. They are: Andrew Wait, Cheatham Principal —Andrew Wait brings four years of principal experience to Cheatham. He joins Laveen from Yuma where he has been for 10 years. Wait has been involved in the AVID program for several years.

At the August 13 Governing Board Meeting, four administrators were recognized with Pinnacle of Leadership awards.

Student Services Director Todd Liolios, Vista del Sur Principal Kristi Pashley, Kids Klub Coordinator Kim Teer, and Transportation Coordinator Eric Kissel received the award. This award recognizes select individuals for exceptional leadership, outstanding accomplishment, and dedicated service to Laveen’s students and community.

Steven Gerace, Cheatham Assistant Principal — Steven Gerace has been with Cheatham since 2007, most recently as an instructional coach. He has served as the school’s AVID Coordinator and received the district’s Excellence in Education Award in 2012.

Tanya Whiteford, Desert Meadows Assistant Principal — Tanya Whiteford brings four years of Assistant Principal experience to Desert Meadows. She joins Laveen from the Alhambra Elementary School District where she began her career in 2006. Whiteford is a recipient of the Rodel Aspiring Principal award and serves on the state’s Arizona State Teacher Retention Task Force.

Nicole Goodwin, M.C. Cash Assistant Principal— Nicole Goodwin brings three years of experience as an Assistant Principal to Cash. She joins Laveen from the Glendale Elementary School District where she began her career in 2002.

Brett Humphrey, Trailside Point Assistant Principal — Brett Humphrey joined Trailside Point in 2013 as an Instructional Coach. He originally came to Laveen in 2007 as a teacher at Desert Meadows. He received the Rodel Aspiring Principal award last year.

J.P. Ketcham—J.P. Ketcham joins Laveen School from Desert Meadows where he was also Assistant Principal. He brings a number of years of school administrative experience, having served in both the Buckeye and Glendale Elementary School Districts. Ketcham began his teaching career in 1997. .

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Student Services Director recognized Student Services Director Todd Liolios was selected as the Arizona School Administrators Higher Education Division’s Outstanding Dissertation Student Award recipient.

This award is for outstandLiolios ing doctoral students in educational leadership from member post-secondary institutions. Liolios presented a summary of his research on early entry kindergarten students and how their academic achievement compares with age-typical students at the annual ASA Summer Conference. .

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Summer improvements take place across the district Before

After

Before

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A number of construction and renovation projects took place across the district over the summer break.

Funding was provided through bond proceeds as approved by voters in 2008.

Transportation The transportation building was gutted and remodeled providing additional office and meeting space.

Rogers Ranch At Rogers Ranch a new bus bay was installed just north of the school along 47th Avenue. This will better separate the buses from the visitor parking.

Vista del Sur Vista’s front office was expanded and remodeled.

Drainage work was done to prevent courtyard flooding, and additional rooms were built.

District receives School Facilities Board grant Additional Projects  Finalize design for School #8  Realign 51st Avenue near the LEC to add turn lanes, fencing, curbs, and electricity for bus entrance and exit  Construct a new bus parking lot  Install new cafeteria serving lines at Desert Meadows and Trailside Point  Expand parking lot and field development at LEC  Purchase three full-sized special education buses  Purchase two activity vans  Purchase one small special education bus

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The Arizona School Facilities Board approved two requests for construction funding grants at its June meeting.

The grants will provide for new roofing at Cheatham Elementary Schools and the correction of a drainage pipe in Vista del Sur’s courtyard which was completed this summer.

August 14 2015