18 minute read
Meet these Everyday Heroes
by Donna McBride, Pinal County Juvenile Court, Program Administrator II
Pinal County is filled with leaders we may never meet. They lead by example every day to a population often forgotten — our youth. We recently honored four of these everyday heroes.
Oscar Peace is a senior detention officer assigned to the intake unit at the Pinal County Youth Justice Center and was honored as Detention Officer of the Year. In an especially challenging year working intake in a detention facility serving seven counties and the U.S. Marshals’ office, Oscar demonstrated a positive attitude, arriving on shift each day prepared to navigate the daily challenges so all the needs were met. His is a steady hand that lends his care and expertise to youth, families and the communities served daily.
Andy Silvas came to the department in 2004. He started at the Youth Justice Center and transferred to Intervention Services as a surveillance officer. He was honored as Employee of the Year. Andy develops positive relationships with youth while being responsible for court youth or pre-adjudicated youth on electronic monitoring. He has been instrumental in reducing the number of warrants issued. If someone doesn’t show for court, Andy attempts to locate the family to avoid that warrant being issued.
Jessica Ortega started with Pinal County in 2016, specifically to
Back row: Judge Delia Neal, Board of Supervisor Chair Jeff McClure, Judge Daniel Washburn, Judge Kevin White Front row: Director Denise Smith, Supervisor John Fuery, Probation Office Jessica Ortega, Surveillance Officer Andy Silvas. (Not pictured is Oscar Peace).
lead an innovative program and approach to probation supervision. This approach largely focused on evidence-based practice, community and family engagement. She helped build the program and was honored as Line Officer of the Year. She is driven to do her best when evaluating the needs of each youth and family in her caseload to help them be successful. She problem solves through barriers and focuses on strengths.
John Fuery has been the division manager since 2016 and was honored as Supervisor of the Year. He is extremely skilled at assisting staff on resolving issues and creating an environment that works best for everyone. John is approachable, reliable, consistent and supports his staff and colleagues. His leadership has set the example for both management staff and line staff. The department was literally torn apart because of COVID, yet John’s first line of defense was the safety of staff. He wants people to succeed and mentors them from where “they are at” to where they can be. He demonstrates resilience and confidence as he mentors through his down-to-earth leadership style.
For more information on Pinal County Juvenile Court and their many programs for youth and families, visit www.pinalcountyaz.gov/ JuvenileCourtServices
Exercising AFTER AN INJURY
by Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie, Certified Physical Trainer, Certified Corporate Wellness Coach, WickedFiTT
This article was inspired by actual events. Well, my actual events. A recent UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle) accident left me with multiple broken bones, some spinal fractures, horrible burns, tons of pain, and the fear of never feeling like my “old” self again.
I thought this would be a great time to address how to safely get back on track after an injury. Of course every injury is different, and the severity of the condition can affect recovery time.
The absolute first thing is get the OK from your doctor/physical therapist. I always tell my students to pay attention to good pain and bad pain. Pushing yourself too soon could make your recovery longer or make your injury worse, so be sure you get the green light from the experts.
Start slow and listen to your body.
A little discomfort is OK. A lot is not. Remember to take the time to rest. When you go through a traumatic incident, a lot of times your nervous system and your body overall need more time to recover than it once did. So, make sure you are giving yourself ample recovery time between exercise sessions.
Believe me, this one has to be the toughest and most important — stay positive.
Most injuries are temporary. It’s just going to take some time to regain the speed and strength you had.
Taking the proper steps to assure the best care possible can give you a better chance to fully heal, and it can shorten the overall healing time.
CAC Continues Growing After Year of Free Tuition
by Blake Herzog
Central Arizona College's outreach team, from left:
Hazel Rossi Assistant Director of Recruitment Travares Peterson Director of Student Engagement & Activities Sandra Lascher Director, Strategic Enrollment Management & Outreach In Front: Veronika Mosley Program Specialist Outreach
Photos courtesy of CAC
Dr. Crystal McKenna is a biology professor at CAC. Students learn about soils in a Central Arizona College agriculture class.
Many community colleges have seen their enrollment drop significantly since the pandemic, but Central Arizona College’s soared 39% for 2021-22 while it offered tuition-free classes to all students.
It’s poised to grow even more this fall as most pay a discounted rate per credit hour.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Mary Kay Gilliland says an influx of pandemic-related federal funding last summer allowed the college to waive tuition for all Pinal County residents, building on its Pinal Promise initiative that provides free admission to graduating high school seniors in Pinal County. NonPinal residents qualified for up to six free credit hours per semester.
The decision was announced in July 2021, and word spread like wildfire.
“I think we were surprised at how successful it was; it was almost an immediate response and we were scrambling to fill those extra courses in time,” she says.
Gilliland says she was especially impressed by the number of returning students circling back to complete a degree or program they had started years before: “It’s very easy to say, ‘OK, I’ll get back to that eventually.’ But then suddenly you hear about free tuition and think, ‘Wow, that’s an opportunity’.”
Gilliland says demand was especially strong for health care classes and such skilled trades as welding, both of which have requirements for in-person learning that had to be managed last fall while some pandemic restrictions were in effect.
Otherwise, it was the online sections that filled up first while some faceto-face ones lagged, a reversal from previous years. Gilliland says the trend is now shifting in the other direction: “I think our campuses will be a little fuller this fall,” with the San Tan Campus growing the fastest.
CAC couldn’t continue free tuition this academic year, she says, but rolled the cost per credit hour back to a “bare-bones” rate of $50, down from $86 in 2020-21.
Rather than pushing registrations down as some people had feared, enrollment continues to edge upward to 4,000 students.
“What we like to think optimistically is that we have students who began college or came back to continue college and are keen to complete their certificates or degrees and are sticking with us,” she says.
Vice President of Student Services Jenni Cardenas says CAC is providing personalized support, especially important since a majority of students are from low-income families and the first in their family to attend college.
“Even with increased enrollment we’re still able to have small class sizes, we’re still able provide that individualized attention and individualized help for all of our students,” she says. “Those are really positive things that we’ve seen.
“We’re working at focusing on really finding intentional ways to engage, to help students get that sense of belonging and really connect with the college. Students who are connected in some way to the college have a higher chance of graduating and reaching their goals.”
Education Directory
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Apache Junction Unified School District 1575 W. Southern Ave., Apache Jct 480.982.1110 www.ajusd.org
Casa Grande Elementary District 220 W. Kortsen Rd., Casa Grande 520.836.2111 www.cgesd.org
Casa Grande Union High School District 1362 N. Casa Grande Ave., Casa Grande 520.316.3360 www.cguhsd.org
Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT) 1789 W. Coolidge Ave., Coolidge 520.423.1944 www.cavitschools.com
Coolidge Unified School District 450 N. Arizona Blvd., Coolidge 520.723.2040 www.coolidgeschools.org
Eloy Elementary District 1011 N. Sunshine Blvd., Eloy 520.466.2100 www.eloyesd.org
Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District 900 N. Main St., Eloy 520.466.2220 www.scvuhs.org
Toltec Elementary District 3315 N. Toltec Rd., Eloy 520.466.2360 www.toltecsd.org
Florence Unified School District 1000 S. Main St., Florence 520.866.3500 www.fusdaz.com
Maricopa Unified School District 44150 W. Mar/CG Hwy., Maricopa 520.568.5100 www.musd20.org
Oracle Elementary School Dostrict 2618 W. El Pasao, Oracle 520.896.3070 www.osd2.org
Superior Unified School District 1500 Panther Dr., Superior 520.689.3000 www.superiorusd.org
UNIVERSITIES/COLLEGES
Central Arizona College 8470 N. Overfield Rd., Coolidge 800.237.9814 www.centralaz.edu
NAU at Central Arizona 8470 N. Overfield Rd., Bldg. M, Coolidge 520.421.1394 www.nau.edu/statewide-campuses/nau-centralarizona-college
TECHNICAL & TRADE SCHOOLS
Turning Point Beauty College 1355 E. Florence Blvd., Suite No. 143, Casa Grande 602.882.0928 www.facebook.com/TurningPointBeautyCollege
PRESCHOOLS
Casa Grande Head Start 468 W. McMurray Blvd., Casa Grande 520.421.2660 www.facebook.com/CGHeadStart
Early Childhood Learning Center 390 E. Lakeside Pkwy., Casa Grande 520.876.0045 www.cgesd.org/Domain/13
Coolidge Head Start 227 W. Pinkley Ave., Coolidge 520.723.4951 www.facebook.com/CoolidgeHeadStart
Eloy Head Start 114 E. 3rd St., Eloy 520.466.7189 www.facebook.com/EloyHeadStart
Toltc Head Start 3720 N. Marsh St., Eloy 520.466.4036 www.facebook.com/ToltecHeadStart
Florence Head Start 40 E. Celaya St., Florence 520.868.8640 www.facebook.com/FlorenceHeadStart
Maicopa Head Start 44931 W. Edwards Cir., Maricopa 520.568.2577 www.facebook.com/CityofMaricopaHeadStart
San Tan Valley Head Start 310 E. Combs Rd., San Tan Valley 480.987.1845 www.facebook.com/STVHeadStart Superior Head Start 150 N. Lobb Ave., Superior 520.689.2812 www.facebook.com/SuperiorHeadStart
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Cholla Elementary School 1180 E. Kortsen Rd., Casa Grande 520.836.4719 www.cgesd.org/Domain/10
Cottonwood Elementary School 1667 N. Kadota Ave., Casa Grande 520.836.5601 www.cgesd.org/Domain/11
Desert Willow Elementary School 2172 N. Arizola Rd., Casa Grande 520.876.5397 www.cgesd.org/Domain/12
Evergreen Elementary School 1000 N. Amarillo St., Casa Grande 520.836.6694 www.cgesd.org/Domain/14
Ironwood Elementary School 1500 N. Colorado St., Casa Grande 520.836.5086 www.cgesd.org/Domain/15
McCartney Ranch Elementary School 2631 N. Brown Ave., Casa Grande 520.876.4235 www.cgesd.org/Domain/16
Mesquite Elementary School 129 N. Arizola Rd., Casa Grande 520.836.7787 www.cgesd.org/Domain/17
Palo Verde Elementary School 40 N. Roosevelt Ave., Casa Grande 520.421.1650 www.cgesd.org/Domain/18
Saguaro Elementary School 1501 N. Center Ave., Casa Grande 520.836.7661 www.cgesd.org/Domain/19
Heartland Ranch Elementary 1667 W. Caroline St., Coolidge 520.424.2100 www.coolidgeschools.org/Domain/11
West Elementary School 460 S. 7th St., Coolidge 520.723.2702 www.coolidgeschools.org/Domain/12
Arizona City Elementary School 12115 Benito Dr., Eloy 520.466.2450 www.toltecsd.org/arizonacityelementaryschool_ home.aspx
Cruiel Primary School 1000 N. Cruiel St., Eloy 520.466.2120 www.eloyesd.org/Curiel-Primary-School
Eloy Intermediate School 1101 N. Sunshine Blvd., Eloy 520.466.2130 www.eloyesd.org/Eloy-Intermediate-School
Anthem K-8 Elementary School 2700 N. Anthem Way, Florence 520.723.6400 www.fusdaz.com/Domain/8
Florence K-8 Elementary School 460 S. Park St., Florence 520.866.3540 www.fusdaz.com/fk8
Magma Ranch Elementary School 10980 E. Desert Mountain Blvd., Florence 520.868.7300 www.fusdaz.com/mr
Butterfield Elementary School 43800 Honeycutt Rd., Maricopa 520.568.5100 www.musd20.org/bes
Maricopa Elementary School 18150 N. Alterra Pkwy., Maricopa 520.568.5160 www.musd20.org/mes
Pima Butte Elementary School 42202 Rancho El Dorado Pkwy., Maricopa 520.568.5100 www.musd20.org/pbes
Saddleback Elementary School 18600 N. Porter Rd., Maricopa 520.568.6110 www.musd20.org/ses
Santa Cruz Elementary School 19845 N. Costa Del Sol Blvd., Maricopa 520.568.5170 www.musd20.org/sces
Santa Rosa Elementary School 21400 N. Santa Rosa Dr., Maricopa 520.568.5100 www.musd20.org/sres
Circle Cross Ranch K-8 Elementary School 35900 N. Charbray., San Tan Valley 480.987.7600 www.fusdaz.com/cc
Copper Basin K-8 Elementary School 28682 N. Main St., San Tan Valley 480.888.7500 www.fusdaz.com/cb
Mountain Vista Academy Elementary School 33622 N. Mountain Vista Blvd., San Tan Valley 480.474.6172 www.fusdaz.com/mva San Tan Heights Elementary School 2500 W. San Tan Heights Blvd., San Tan Valley 480.888.7555 www.fusdaz.com/sth
Skyline Ranch Elementary School 1084 W. San Tan Hills Dr., San Tan Valley 480.888.7520 www.fusdaz.com/sr
Walker Butte Elementary School 29697 N. Desert Willow Blvd., San Tan Valley 480.987.5360 www.fusdaz.com/wb
JFK Elementary School Elementary School 1500 Panther Dr., Superior 520.689.3000 www.superiorusd.org/JFK_Elementary
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Cactus Middle School 1220 E. Kortsen Rd., Casa Grande 520.421.3330 www.cgesd.org/Domain/8
Casa Grande Middle School 260 W. McMurray Blvd., Casa Grande 520.836.7310 www.cgesd.org/Domain/9
Villago Middle School 574 E. Lakeside Pkwy., Casa Grande 520.423.0176 www.cgesd.org/Domain/20
Toltec Middle School 3315 N. Toltec Rd., Eloy 520.466.2360 www.toltecsd.org
Desert Wind Middle School 35565 Honeycutt Rd., Maricopa 520.568.7110 www.musd20.org/dwms
Maricopa Wells Middle School 45725 W. Honeycutt Ave., Maricopa 520.568.7100 www.musd20.org/mwms
HIGH SCHOOLS
Casa Grande Union High School 2730 N. Trekell Rd., Casa Grande 520.836.8500 www.cguhsd.org/casagrandeunionhighschool_ home.aspx
CGUHSD Online Academy 1362 N. Casa Grande Ave., Casa Grande 520.836.3434 www.cguhsd.org/CGUHSDOnlineAcademy.aspx
Vista Grande High School 1556 N. Arizola Rd., Casa Grande 520.876.9400 www.cguhsd.org/vistagrandehighschool_home.aspx
CAVIT - Central Arizona Valley Institute Of Technology 1789 W. Coolidge Ave., Coolidge 520.423.1944 www.cavitschools.com Coolidge Alternative Program & Virtual Academy 800 9th St., Coolidge 520.723.2115 www.coolidgeschools.org/Domain/10
Coolidge High School 684 W. Northern Ave., Coolidge 520.723.2304 www.coolidgeschools.org/Domain/8
Coolidge Junior High 684 W. Northern Ave., Coolidge 520.723.2304 www.coolidgeschools.org/Domain/9
Eloy Junior High School 404 E. Phoenix Ave., Eloy 520.466.2140 www.eloyesd.org/Eloy-Junior-High-School
Santa Cruz Center for Success 900 N. Main St., Eloy 520.466.2220 www.scvuhs.org/Santa-Cruz-Center-for-Success
Santa Cruz Valley Union High School 900 N. Main St., Eloy 520.466.2220 www.scvuhs.org/SCVUHS
Florence High School 1000 S. Main St., Florence 520.866.3560 www.fusdaz.com/fhs
Desert Sunrise High School 16200 N. Murphy Rd., Maricopa 520.509.0400 www.musd20.org/dshs
Maricopa High School 45012 W. Honeycutt Ave., Maricopa 520.568.8100 www.musd20.org/mhs
Florence Virtual Academy 33622 N. Mountain Vista Blvd., San Tan Valley 480.474.6188 www.fusdaz.com/fva
Poston Butte High School - Florence 32375 N. Gantzel Rd., San Tan Valley 480.474.6100 www.fusdaz.com/pbhs
San Tan Foothills High School 1255 W. Silverdale Rd., San Tan Valley 480.474.6240 www.fusdaz.com/foothills
Superior Junior High & High School 1500 Panther Dr., Superior 520.689.3000, ext 3102 www.superiorusd.org/Superior_JrSr_High
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Logos Christian Academy 9745 N. Trekell Rd., Casa Grande 520.421.1220 www.logosclassical.org
Continued on page 58
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School 501 E. 2nd St., Maricopa 520.836.7247 www.stanthonycgschool.org
CHARTER SCHOOLS
ASU Prep 12684 W. Gila Bend Hwy., Casa Grande 520.374.4200 www.asuprep.asu.edu/casa-grande-high-school
Grande Innovation Academy 950 N. Peart Rd., Casa Grande 520.381.2360 www.grandeinnovationacademy.com
Legacy Traditional School - Casa Grande 1274 E. O’Neil Dr., Casa Grande 520.421.2323 www.casagrande.legacytraditional.org
Mission Heights Preparatory High School 1376 E. Cottonwood Ln., Casa Grande 520.836.9383 www.mhprep.com
PPEP Tec 220 E. Florence Blvd., Casa Grande 520.294.6997 www.ppeptechs.org
Imagine Coolidge Elementary 1290 W. Vah Ki Inn Rd., Coolidge 520.723.5391 www.imaginecoolidge.org
A+ Charter School 41735 Alan Stephens Pkwy., Maricopa 520.265.5589 www.aplusaz.org
Heritage Academy 41000 W. Heroes Way, Maricopa 520.367.3800 www.hamaricopa.com
Leading Edge Academy - Maricopa 18700 N. Porter Rd., Maricopa 480.633.0414 www.leadingedgeacademy.com
Legacy Traditional School - Maricopa 17760 Regent Dr., Maricopa 520.423.9999 www.maricopa.legacytraditional.org
Sequoia Pathway Academy - Elementary 19265 N. Porter Rd., Maricopa 520.568.9333 www.sequoiapathway.org/#
Sequoia Pathway Academy - Secondary 19265 N. Porter Rd., Maricopa 520.568.2112 www.sequoiapathway.org
Submitted by the Casa Grande Public Library
Mark your calendars for fun fall events at your Casa Grande Public Library.
A fall reading scavenger hunt just for kids begins in October. Stop by the Main Library or Vista Grande Library beginning Oct. 1 and pick up your reading map. Complete 10 activities and return your map to the library for a prize.
Also, you won’t want to miss joining Ms. Julie for our annual Halloween Storytime at the Main Library. Children and their parents are encouraged to come in their Halloween costumes. We will read a Halloween-themed story in Peart Park and then trick-or-treat along the Story Walk path in the park.
Please bring your own treat bag or bucket. The program takes place Oct. 25 at 10 a.m.
The fun continues through November with election week for kids!
DOGS VS. CATS
The 2022 election is almost here and there is no better time to get your children interested in democracy. Help spark their voting interest by participating in a fun election program just for kids at your Casa Grande Public Library.
This year dogs are competing against cats to be the official library mascot for the month of November. So prepare to enter the voting booth, mark your ballots and tune in to our library Facebook page and YouTube channel to see the results.
Election week at the library will be Nov. 2 to Nov. 5 at both the Casa Grande and Vista Grande public libraries. To keep up with library programs and events, please visit our website at www.casagrandeaz.gov/library.
YouTube: www.youtube.com/CasaGrandeLibrary Facebook: www.facebook.com/cglibraryaz Main Library: 449 N. Drylake St. Vista Grande Library: 1556 N. Arizola Road
by Angela Askey, Executive Director Public Relations and Marketing
Central Arizona College’s Early Childhood Education program was granted renewed accreditation by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
The current accreditation term runs from March 2022 through March 2024.
To retain the association’s accreditation, CAC’s Early Childhood Education program conducted a rigorous self-study process in collaboration with stakeholders, culminating in a report that shows how the program: meets the association’s standards; responds to the unique needs of the degree candidates and communities served; provides intentional learning experiences that align with the professional standards and competencies for early childhood educators; and conducts continuous assessment.
The program hosted an external peer review; findings were presented to the Commission on Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation.
“NAEYC Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs is a hallmark of quality assurance for the early childhood preparation profession,” said Mary Harrill, Senior Director of Higher Education at NAEYC. The accreditation decision report highlights “the program’s demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity, and advancing equity is remarkable as evidenced in the conceptual framework, array of learning opportunities, key assessment assignments, and field experiences.”
Melissa Larson Busby, CAC’s Early Childhood Education Director, said: “The ECE program is committed to providing equitable access to innovative and high quality learning experiences for diverse students that positively impact their lives as well as children, families and the community.
“We are honored to be one of only three NAEYC Accredited Early Childhood Higher Education associate degree programs in the state of Arizona.”
The CAC early childhood education program is designed for individuals who are passionate about early childhood development and are interested in working with young children and families. Students develop skills, knowledge and experience to help them become committed, competent and caring educators and leaders.
The program is available at all five CAC campuses and can be completed fully online. For more information about the program please email ECENews@centralaz.edu.
Effective Leaders Build Psychological Safety in Workplace
by Bob Shogren, M.Ed., Casa Grande Alliance
Psychological safety is the shared belief that it’s safe to take interpersonal risks as a group. These risks include speaking up when there’s a problem with the team dynamics and sharing creative ideas, among others. Leaders must maintain employee engagement by helping people feel comfortable and building the shared belief that the team is safe for risk-taking. According to Greg Barnett, Ph.D.:
1. BE ENGAGED.
If employees feel you don’t pay attention when they speak, or that you don’t value their thoughts and opinions, they’ll shut down. Practice active listening by asking questions.
2. SHOW YOUR TEAM YOU UNDERSTAND.
Recap what’s been said. Use language like, “What I heard you say is ______. Is that correct?” This shows you want to understand their perspective. It also gives your team members an opportunity to clarify any misunderstanding.
3. AVOID BLAMING TO BUILD TRUST.
Focus on solutions. Instead of “What happened and why?” ask “How can we make sure this goes better next time?”
4. BE SELF-AWARE — DEMAND THE SAME FROM YOUR TEAM.
People bring their whole self to work — their unique personalities, preferences and work styles. Build self-awareness by sharing how you work best, how you like to communicate, and how you like to be recognized. Encourage your team members to do the same.
5. NIP NEGATIVITY.
If you have a team member who speaks negatively about peers, talk to them. Be clear; let them know you work together as a team and negativity will not be tolerated.
6. INCLUDE YOUR TEAM IN DECISION MAKING.
Ask for their input, thoughts and feedback. This will help them feel included in the decisionmaking process, and it will build psychological safety.
7. BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK.
When employees feel psychologically safe, they feel empowered to give feedback — up, down and across. They feel comfortable enough to knock on the CEO’s door when there’s critical information to share. Invite your team to challenge your perspective and push back. While this may be uncomfortable at first, healthy conflict leads to better decisions and greater accountability — making it a win all around.
8. CHAMPION YOUR TEAM.
Let them know you’re on their side by supporting their personal and professional development.
Try one — or all — of these eight strategies for building psychological safety at work and see how it impacts your team.
Source: www.predictiveindex.com/blog/ psychological-safety-in-the-workplace
—Abigail Adams
Education is the basis for the growth and progress of society, allowing people to contribute more in their areas of expertise and create better communities. Education on every level develops problem-solving skills and provides the opportunity for empowerment through hard work.
Welcome to our newest regular section in Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine, the Education Section! The section appears in every bimonthly issue including a complete directory, local articles and messages from local schools to help you decide what best suits your personal or family needs.
