22 minute read
Education Directory
LET EDUCATION CONTINUE TO Drive Our Community
by Cathy Stonecipher, Administrative Director, Guidance Helicopters, Inc.
Our community’s education is extremely important to Guidance Helicopters, Inc., and we strive to promote community awareness.
By sponsoring the education section, we hope that our community members become aware of all of our children’s educational opportunities in Yavapai County. We are blessed to live in a dynamic community that is education driven.
We are an FAA-approved helicopter pilot training institution that off ers the most comprehensive, eff ective training available.
Our goal is to produce pilots who set the standard in the industry for professionalism and safety.
Founded in 1998 by John L. Stonecipher, Guidance Helicopters has trained more than 400 pilots who are working in the helicopter industry today. Guidance’s dedication to excellence is evident in the caliber of pilots who graduate and are employed immediately afterward to their highly experienced staff . Stonecipher was the United States SBA National Business Person of the Year in 2013, and Guidance Helicopters received the Safety Excellence Award in 2014 by the Helicopter Association International Augusta Westland.
Student pilots at Guidance have a well-defi ned, straightforward path to follow to reach their completion goals. In 24 months, students go from having no experience to certifi cated fl ight instructor rating. Training conforms to a rigorous schedule that’s been fi ne-tuned to promote the most success and certifi cate completion.
Education Directory
Sponsored by Guidance Helicopters, Inc.
UNIVERSITIES/COLLEGES
Embry-Riddle Aeronauti cal University 3700 Willow Creek Rd. Prescott 928.777.6600 www.prescott .erau.edu
Northern Arizona University - Prescott Campus 1100 E. Sheldon St. Prescott 928.523.2988 www.nau.edu/statewide-campuses/ nau-yavapai-college
Northern Arizona University - Yavapai 7351 Skoog Blvd. Prescott Valley 928.523.2988 www.nau.edu/prescott valley
Prescott College 220 Grove Ave. Prescott 877.350.2100 www.prescott .edu
Yavapai College 1100 E. Sheldon St. Prescott 928.445.7300 www.yc.edu
TECHNICAL & TRADE SCHOOLS
Career & Technical Educati on Center (CTEC) 220 Ruger Rd., Suite 1 Prescott 928.776.2002 www.yc.edu/ctec
Guidance Helicopters, Inc. Helicopter Flight School 6565 Crystal Ln. Prescott 928.443.9370 www.guidanceaero.com
Mountain Insti tute Joint Technical Educati on District (JTED) 220 Ruger Rd., Suite 2 Prescott 928.771.0791 www.micted.net
Rogers Academy of Beauty 2375 AZ-69 Prescott 928.848.9929 www.rogersacademyofb eauty.com
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS Chino Valley Unifi ed School District #51 650 E. Center St. Chino Valley 928.636.2458 www.chinovalleyschools.com Humboldt Unifi ed School District 6411 N. Robert Rd. Prescott Valley 928.759.4000 www.humboldtunifi ed.com Prescott Unifi ed School District 300 E. Gurley St. Prescott 928.445.5400 www.prescott schools.com Mayer Unifi ed School District No. 43 PO Box 1059 12606 E. Main St. Mayer 928.642.1000 www.mayerschools.org Yavapai Accomodati on School District No. 99 K-12 7497 E. Addis Ave. Prescott Valley 928.759.8126 www.yavapaicountyhighschool.com PRESCHOOLS Busy Bee Learning Center 8665 E. Florenti ne Rd. Prescott Valley 928.772.6333 www.busybeelearningcenter.net Cedar Tree Montessori Private School 129 N. Pleasant St Prescott 928.771.8785 www.cedartreemontessori.com Christi an Academy of Prescott Private School 148 S. Marina St. Prescott 928.445.2565 Cornerstone Christi an Preschool Private School 700 W. Rosser St. Prescott 928.771.2754 www.prescott cornerstone.com/ preschool Discovery Gardens Early Childhood Center Prescott Unifi ed School District 300 E. Gurley St. Prescott 928.442.1283 www.prescott schools.com/ discoverygardens James Family Prescott YMCA 750 Whipple St. Prescott 928.445.7221 www.prescott ymca.org/preschool Litt le Dreamers Preschool Academy 7175 E. 2nd St. Prescott Valley 928.800.1488 www.azlitt ledreamers.com
American Lutheran School Private School 1085 Scott Dr. Prescott 928.778.7049 www.americanlutheranschool.com
Bright Futures Preschool Humboldt Unifi ed School District 6411 N. Robert Rd. Prescott Valley 928.759.5130 www.bf.humboldtunifi ed.com Litt le Explorers Learning Academy 12150 E. Turquoise Cir. Dewey 928.379.5068 www.facebook.com/ litt leexplorerslearningacademy
Valley Learning Center 2235 AZ-89, Ste.1 Chino Valley 928.636-1656 www.valleylearningcenters.com ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Abia Judd Elementary School Prescott Unifi ed School District 1749 Williamson Valley Rd. Prescott 928.717.3263 www.prescott schools.com/aj
Coyote Springs Elementary School Humboldt Unifi ed School District 6625 N. Catt letrack Dr. Prescott Valley 928.759.4300 www.cs.humboldtunifi ed.com
Del Rio Elementary School Chino Valley Unifi ed School District 1036 North Rd. 1 West Chino Valley 928.636.4414 www.chinovalleyschools.com
Granville Elementary School Humboldt Unifi ed School District 5250 N. Stover Dr. Prescott Valley 928.759.4800 www.ge.humboldtunifi ed.com
Humboldt Elementary School Humboldt Unifi ed School District 2750 S. Corral St. Prescott Valley 928.759.4400 www.he.humboldtunifi ed.com
Lake Valley Elementary School Humboldt Unifi ed School District 3900 N. Starlight Dr. Prescott Valley 928.759.4200 www.lv.humboldtunifi ed.com
Liberty Traditi onal School Humboldt Unifi ed School District K-8 3300 N. Lake Valley Rd. Prescott Valley 928.759.4500 www.lib.humboldtunifi ed.com
Lincoln Elementary School Prescott Unifi ed School District 201 Park Ave. Prescott 928.717.3249 www.prescott schools.com/lincoln
Mayer Elementary School Mayer Unifi ed School District No. 45 12568 E. Main St. Mayer 928.642.1101 www.mayerschools.org
Mountain View Elementary School Humboldt Unifi ed School District 8601 E. Loos Dr. Prescott Valley 928.759.4700 www.mv.humboldtunifi ed.com
Taylor Hicks Elementary School Prescott Unifi ed School District 1845 Campbell Ave. Prescott 928.717.3276 www.prescott schools.com/th
Territorial Early Childhood Center Chino Valley Unifi ed School District Preschool-2nd Grade 1088 Mahan Lane Chino Valley 928.636.3842 www.tecc.chinovalleyschools.com
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Bradshaw Mountain Middle School Humboldt Unifi ed School District 12255 Turquoise Circle Dewey 928.759.4900 www.ms.humboldtunifi ed.com Prescott Mile High Middle School Prescott Unifi ed School District 300 S. Granite St. Prescott 928.717.3241 www.prescott schools.com/pmhms
HIGH SCHOOLS
Aspire High School Yavapai Accomodati on School District No. 99 2970 Centerpointe East Dr. Prescott 928.759.8126 www.yavapaicountyhighschool.com
Bradshaw Mountain High School Humboldt Unifi ed School District High School 6000 Long Look Dr. Prescott Valley 928.759.4100 www.hs.humboldtunifi ed.com
Chino Valley High School Chino Valley Unifi ed School District 760 E. Center St. Chino Valley 928.636.2298 www.cvhs.chinovalleyschools.com
Prescott High School Prescott Unifi ed School District 1050 N. Ruth St. Prescott 928.445.2322 www.prescott schools.com/phs
Mayer High School Mayer Unifi ed School District No. 44 17300 E. Mule Deer Dr. Mayer 928.642.1200 www.mayerhs.mayerschools.org
Glassford Hill Middle School Humboldt Unifi ed School District 6901 Panther Path Prescott Valley 928.759.4600 www.gh.humboldtunifi ed.com Yavapai County High School Yavapai Accomodati on School District No. 99 6325 Baja Circle Prescott Valley 928.759.8126 www.yavapaicountyhighschool.com
Granite Mountain School Prescott Unifi ed School District 1800 Williamson Valley Rd. Prescott 928.717.3253 www.prescott schools.com/gms
Heritage Middle School Chino Valley Unifi ed School District 1076 North Rd. 1 W. Chino Valley 928.636.4464 www.chinovalleyschools.com CHARTER SCHOOLS
Acorn Montessori Schools Preschool-8 8556 E. Loos Dr. Prescott Valley 928.772.5778 www.acornmontessori.com
Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center (AAEC) High School 7500 E. Skoog Blvd. Prescott Valley 928.775.3200 www.aaechs.com/campuses BASIS Prescott K-12 1901 Prescott Lakes Pkwy. Prescott 928.277.0334 www.basised.com/prescott
Canyon View Prep Academy High School 9030 E. Florenti ne Rd. Prescott Valley 928.775.5115 www.canyonview-prep.org
Franklin Phoneti c Primary School K-8 6116 E. Hwy. 69 Prescott Valley 928.775.6747 www.franklinphoneti cschool.com
La Tierra Community School K-7 124 N. Virginia St. Prescott 928.445.5100 www.lati erracommunityschool.org
Mingus Springs Charter School K-8 3600 N. Sunset Dr. Chino Valley 928.636.4766 www.mingusspringsschool.org
Mountain Oak School Preschool-8th Grade 1455 Willow Creek Rd., Prescott 928.541.7700 www.mountainoakschool.org
Northpoint Expediti onary Learning Academy High School 551 1st St., Prescott 928.717.3272 www.northpointacademy.org
Park View Schools Middle School 9030 E. Florenti ne Rd. Prescott Valley 928.775.5115 www.parkviewschool.org
PACE Preparatory Academy High School 6711 E. 2nd St. Prescott Valley 928.775.9675 www.paceacademy.com
Prescott Valley School K-8 9500 E. Lorna Ln. Prescott Valley 928.772.8744 www.pvschool Skyview School K-8 125 S. Rush St. Prescott 928.776.1730 www.skyviewschool.org
Tri-City College Prep High School 5th-12th 5522 Side Rd. Prescott 928.777.0403 www.tricityprep.org
Willow Creek Charter School K-8 2100 Willow Creek Rd. Prescott 928.776.1212 www.willowcreekcharter.com
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
ASCEND School K-12 special educati on 3021 Centerpointe East Dr. Prescott 928.443.9290 www.azauti smascend.org
Orme School High School 1000 E. Orme School Rd. Mayer 928.632.7601 www.ormeschool.org
Prescott Adventi st Christi an School K-8 2980 Willow Creek Rd. Prescott 928.224.8022 www.prescott adventi stchristi an school.com
Primavera School Preschool-5th Grade 1446 Moyer Rd. Prescott 928.445.5382 www.primaveraschool.org
Sacred Heart Catholic School Preschool-8th Grade 131 N. Summit Ave. Prescott 928.445.2621 sacredhearteducati on.com
Trinity Christi an School K-12 1212 Warrior Way Prescott 928.445.6306 trinitychristi anaz.com
EIGHTH-GRADERS Design, Construct, Donate Doghouse
submitted by Yavapai College
It was “all about the dogs” when a group of eighthgraders from Cottonwood Community School rolled up their sleeves to design and construct a doghouse for the Verde Valley Humane Society.
The students, participants in a career and technical education (CTE) program at the Yavapai College Verde Valley Campus, learned basic carpentry and plumbing from YC instructor Aaron Rodriguez over the course of 3½ weeks.
Viola, a custom, 2-by-4foot, insulated, taupecolored doghouse.
“Everything that we did, we discussed and considered how the dogs would feel about it,” Rodriguez said, explaining that the house’s 10inch roof overhang was designed to off er outdoor shade. An above-thefl oor door opening was incorporated to keep the dwelling spider-free.
Beyond comfort, Rodriguez said students “really wanted the doghouse to look nice.”
It was delivered to the VVHS March 1. Along with the construction team, on hand for a ribbon cutting were YC Verde Valley Campus Dean Dr. Tina Redd, CCS Principal Matt Schumacher, CCS Academic Coach Amy Romero, VVHS Board Chair Alice Klies and VVHS canine resident, “Abraham.”
Klies said the nonprofi t organization plans to erect a sign acknowledging the YC/CCS partnership and “to recognize the kids.” The donation is meaningful because of the community eff ort behind it, she said. “We’re thrilled to be a part of anything the community can do.”
Schumacher and Romero also lauded the partnership with YC that gives their students career exploration opportunities.
“The idea is to foster an interest, spark a curiosity and put them on a path to rewarding careers,” Schumacher said.
The student builders said they enjoyed the construction segment, especially learning to operate skill saws and nail guns. Several students said they plan to continue taking construction courses in high school.
Past and future careertraining explorations for CCS students at YC include law enforcement, culinary, horticulture and nursing programs. The CTE partnership between YC and CCS is groundbreaking for both schools.
“We know it’s life changing. We know hands-on experiences will resonate with these students for years to come,” said Redd, noting that eighth grade is a “formative” year in which a lot of decision-making about the future happens.
Additional partnerships may be forged in the future to make YC career education programs available to more students in the Verde Valley, Redd said.
Miss Alpert Goes to Washington
by Ray Newton
Home-schooled sixth-grader Aliyah Alpert spelled “foudroyant” correctly in the state’s spelling bee March 19, beating out 26 students by the 19th round. Next stop Washington, D.C., for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Hosted by LeVar Burton, the June competition will debut on ION, Bounce and Laff and be available on cable and streaming for the semifi nals June 1 and fi nals June 2.
The 11-year-old Prescott student Prescott student was fresh off her fourth straight win in the 76th annual Yavapai County Spelling Bee Feb. 5 where she spelled “lumbar” correctly.
The county competition was held at the Camp Verde Middle School and went 17 rounds.
The runner-up was Alex Boes from Camp Verde Middle School; third place went to Andrew James Good of Granite Mountain School, Prescott; and fourth place to Sawyer Frank of Franklin Phonetic School, Prescott Valley.
Dozens of fellow students, parents, friends and observers watched as the county 20 competitors ranging from grades 2 through 8 battled through round after round of spelling words selected from an unabridged dictionary.
The students represented public, charter, private and in some cases, home-schooled students, from throughout the county. Afterward, the diminutive winner, dressed in her favorite yellow dress decorated with bumblebees, said, “It feels great, but honest, I’m kind of relieved for I felt a little pressure. I just hope I can study hard enough to win the state bee and achieve my ultimate goal of getting into the semifi nals of the national bee.”
Seems fi tting that her winning word in the state contest means: “thundering, dazzling or stunning.”
Aliyah’s parents, Mark and Brenda Alpert, said Aliyah and her twin brother Jacob have always been great students and good readers. Aliyah also speaks fl uent Spanish. Beyond that, she reads incessantly and plays the violin and loves bluegrass music. She wants to be an exotic animal veterinarian. Both Aliyah and her brother have completed their fi rst years of algebra and geometry. Both also have taken fl ying lessons.
“Cyber-technology has not yet replaced one of the fundamental skills youngsters learn when they are in elementary school,” said Tim Carter, Yavapai County Superintendent of Education and a past president of the Arizona State Board of Education.
Carter and colleagues from the Yavapai County Education Service Agency coordinated the competition. They included Jennifer Nelson, elections coordinator; Tara O’Neil, pronouncer; and Jennifer Miller, Ray Newton and Karen Otis, judges.
Winning county students received cash prizes, plaques and embossed metal medallions on a neck ribbon.
Alpert family from left: Mark, Jacob, Aliyah and Brenda .
Education Direct y
Highlight your school to the community with an ad in our Education Section. The section will run in every issue of Prescott LIVING magazine and will include a directory with your school’s logo and name in bold. The education section in every issue is sponsored by a local company that puts a high value on education.
GET THE MOST Out of Studying
by Christia Gibbons
Learning how to study not only will help you score better in school, but the organization, time management, prioritization, analyzing, problemsolving and self-discipline involved in studying eff ectively paves the road for your life’s journey.
In the simplest of terms: • Eat well and get plenty of rest. • Schedule study time; set goals for each session. • Find a good place to study. • Minimize distraction (turn off that photo). • Study regularly. • Write important things down. • Quiz yourself. • Use memory tricks. • Space out study sessions. • Study with a group; express ideas on your own words. • Ask for help.
But also know what kind of learner you are so you can mesh good habits with your personal style.
VISUAL LEARNER
As a visual learner, you may have diffi culty with spoken directions, overreact to sounds, have trouble following lectures, and you may misinterpret words. So you learn by:
• Using graphics, fi lms, slides, illustrations and diagrams. • Color coding your notes. • Using fl ow charts and diagrams for notetaking. • Visualizing the spelling of word of facts to be memorized.
AUDITORY LEARNERS
This type of learner needs to hear something to know it and can have diffi culty with written direction. An auditory learner may have diffi culty reading and may not interpret body language and facial expressions well. To learn, they should: • Use tapes for reading, class and lecture notes. • Interview people or participate in discussions. • Have test questions or directions read aloud or put on tape.
KINESTHETIC LEARNERS
These are hands-on learners who can assemble parts without directions. They learn better when physical activity is involve and likely are well coordinated. Their study habits should incorporate:
• Making models, doing lab work, maybe role playing. • Taking frequent breaks while studying. • Using a computer to reinforce learning through a sense of touch. • Memorizing while walking or exercising.
“An investment in knowledge pays th e best
interest.” —Benjamin Franklin
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 Prescott LIVING Magazine, the Education Section! The section appears in every bi-monthlyissue including a complete directory, local articles and messages from local schools to help you decide what best suits your personal or family needs.
A special th ank you goes out to Guidance Helicopters, Inc. for sponsor ship of th e Education Section! Because of th eir gener� ity, we are able to bring you mor e infor mation from our local sch� ls.
Leaders at the Arizona Wild re & Incident Management Academy conducted 47 classes in training re ghting practicalities and procedures to use when ghting wild res. e academy was March 12-17 on the ERAU campus in Prescott.
U.S. Fire ghters Trained for Wild res at ERAU
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s (ERAU) Prescott campus welcomed hundreds of re ghters from throughout the country to the Arizona Wild re & Incident Management Academy March 12 to March 17 for an intensive week of training and education.
It marked the 20th anniversary for academy to use the campus during spring break. e academy is considered the premier program nationally in quality and innovative wildland re and all-hazard incident management training.
An estimated 960 from 21 states have enrolled in the 45 courses o ered.
Academy Incident Commander P.J. Lingley said a major challenge was to put a “laser focus on development of competent, capable and safe people in the face of challenges from ever-increasing wild res and other natural disasters in our country.”
Lingley has more than 20 years of wild re management experience and 19 years as an academy instructor.
He underscored a report from the United Nations Environment Program that said the warming planet and climate change had increased worldwide, especially in the U.S., northern Siberia and eastern Australia. e report warned that catastrophic wild res could increase by a third by 2050.
Curtis James, ERAU professor of meteorology, explained that periods of extended drought and climate warming these past several decades have resulted in increases in the number and size of wild res in Arizona and other states.
ERAU Chancellor Anette Karlsson said the university made every e ort to accommodate hundreds of persons to campus and classrooms. She noted visitors had arrived at a prime time of year and had a signi cant impact upon the local economy and “enjoyed our local campus and community just as spring is arriving.”
In addition to ERAU, the academy received signi cant support from several professional organizations, among them Arizona Public Service, Captain CrossFit and State Farm Insurance. e 2021 academy was canceled because of COVID-19. Instead, smaller and remote learning experiences were used.
More details are available at www. azwild reacademy.org.
ERAU Pilot Training Lauded as Superior
Commercial airline pilot shortages are growing larger every month. However, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityPrescott (ERAU) is making national and international headlines as a premier ight training program meeting industry needs. e global pilot shortage, coupled with planned expansion at ERAU, has created what the Arizona Department of Transportation 2021 Aviation Economic Impact Study (AEIS) executive summary issued at the end of the year called “one of the largest aviation training programs in the country.”
ERAU president Barry Butler recently said, “Our ERAU program is a top place for the industry to go to recruit talent. We’re truly pleased the professional world recognizes Prescott as the go-to campus for the best professional pilot recruits in the country.”
ERAU Chancellor Anette Karlsson echoed Butler, saying, “Airlines are contacting our ight training program and its instructors routinely because once they get their training here, they are hired immediately by the major carriers in the country.”
Tim Holt, Dean-College of Aviation, said the university has set the “gold standard for excellence in pilot training.”
“American carriers are coming to ERAU for pilots because they know our students have some of the soundest, most professional training of any in the world.” e university recently added 35 new planes to its training eet and anticipates adding more, Holt said.
Prescott Mayor Phil Goode told the annual Prescott Chamber of Commerce meeting attendees that he viewed ERAU as a “critically strong factor in the community’s economy, especially because of its positive impact on the Prescott Regional Airport (PRC). PRC would not be what it is today — the state’s 3rd busiest — if it weren’t for ERAU.”
Stories by Ray Newton e Prescott Pioneer
YC Nursing Program Impacts County Health Care
e nursing program at Yavapai College (YC) is achieving high recognition throughout the county and state.
Equally signi cant, the program is helping meet a critical nursing shortage in Arizona hospitals. As recently as January, Arizona ranked among the country’s 10 worst states in terms of hospitals having critical sta ng issues, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Nursing program recognition springs from: • Reaccreditation of the YC associate of nursing program. • Growth of nursing student scholarships in the YC foundation to more than $2.5 million. • Continuing increase of doctoral and other graduate degrees among faculty. • Dec. 10 mid-year pinning and graduation of 39 student nurses.
Dr. Marylou Mercado, YC Nursing Program Director, said nursing is taught on two campuses — one in Prescott with 129 students and one in the Verde Valley with 77 students. Collectively, the faculty includes 13 full time, three adjunct and one part-time member. Faculty share teaching responsibilities and travel from campus to campus.
Nursing program content is the same at each campus. “It is approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and accredited by the ACEN,” Mercado said.
Lisa Rhine, president of Yavapai College, said, “YC strives to provide an extraordinary training program to aspiring nurses. I am proud of the impact our nursing students have. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many things changed, these students persevered to complete their education and reach their goals.”
Yavapai County Community Health Services Director Leslie Horton also praised the program.
“We are fortunate to have a highquality nursing program here in Yavapai County. Because of strains on health care caused by the pandemic, and the shortage of health care workers nationally, it is more important than ever to have a quality nursing program that educates and equips local residents who want nursing degrees.”
She added, “Nurses are imperative to the future of Yavapai County. anks to Yavapai College and its nursing program, we are able to develop, educate and employ nurses locally who sustained health care during the pandemic — and we hope for years to come.”
Demand for nurses increasing
Data from the U.S. Department of Labor indicates employment prospects for nurses will increase, especially as the current workforce retires. Demand for nurses will likely grow by at least 7% annually — higher than growth for most other professions.
Presently, the YC program requires 24 months — sequential semesters excluding summer months. e program starts in fall and spring. Students must complete 28 credit hours of prerequisite and co-requisite courses and then earn 40.5 credits of nursing program core courses. Completion of such work leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing. e program is accepting 50 new students each spring and fall semester.
Mercado emphasized success rates for employment had been exceptional: “In 2020, our graduating employment placement was 90%.”
