Month: March 2018

Legacy Teacher Inspires Life-Long Learners

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Post date March 26, 2018

Julie Wesley, of Legacy Traditional School Peoria, spoke to the House Education Committee on March 19.

By Julie Wesley, Legacy Traditional School Peoria Teacher

I have had the pleasure of teaching Arizona students as a certified teacher for the past seven years. During that time, I’ve exclusively worked in public charter schools, including the last two years at Legacy Traditional School Peoria.

I am so proud to be part of the Legacy family. Legacy is a highly rated school, and one of the fastest growing charters in the state. Every day, public charter schools offer children in our communities the chance for a strong education.

At Legacy, we take a back-to-basics approach and teach through a rigorous curriculum. We do so to try and bring out the very best in our students.

So in order to help students be successful with a rigorous classroom setting, we start by building connections with our students and families. The key to student success is a strong community. This approach enables our school to be involved and invested in our students, which makes them more engaged and more successful in their academics.

It may not always be the easiest job, but teaching is, without a doubt, one of the most rewarding. I teach because in doing so, I receive great rewards. Each day I get to go to work and make a difference in the lives of children. That fact fills me with satisfaction and purpose.

Press Releases

Association Commends Lawmakers on Extension of Prop 301

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Post date March 23, 2018

Statement from Arizona Charter Schools Association President and CEO Eileen Sigmund:

“The Arizona Charter Schools Association commends the legislature for its bipartisan passage of legislation that will extend the Prop. 301 education-funding sales tax passed by Arizona voters in 2000.

“The 20-year extension of Prop 301, which otherwise would have expired in June 2021, cements into statute a vital funding stream that drives more than $640 million into public education every year – with the lion’s share going directly into Arizona K-12 schools to support teachers’ salaries and classroom operations.

“The overwhelming approval of this legislation by both parties is an encouraging example of what’s possible when our state’s leaders work together to find solutions and prioritize what matters. We thank bill sponsors Rep. Coleman and Sen. Brophy-McGee, as well as Speaker Mesnard and President Yarbrough, for championing this important effort in the legislature. We’re also grateful to Gov. Ducey for his support and leadership on this issue, and to all of the lawmakers who voted to protect and secure critical dollars for Arizona schools, teachers and students.”

Association Blog Charters Changing Lives

Parents Bring Charter School Dream to Fruition

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Post date March 22, 2018

By Jamar Younger

The vision for Adams Traditional Academy began at a kitchen table with a group of parents who wanted to incorporate some of their own ideas into starting a charter school.

The parents drew from their wide array of backgrounds and their belief in traditional education to set the foundation for the public charter school’s approach and philosophy.

These parents believed that students could accomplish the extraordinary if they mastered the basics.

That means if the school integrated phonics, civics, history, cursive writing and Latin with art and science, it could spark their creativity.

Nearly a decade later, Adams Traditional, has grown into an A-rated K-8 school and one of the top public schools in the state.

Association Blog

Charter Educators Share Classroom Stories with State Lawmakers

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Post date March 22, 2018

Julia Meyerson, founder and executive director of Vista College Prep, speaks to the Senate Education Committee on March 8.

By Jamar Younger

As the fastest growing sector in public education, charter schools are meeting the needs of an increasing number of Arizona students and families.

With this growing presence, state lawmakers have taken an increased interest in hearing stories from charter teachers who are passionate about their work in the classroom. Dozens of charter teachers have shared their stories with legislators at the Capitol in recent years.

Press Releases

Charter Association Supports Safe Schools

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Post date March 20, 2018

Statement from Arizona Charter Schools Association President and CEO Eileen Sigmund:

“Every Arizona student has a right to feel safe in school. That’s why we commend Governor Doug Ducey for his leadership in tackling this difficult but urgent issue.

“The Governor’s school-safety plan would increase investments in mental and behavioral-health resources; create a central tip line for potential threats; improve background checks; increase law enforcement presence on school grounds; and create a new tool to help keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous or disturbed individuals.

“We look forward to learning more details as this package of legislation is introduced, but the Governor’s plan represents a thoughtful, significant step forward to improve school safety.

“On behalf of the approximately 550 public charter schools serving 185,000 students across Arizona, the Arizona Charter Schools Association stands ready to work with Governor Ducey, members of his staff and legislators to address this important issue.”

Association Blog

Charter Schools Provide Choice for Students Across Arizona

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Post date March 15, 2018

By Megan Gilbertson

As public charter schools continue to expand here in Arizona, more students are able to access the quality choice offered by these innovative schools.

Our data gurus Kelly Powell and Eric Berschback here at the Association painstakingly verified addresses for every school district campus and public charter school in Arizona. Using the most accurate data available, the team geocoded addresses into latitude and longitude coordinates and connected those to files that map each school to Arizona legislative districts.

What they found was impressive.

No matter where you live in Arizona, students have access to public charter schools.

Association Blog

Pioneer Prep teacher motivated by love, growth of her students

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Post date March 6, 2018

Bonnie Weppner shows a photo of her kindergarten students to House Education Committee members on March 5.

By Bonnie Weppner, Pioneer Preparatory School Teacher

I started my career 44 years ago teaching kindergarten to recent immigrant students, including the children of migrant farm workers, who had previously not been allowed to attend public schools in Texas. It’s amazing to me that my first kindergarten students are now 49 years old!

My career has come full circle, as I am now teaching kindergarten to English Language Learner students of immigrant families in Arizona.

I continue to be motivated by the excitement and the daunting responsibility of being the first contact with formal education for my students! I am honored to introduce my Spanish-speaking scholars and families to the excitement of learning and growing in ways they could never have imagined, which is exactly what they tell me every year at kindergarten graduation. In turn, they present me with opportunities to grow every day in my teaching skills, and to love this profession even more!