YUMA, AZ, Oct. 7, 2020 – Pueblo Elementary School, part of the Crane Elementary School District – has earned the prestigious Arizona Educational Foundation A+ School of Excellence Award.  They are among 44 other Arizona schools to receive this annual recognition for excellence in education. 

 

Schools must apply for consideration of this award. They can retain the A+ School of Excellence designation for four years if they remain an “A” or “B” school and continue to exhibit the exceptional qualities that are the hallmark of A+ Schools. Pueblo joins another Crane School in this distinction; Gowan Science Academy was named an A+ School in 2019. 

 

This is the first time that Pueblo Elementary School has applied for the award, and their first time receiving it. Pueblo Principal Bobbie Henry shared the idea of applying with her team leaders because she was aware that the application process was rigorous, and she wanted to ensure that everyone was committed to taking on the task. Evaluation of schools is based on a written application submitted by the school and a site visit conducted by a team of trained judges chosen by the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF). During a school’s site visit, the judges will observe all classrooms; meet with students, staff, parents, and community members; interview individuals; meet with school leadership; and review documentation. Schools are evaluated in areas such as school culture, leadership, assessment data, and community involvement.

 

Pueblo Elementary School provides several programs to ensure academic success including the Kagan Cooperative Learning Program which trains teachers to have meaningful collaboration with students in all grade levels. They also participate in the Kids at Hope philosophy and belief that all children are capable of success. The school participates in the Gowan Achievement Program (GAP) for high achieving 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade students, and they provide their students with learning and enrichment opportunities in the form of their 21^st Century Community Learning Centers and FIRST Lego League. 

 

Principal Henry is thrilled to be able to celebrate this achievement with the community. “The Arizona Educational Foundation’s Award for A+ School of Excellence means the world to me because it is a validation of the hours of work, the effort, and the heart and soul that every Pueblo staff member puts into doing what is best for children every single day. This award is all the more important because the judges that visit and help make the decisions of who should receive this award are other principals and educators across our state who know what quality teaching and learning looks like.” 

 

According to Principal Henry, this good news could not come at a better time. “Our school staff, students and families are working harder than ever to meet the demands of what learning looks like in a pandemic, so it feels good to be able to recognize the exceptional job our school is doing.”

 

###