Congratulations to the April SUPER Kids and SUPER Staff

It was a privilege last week to surprise the April 2024 SUPER Kids and SUPER Staff at Cholla Middle School, Lakeview Elementary School, Sahuaro Elementary School and Shaw Butte Elementary School, as well as additional SUPER Staff at the WESD Administrative Center. I was glad to thank them for their achievements and contributions with certificates, awards and gift cards.

SUPER Kids serves as an opportunity to celebrate students that do not always get recognized while SUPER Staff is a chance to honor some of the unsung heroes of the district who make an incredible difference.

Congratulations to all of the deserving recipients. To view more photos of the April 2024 SUPER Kids and SUPER Staff, please click here.

Chaparral, Desert Foothills and Lookout Mountain Share Highlights at April 25th Governing Board Meeting

At the beginning of the school year, the WESD Governing Board set a goal to have each school attend a Board meeting and share what makes them special. During the April 25th Board Meeting, another group of schools highlighted their programs, activities and campuses including Chaparral Elementary School, Desert Foothills Junior High School and Lookout Mountain Elementary School. Each school was introduced by their Administrative Coach, Carol Patterson.

To watch the schools' shared highlights on YouTube, please click here.

WESD Recognizes Softball Champions and Track and Field Medal Winners

Congratulations to the Lady Eagles at Mountain Sky Junior High School who won the Middle School Softball Championship. We also want to congratulate all of our student athletes who medaled in the Middle School Track and Field Meet. Hundreds of students competed in a variety of speed, strength and distance events. To view a complete list of winners, please click here.

A special thank you to all of the coaches, umpires, volunteers and families for their support throughout the seasons. We appreciate all of our student athletes who modeled sportsmanship and teamwork, and are proud of their excellent play and endurance.

WESD Seeks Feedback on Science Curriculum Materials

The WESD is in the process of reviewing and adopting science materials to support teachers with instruction that is aligned to the K-8 state standards. The standards are based on three core ideas for knowing science: physical science, Earth and space science and life science. Additionally, the materials will address the science and engineering practices that provide students with authentic science experiences such as constructing explanations, planning investigations and developing models to make sense of the core ideas of science.

You are invited to provide feedback on these materials during our community display now through July 8th from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the WESD Administrative Center, located at 4650 W. Sweetwater Ave. The Science Curriculum Adoption Committee is also hosting open houses on May 17th, May 29th and June 17th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Governing Board Room at the Admin. Center. Committee members will be present at the open houses to answer questions about the materials. Spanish and Arabic translators will also be on-site at each of the open houses. We appreciate your support.

Attend Our Final School Finance Presentation

In an effort to share more with our community and be transparent, the WESD Business Services Department is hosting its final School Finance Presentation on Monday, May 13th, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the gym at Mountain Sky Junior High School, located at 16225 N. 7th Ave. All elementary, K-8 and middle school families are invited. The presentation will cover topics related to K-12 funding in Arizona, such as where the funding for school budgets comes from, how budget limits are determined, how the WESD spends these funds, and how factors in the state effect the WESD.

If you are unable to attend the presentation in person, please click here to watch the livestream on YouTube. For questions, please email Daniel.Obrien@wesdschools.org.

Let the WESD Help You Become a Teacher

If you are interested in becoming a teacher and have a bachelor’s degree in an area other than education, the WESD has a special opportunity just for you. Please join us for our BRIDGE Meeting on Wednesday, May 15th, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Governing Board Room at the WESD Administrative Center. During the meeting, the BRIDGE team and Human Resources representatives will provide information about our free program that can help you earn your teacher certification while working as a full-time teacher. To RSVP, please call 602-347-2622 or email Teach@wesdschools.org.

Work for the WESD

Experience the WESD difference at our upcoming Teacher Interview Fair on Thursday, May 16th, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the WESD Administrative Center. We are currently hiring elementary, middle and special education teachers, as well as a teacher of hearing impaired, speech language pathologist and an occupational therapist.

Our District offers competitive teacher salaries of $53,000-$83,950 (including $3,000 approx. for performance pay), student loan forgiveness, multi-layer teacher support, professional development, school-age child care discounts, a wellness program and an Employee Assistance Plan, medical, dental and vision benefits, employer-matched contributions to Arizona State Retirement and much more. Additionally, the WESD offers a salary range of $71,000-$93,000 for speech language pathologists and occupational therapists.

Please share this opportunity with your friends, family and neighbors who are looking for meaningful work in one of our public schools. Those interested can preschedule an interview by calling 602-347-2622 or emailing Teach@wesdschools.org.