After three years with no raises, teachers at Mesa Public Schools, the state's largest school district, will get a 2.2 percent salary increase next school year. "This is a significant event - over the last few years we have cut tens of millions of dollars from our budget and have not been able to provide raises," said Superintendent Michael Cowan. "This year we will not be making cuts." The raises, approved Tuesday by the district governing board, will also go to librarians, school nurses and others who hold state certificates. Non-certified workers and district adminstrators will get 2 percent increases under the 2012-2013 salary plan. The district has more than 10,000 full-time employees, about 3,000 of whom are teachers. Teachers will get the extra 0.2 ... Continue reading →
MPS provides free summer breakfast, lunch Posted by Lynda Jordan on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 3:23 PM (MST) The program begins soon at 60 sites. The Summer Meal Program is free for all children 18 and under. Adults may buy breakfast for $1.25 and lunch for $3. Don't go hungry this summer. Enjoy friends, fun and free food!This summer, Mesa Public Schools will offer breakfast and lunch at 45 campuses, and lunch at 12 parks, two recreation centers and a church. All meals are free for everyone 18 years of age and younger. Adults may buy breakfast for $1.25 and lunch for $3. The program begins June 4 at most sites and as early as May 29 at others. Ending dates also vary from ... Continue reading →
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MPS wins What Parents Want Award Posted by Lynda Jordan on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 3:47 PM (MST) SchoolMatch is honoring Mesa Public Schools with the 2012 What Parents Want Award. Only 16 percent of the nation's schools were recognized for meeting the needs of families.Only 16 percent of the nation's 15,571 public school districts (2,437) have been recognized for meeting the needs of families choosing schools. The nation's largest school selection consulting firm, SchoolMatch® of Columbus, Ohio, announced the 21st annual awards in a recent letter to state school leadership associations and state department of education superintendents. Award criteria . . . . . . A close match to what SchoolMatch® users most often request. Compilation of over 97,000 parent questionnaires completed by ... Continue reading →
Mykella Jones named Special Ed Student of the Year Posted by Lynda Jordan on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 3:04 PM (MST) Mykella, who is profoundly deaf, is in the International Baccalaureate program at Westwood High. Ranked fifth in the senior class, Mykella has netted $236,500 in scholarship offers. Awards ceremony videoList of all award winners Mykella Jones is the 2012 MPS Special Education Student of the Year. Each year, MPS honors special education students for outstanding achievement. Students, teachers, support staff, principals and businesses are honored for exemplary service to students with disabilities. Excerpts from Mykella's tribute Mykella is self-motivated and tenacious. Her hearing impairment doesn't define her. And it doesn't affect her academic success. Mykella and her teachers arrange for appropriate seating and ... Continue reading →
More on this topic 2012 graduating classes at Mesa high schools Dobson High School Graduates: 605. Students going to four-year colleges: 206. Students going to two-year colleges and trade schools: 333. Students going into the military: 36. Top five graduates: Daniel Angell, Carolyn Malone, Shawn Garrett, Hannah Herrick and Brianna Fabiano. National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist: Garrett Foster. Questbridge Scholarship: Flor Flores. Arizona State University Leadership Scholarship: Justin Maenner. Mesa High School Graduates: 710. Students going to four-year colleges: 156. Students going to two-year colleges and trade schools: 320. Top five graduates: Thomas Durrant, Joseph Pyper, Morgan Goff, Jason Larson and Miles Meek. Mountain View High School Graduates: 703. Students going to four-year colleges: 281. Students going to two-year colleges and trade schools: 246. Top five ... Continue reading →
School districts are reporting millions of dollars in scholarships earned this year by seniors who will be graduating this week, or in Chandler's case, next week. Higley Unified School District reported more than $9 million in scholarships so far for seniors at its two high schools, while Gilbert Public Schools seniors at its six high schools have racked up close to $54.5 million. Mesa Public Schools seniors so far have been offered $80.5 million in scholarships this spring -- about 10 percent more than students in the state's largest school district were offered a year ago. Here's a look at a few of this year's Southeast Valley scholarship stars, based partly on information obtained from school districts at The Republic's request. Loading list... Ahwatukee Cameron ... Continue reading →
Mesa Public Schools music teacher Cathy Shepherd was named 2012 Mother of the Year by the Arizona Association of American Mothers, a chapter of a national non-profit organization. But the 61-year-old mother of seven and grandmother of 15 is not a big fan of Mother's Day. "I don't like to be singled out and don't feel like the best mother all the time," she said. A lifelong resident of Mesa, Shepherd stays busy sharing her passion for the piano with the next generation. She teaches classes part time at Mesa schools' Eagleridge Enrichment Program for home-schooled students and through her own business, Music for Tots. Question: How do you plan to spend Mother's Day this year and who will you celebrate with? Answer: On Mother's ... Continue reading →
