Arizona
Our Arizona Hub is led by the Arizona Rural Schools Association and the Northern Arizona University Rural Resource Center.
Arizona Rural Schools Association
The Arizona Rural Schools Association serves to advocate for and support districts across the state's rural and Indigenous communities, and as Arizona Regional Hub works in partnership with the Northern Arizona University Rural Resource Center. Dr. Jaime Festa-Daigle, President of ARSA and a rural school leader, serves as the Arizona Hub's primary contact.
The Arizona Rural Schools Association (ARSA) is focused on helping rural schools identify and meet their educational goals, improve communication between rural schools and policymakers, and coordinate the sharing of resources. Their partnership with RSC builds upon the existing good work in Arizona, including the Regional Policy Playbook project. ARSA also serves as the Arizona National Rural Education Association State-Affiliate.
ARSA also supports rural education across Arizona through the following initiatives:
A one-stop resource shop for rural school district leaders that features resources to assist leaders in their daily work
The Rural Education Leaders Community, a joint collaboration between ARSA, Grand Canyon University’s Canyon PD, and the California Small School Districts Association.
The Final Mile, a collaboration with ARSA, which aims to deliver dependable internet to every Arizona student
The GRAD Partnership, of which ARSA is a member of RSC's rural cohort.
The Rural Scoop Podcast, hosted in collaboration with ARSA and by Dr. Melissa Sadorf
Spotlight
Cultivating a culture of attendance at Paloma ESD
Facing unique challenges, Paloma Elementary School District in Arizona is using the GRAD Partnership to attain attendance milestones and foster an atmosphere of belonging
As the calendar turned from 2019 to 2020 in Paloma Elementary School District, there were many reasons for celebration. The district, which is about an hour and fifteen minutes southwest of Phoenix, had just opened a brand new school building (Kiser Elementary), and key attendance metrics such as chronic absenteeism were low, sitting at about 8%. What happened next is a story that unfurled across the country: the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted regular learning, plunged education into a chaotic scramble, and left school leaders like Paloma ESD Superintendent, Kristin Turner, playing a game of catch-up that continues to this day.
Read MoreMore news and stories from our Southwest Regional Hub:
Belonging in Rural Schools: Elevating Student Voice through the GRAD Partnership Storytelling Contest
Students across the national rural GRAD Partnership cohort share what connection, community, and support mean to them
Student Focused Solutions: Cultivating a culture of attendance at Paloma ESD
Facing unique challenges, Paloma Elementary School District in Arizona is using the GRAD Partnership to attain attendance milestones and foster an atmosphere of belonging
Restoring the Pride of Wellton: A New Chapter for Antelope Union High School
Antelope Union High School has significantly reduced chronic absenteeism and behavioral issues by pairing new academic requirements with a robust system of public recognition and support
Arizona School Leaders Share in Excitement for GRAD Partnership
Kristin Turner and Jaime Festa-Daigle, who lead RSC’s GRAD Partnership work in Arizona, share quotes from student success team leaders