3-peat status: unlocked. 🏆🏆🏆
For the third year in a row, Tempe Elementary Schools has been voted the #️⃣1️⃣ Elementary School District by Ranking Arizona! We’re proud to serve this incredible community and grateful for your continued support.
Did you hear the news⁉️ Tempe Elementary Schools is #️⃣1️⃣!
For the second year in a row, Ranking Arizona has named our district as the #1 Elementary School District in the state! As a community voted poll, we are proud to serve the Tempe community and grateful for their ongoing support!
Learning came with a little extra shade at Joseph P. Spracale Elementary School ☀️🕶️
Representatives from Shade 'N Net visited campus for a hands-on presentation all about shade structures and the careers behind them. Students rotated through interactive stations where they explored:
☀️ UV Protection — why sun safety matters
☀️ Welding — how shade structures are built
☀️ Design — the materials, colors, and creativity behind each structure
Beyond the activities, students also gained insight into career pathways and the skills they can begin building now to support their future success. Experiences like these help connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities!
Sending your child to kindergarten for the first time can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Hear directly from families about their experiences and what made them feel confident choosing Tempe Elementary Schools.
Learn more about the kindergarten journey and enroll today at tempeschools.org/kinder.
The East Valley Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children recently celebrated members from TD3 for their support of the Special Education community.
Congratulations to these deserving individuals for their recognition:
⭐ Outstanding Exceptional Student: Ivan Mercado-Aguayo, Frank Elementary
⭐ Distinguished Service: Lauren Woodard, Fuller Elementary
⭐ Outstanding Support Personnel: Valeria Quiroz Alvarez, District Office
🎶 Hakuna matata! What a wonderful phrase! 🎶
Meyer Montessori transformed into the Pride Rock savanna recently for a student production of The Lion King. A standing ovation for the impressive student performances and direction from teachers Vanessa Johnson and Liz Patronik.
LIVE in 3…2…1… 🎥
Students at Broadmor Elementary recently stepped into the spotlight through the ABC15 Arizona Kidcasters program. Following an assembly led by meteorologist Jorge Torres, students learned what it takes to deliver a weather forecast before taking their turn on camera.
Then student council members put their new skills to the test by recording their own segments, introducing themselves and sharing the day’s high temperature like true TV reporters.
🔗 Check out the feature with Principal Lisa Malicke at the link in our bio and keep your eyes out for future student weather reports from our amazing Broadmor Bobcats!
Kindergarten is more than learning ABCs and 123s — it’s often a child’s first big step toward independence. 🍎✏️
From opening lunch items on their own to getting comfortable in new environments and making friends, Fuller Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Jordan Beddo shares simple ways families can help prepare their child for a successful start to school.
🎒 Kindergarten enrollment for the 2026–27 school year is now open! Find your family’s school home and learn more at tempeschools.org/kinder.
In this edition of #Immersive9OnThe9s, we’re stepping inside the Makerspace at Arredondo, where third graders are exploring micro:bit-powered robotics.
As they learn to code lights and motors, students are designing imaginative hybrid animals and insects, then coding them to move and come alive.
This kind of learning goes beyond a single right answer. It gives students multiple ways to show what they know, extend their thinking, and connect their learning to their passions.
At The Immersive 9 at the Arredondo Campus, experiences like this are intentionally designed to meet the unique needs of gifted learners, allowing students to dive deeper, think critically, and create with purpose.
Learn more, schedule a tour, or apply for the 2026–2027 school year at tempeschools.org/immersive9.
Some say the way to the heart is through the stomach, and Connolly Middle School culinary students delivered. 🌮
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, they prepared a taco bar lunch for their teachers, serving up gratitude one plate at a time.
Last night, we celebrated 15 incredible finalists representing Tempe Elementary Schools at the 37th annual Tempe Diablos Charities Charities Excellence in Education Awards! It was an inspiring night of honoring the passion, dedication, and impact of our well-deserving educators and staff.
Congratulations to this year's winners! (Drumroll 🥁...)
⭐ Teacher of the Year: Haley ten Hope, Curry Elementary
⭐ Inspiration: Magdalena Lawrence, Getz School
⭐ Class Act: Pamela Latham, Curry Elementary
⭐ Leadership: Christina Culbertson, District Office
⭐ High Impact: Kaitlin Dyal, Scales Technology Academy
⭐ Rising Star: Jillian McCormick, Scales Technology Academy
⭐ Lifetime Achievement: Carolyn Zimmerman, Rover Elementary
What a way to round out Teacher Appreciation Week! A special shout-out to ALL teachers for your ability to ignite curiosity and help students see their boundless potential!
A special visit, years in the making 💙 Recently, Tempe Elementary Schools Superintendent Dr. James Driscoll welcomed a very important guest to our district — his former eighth grade teacher, Sue Pretty, who traveled all the way from Michigan.
What followed was more than a visit. It was a full-circle moment. From walking campuses to sharing stories, it was clear that the connection they built years ago never faded. Dr. Driscoll credits Ms. Pretty as someone who “saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself,” encouraging him to step into leadership at a young age.
As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, this moment serves as a powerful reminder: the impact of a great teacher lasts a lifetime.
🔗 Read Dr. Driscoll’s reflection on the educator who helped shape his journey at the link in our bio.
