10 / 20
10 |
CANYON CORRIDOR CONNECTION
A
LHAMBRA HIGH SCHOOL is an
important link in the education
pipeline from kindergarten to
college here in the Canyon Corridor. The
quality of our teachers, the outreach of our
students and the responsiveness to relevant
career fields are three areas where Alhambra
connects to the community.
I am so proud of several of our teachers
who have earned their National Board
Certification (NBC), or are working toward
that coveted distinction.
Considered the teaching
profession’s highest honor, it
is presented by the National
Board for Professional
Teaching Standards to
teachers who demonstrate,
through a performance
assessment, that they meet
the high and rigorous standards for what
accomplished teachers should know and be
able to do. Last year, we had three teachers
earn certification: Cynthia Maher, English
language learning; Christina Yoder, art; and
Sue Wright, art.
We have had three cohorts of teachers
working with the Arizona K-12 Center to
prepare for National Board Certification,
coached by a former Phoenix Union High
School District student and NBC teacher,
Alaina Adams. Last year, we had six
teachers work toward certification. This
year, that group has grown to 10.
This summer, we were fortunate
enough to hire two more NBC teachers:
Ricardo Borunda, math, and Jennifer
DiNello, counseling. What is so rewarding
is the momentum and motivation for
professional improvement among our
teachers. They want to learn and excel.
They are ref lecting on instruction and
focusing on what and how students
are learning, rather than just on how
teachers are teaching. The development
of our teaching staff has led to quality
professional learning communities (PLCs)
and an intentional, collective striving
to be the best. It is showing results, as
Alhambra has gained more “growth”
points than any other school in the
district in the state’s annual Letter Grade
Accountability system over the last three
years. We know that quality teachers are
the single most important determiner of
student success, and we are building a
formidable team of champion instructors.
We have enjoyed some wonderful programs
with our neighbor, Grand Canyon University,
such as free after-school tutoring at GCU’s
Learning Lounge, conducted by college
students. Our students are following in the
footsteps of those college tutors by going
to our partner schools in the Alhambra
Elementary School District and helping
middle school students with math, reading,
writing and science. Our top juniors and
seniors are recommended by their teachers,
and they are going to Andalucia Middle
School and Granada East Middle School in
the mornings of our late start days to work
with sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. The
high school students are trained by the middle
school teachers and provide tutoring during
intervention times.
Another area in which Alhambra High
School is connecting the dots with its partner
elementary district and the university is
in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM). Alhambra Elementary
School has a solid STEM initiative led by a
STEM director. We are continuing the STEM
movement through high school and we have
a perfect, relevant magnet program to do
that: our medical and health studies magnet.
Health careers count on individuals proficient
in STEM, and our magnet is a terrific resource
to connect different disciplines across the
curriculum. Teaching math, science and
technology through a medical and health lens
makes the instruction relevant, tangible and
career-focused.
With the collective resources, expertise and
the goals of Alhambra Elementary School and
Alhambra High School, we hope to produce a
new generation of health professionals.
■
Claudio Coria, Principal
Alhambra High School
3839 W. Camelback Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85019
[email protected]Alhambra High School Update:
Claudio Coria, Principal Alhambra H.S.
Claudio Coria,
Principal
Educat ion
Team supporting the National Board Certification Process: Jennifer DiNello,
Ricardo Borunda, Cynthia Maher, Terrie Phillips, Marry Wimmer, Christina
Yoder and Claudio Coria
Amy Marlin, Science, Medical Magnet teacher
and Judy Delph, Biology, Science teacher