Education

Learn about the women leading education in the Prescott area.
Embracing Innovation

Embracing Innovation

Kelsey Secor is no newcomer to Prescott Unified School District (PUSD). Initially hired in July 2008 as an educator, since 2022, she has embraced her newest evolving role as Director of Instructional Support. This role’s initiative is to support district leaders in keeping up with education trends and the latest research while providing meaningful and relevant professional development opportunities.

She said, “I’ve been a student, teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, principal, director, and parent — all within PUSD.” District life is not more all-encompassing than that, and Kelsey gives 100 percent in every role.

An Invaluable Learning Experience

An Invaluable Learning Experience

As the world’s leading higher education institution for aviation and aerospace, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University ensures its students acquire expert knowledge through faculty guidance, hands-on experience, and research.

 Embry-Riddle Summer Programs will offer these opportunities and more to pre-college teenagers considering a future in science, technology, flight, and beyond this summer.

“We are excited to welcome students to our Prescott Campus again,” said Summer Programs Manager Jenn Downing. “Whatever your interest, you will find the perfect mix of academics and camp fun waiting for you.”

It’s All in the Data

It’s All in the Data

Prescott Unified School District’s (PUSD) Testing Coordinator Rene Steingraber’s goal is to meet the district’s ever-changing proficiency testing and assessment needs. With that in mind, she assists educators, board members, and the public in understanding the data state testing provides through its assessment of students in grades three through 11.

“In the past, states did not have all of the proficiency testing expectations required by law today,” Rene said. “Over time, districts began seeing a need to better monitor the learning of all students.” 

Opportunities Abound

Opportunities Abound

During a Prescott Woman Magazine interview, Jamie Bjune said she looked forward to implementing a new grant program for indoor hydroponic gardens at Granite Mountain Middle School later that day. The Federal Programs Director for Prescott Unified School District (PUSD), Jamie and her team in the grants department said the hydroponic gardens grant serves as just one small example of the many grant opportunities available for PUSD students.

Find Your Spark

Find Your Spark

Carissa Maxwell is on a mission. Through her new young women’s program, Find Your Spark, the owner of Glow Realty aspires to empower girls and young women to explore who they are becoming and what they’re interested in by providing a platform to ignite curiosity.

The goal: for these young people, ages thirteen to twenty-five, to advocate for themselves and create intentional lives.

Setting Students Up for High School Success

Setting Students Up for High School Success

Michelle Hoop is the sole Counselor for Academic Achievement and Support serving all 553 students in grades seven and eight at Prescott Unified School District’s (PUSD) Mile High School. She said recently that she combats any challenges by making a priority of “seeing the students with the highest needs.” 

PHS Grad Georgia Harrington Heads to Juilliard in the Fall

PHS Grad Georgia Harrington Heads to Juilliard in the Fall

With an alum list boasting celebrities like Viola Davis, Val Kilmer and Jessica Chastain, it is with true Prescott Pride that one of our own shares her journey from dream to acceptance at one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the world: The Juilliard School. Georgia Harrington, a 2023 Prescott High School graduate, was accepted into Juilliard and will be majoring in acting there starting this fall.

Innovation Within Tradition

Innovation Within Tradition

The Margot Fonteyn Academy of Ballet and Fine Arts (MFAB) reopens its world headquarters this August in Prescott, having relocated from New York and survived COVID. Sometimes it’s not just a dancer, but an entire Academy, that picks itself up off the mat.

Celebrating Success for Each Child

Celebrating Success for Each Child

At Cedar Tree Montessori, learning is individualized, and the focus is on success.

Owned and operated by Debbie and Aly McMillan, the school, which just completed its 16th year, offers toddler programs for children 18 months to three years old, and a Montessori preschool program for children who are two-and-a-half to five years old.

Kickstart a Great Career

Kickstart a Great Career

Yavapai College’s new four-year Bachelor of Science Business degree features three concentrations from which students can choose: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, and Organizational Management and Leadership.

Striving for Equity, Creating Opportunities

Striving for Equity, Creating Opportunities

Young women who lay the right groundwork have more opportunities to follow the path that works for them. Helping people lay that groundwork—through education and empowering community partnerships and programs—is the goal of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

Her Perfect Fit

Her Perfect Fit

Sheryl Blosel has found her perfect fit. With a vast background in Information Technology (IT) and Database Management, her position as the Prescott Unified School District’s (PUSD) PowerSchool Administrator is just right.

PowerSchool, the student information system, is a database connected to the Arizona Department of Education via AzEDS, an Ed-fi model for Arizona that automates student data reporting—the vehicle by which the state calculates PUSD’s student funding. Most schools use some type of student information system, and Sheryl said she makes it “a personal mission to do quality internal audits for each school within the district to make sure schools are compliant with state/federal rules and regulations.”